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Debates- Friday, 19th July, 2013
DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE SECOND SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY
Friday, 19th July, 2013
The House met at 0900 hours
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
NATIONAL ANTHEM
PRAYER
_________
MINISTERIAL STATEMENT
The Vice-President (Dr Scott) rushed into the Assembly Chamber.
Mr Speaker: I did not know that His Honour the Vice-President was that fit.
Laughter
PRE-HARVEST CROP ESTIMATES, NCZ FERTILISER PRODUCTION AND MARKETING MODALITIES FOR THE 2013 AGRICULTURE SEASON
The Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Sichinga): Mr Speaker, I sincerely thank you for affording me this opportunity to report to this august House on the issues of pre-harvest crop estimates and marketing modalities that we will be pursuing for the 2013 harvest season. I also seek to touch on the issue of how the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) has performed vis-à-vis the delivery of fertiliser.
Sir, it is my pleasant duty to report to this august House that the estimated crop production for the 2012/13 agriculture season shows that the production has reduced, but it is sufficient for our requirements. I also wish to explain that the country’s national food balance sheet shows that we will just break even between consumption and production.
Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock or, in some cases its predecessors, announces the date of the commencement of the marketing season annually. In compliance with that practice, on 14th May, this year, I announced the results of the Pre-Marketing Season Crop Focus Survey which was conducted jointly between my ministry and the Central Statistical Office (CSO) which is a part of the Ministry of Finance.
Sir, according to that survey whose summary I have here with me and will be made available in the pigeon holes of all the hon. Members, it is estimated that the harvest is likely to be about 2,532,800 metric tonnes of maize which represents an 11 per cent drop from the previous year’s harvest. The reduction in maize production is partly as a result of several factors, including poor rainfall distribution, especially in the Southern, Eastern, Lusaka and Central provinces of our country. Although the country received enough rainfall, its distribution, over time, and the geographical spread were rather erratic. The other contributing factor to the reduced maize yield was the outbreak of army worms. Although the farmers affected by the army worms were provided with seed to replant their maize fields, this was in turn affected by the sudden end of the rains before the maize could reach full maturity. This resulted in the maize shrivelling in some cases and, in others cases, the maize seed did not germinate at all. The increase in the area planted has helped to offset the impact of the reduction in the maize yield because we were able to achieve good results in some places.
Further, there has been some significant reduction in the production of other major crops. The area planted with cotton reduced by 48 per cent. Consequently, cotton production decreased by the same percentage. The reduction in area planted with cotton is due to the marketing challenges that this sub-sector experienced in the last marketing year. I, therefore, wish to take this opportunity to encourage farmers not to relent as, already, the price has increased for this year. I also wish to encourage the farmers to continue investing in cotton production.
Mr Speaker, rice represents another crop with significant production potential. The production for 2013 has declined by only one per cent to 44,747 metric tonnes from 45,321 metric tonnes. Again, I wish to encourage farmers, particularly in the Western Province, Chambeshi Valley in the Northern Province, Chama and Luangwa Valley in Muchinga Province as well as other areas such as Luapula Province that do not plant a lot of rice to increase their production.
Production for crops such as millet, groundnuts and sorghum has declined by an average of 15.83 per cent, 5.52 per cent, 2.65 per cent respectively during the 2012/13 season mainly due to poor rainfall distribution.
However, in so far as maize grain is concerned, the country’s Food Balance Sheet indicates an annual surplus of 453,995 metric tonnes. So, at the moment, there are sufficient stocks. We also have carry-over stocks. After all the commitments have been taken into consideration, we estimate 280,000 metric tonnes as carry-over stocks. This, therefore, gives us more than sufficient maize stocks to meet our needs.
Mr Speaker, in general, the area planted with most crops continues to increase. I am, therefore, pleased to inform this august House that production of soya beans, sunflower, mixed beans, bambara nuts, cowpeas, sweet potatoes, wheat, popcorn and burley tobacco has increased in comparison to the production for the 2011/2012 agriculture season.
Sir, the area that was planted with soya beans increased by 45 per cent while production increased by 29 per cent. This is driven, in part, by the favourable prices of soya beans on the local market and it also shows that there is an increased demand for stock feed by the livestock industry. The area planted with cowpeas increased by 62 per cent while its production increased by 94 per cent. The area planted with mixed beans increased by 17 per cent while production increased by 2 per cent. The wheat crop for the 2012/2013 season is currently under production. However, estimates based on forecast area to be planted indicate that the country is likely to attain a production of 273,600 metric tonnes of wheat for the 2012/2013 season compared to the 253,522 metric tonnes for the previous year.
Mr Speaker, I am, therefore, confident that with the increase in hectarage and production of many crops, coupled with other initiatives that my ministry has come up with, Zambia will continue to register positive growth in the agriculture sector. I also wish to mention that, at the moment, we are concluding our strategic plan and our intention is to ensure that agriculture contributes more than 25 per cent to the gross domestic product (GDP).
Sir, on 14th May, 2013, when I announced the results for the Crop Forecasting Survey for the 2012/2013 agriculture season and the Food Balance Sheet for the 2013/2014 marketing season, I also announced that the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) would commence crop purchasing on 10th June, 2013. At the time, I indicated that this was dependent on the moisture content of the maize grain reaching the desired level of 12.5 per cent. I wish to mention to hon. Members that this is necessary in order to minimise post-harvest storage losses.
Mr Speaker, I wish to further inform the nation that the moisture content for maize grain has continued to be recorded on a weekly basis. The last reading, which indicated a national average for moisture content of 12.41 to 14.94 per cent, was taken on 27th June, 2013. Regrettably, the national average was 13.13 per cent which was still higher than the required 12.5 per cent as a safe threshold. This means that the FRA could not have commenced buying the maize immediately in most parts of the country except in the Southern Province. Nevertheless, the monitoring of moisture levels by experts has continued until it reaches the desired levels of 12.5 per cent. I am pleased to announce that as at last Friday, 13th July, the average moisture content stood at 12.64 per cent and, in a number of provinces, it had reached 12.5 per cent as follows:
Province Moisture Content (%)
Copperbelt 12.15
Eastern Block (A) 12.5
Block (B) 12.47
Southern Block (A) 12.12
Block (B) 12.17
Luapula 12.78
Lusaka 12.70
Western 12.35
Northern 12.86
North-Western 12.53
Sir, in view of the foregoing, I am pleased to announce to the House that the FRA will commence buying maize grain on Monday, 22nd July, 2013. Other arrangements have already been put in place in the depots in respective districts. The FRA is currently training and deploying supervisory personnel in all the 1,231 depots nationwide. Meanwhile, I wish to report to the House that over 16 million empty grain bags and over 1,000 weighing scales have already been positioned at district depots throughout the country. This is in addition to other marketing requisites such as grain sieves, twine as well as black plastic sheets for protecting the storage places.
Mr Speaker, in this regard, I wish to remind and urge all small-scale farmers that the FRA will only be buying white Grade A maize and non-genetically modified organisms (GMO). I also wish to emphasise that this year, we are encouraging the farmers not to spend nights at satellite depots as a result of the arrangements which I will subsequently announce. It is, therefore, important that farmers intensify the sorting and cleaning of their harvested grain from their homes or farms for delivery to the FRA satellite depots because it is more convenient than doing it at the depots and expecting it to be dried there at the same time. This will, therefore, minimise the time spent by farmers at the FRA depots. I wish to encourage all farmers not to sell their grain at prices that are lower than the threshold of K65 per 50 kg bag of grade A non-GMO maize.
Sir, allow me to also mention the following:
Millers to Purchase Own Maize Stocks
This year, we are expecting the millers and grain traders to purchase maize for themselves. Following the decision to restrict the buying of maize grain by the FRA to that which is of national strategic reserve only, the ministry wishes to use this opportunity to inform the House and the entire country that the FRA, in conjunction with the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) Unit of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, will immediately commence the purchase that will also be made through a barter system of maize for fertiliser for procurements to be made by the FRA for cash. Therefore, there will be two formats. The first format is where the FRA will purchase maize with cash while, in the second one, there will be agents to exchange fertiliser for maize grain. As a result of this, we are encouraging all millers to purchase, procure and carry sufficient stocks to cover the entire year from July, 2013 to next June, 2104. This is because the FRA will only carry national strategic stocks of not more than 500,000 metric tonnes.
NCZ Deliveries of Fertiliser to Districts
Mr Speaker, let me also brief this House on what we have done vis-à-vis the fertiliser. The NCZ was mandated to produce 67,767 metric tonnes of D Compound fertiliser for the country. I am delighted to report to this House that as of Wednesday, 26th June, 2013, I flagged off the first fertiliser distribution to all the provinces, particularly targeting far flung, but high production areas. This was necessary because we identified that the initial supply was for 40,000 metric tonnes. As of this morning, the NCZ has produced the equivalent of 47,000 metric tonnes of D Compound fertiliser and will complete the process of producing the 67,000 metric tonnes not later than the end of August.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Sichinga: Sir, I trust that even the doubting hon. Members of this august House will now start to believe that the PF Government means business and it is delivering.
Hon. Opposition Members: Question!
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, I wish to emphasise that it is evident to the doubting hon. Members of Parliament that the stocks are in the districts currently.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, I am pleased …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Sichinga: … that as of 30th June, 2013, the following had been done:
(a)the critical parts of the plant at the NCZ were rehabilitated at a cost of K70.4 billion. As a result of the rehabilitation works, which were carried out by local people, the rated capacity of the plant has increased considerably from 100,000 metric tonnes to 153,000 metric tonnes per annum. This represents an improvement of over 50 per cent from the original rated capacity of the plant; and
(b)production against the order of the FISP has exceeded 42,000 metric tonnes as of this morning. As I mentioned earlier, we intend to complete the entire production before the end of August, 2013. Meanwhile the plant has continued to perform exceedingly well and all the warehouses at the plant have been overloaded. It is for this reason that we found it appropriate to flag off the deliveries to the districts and constituencies.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, if this is not delivery by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, then what else is it?
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
Mr Sichinga: What else would you call performance by a working Government?
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Sichinga: Further, Sir, the Ammonium Nitrate Plant, …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Minister, just pause for a moment. Please, let us give the hon. Minister an opportunity to deliver the statement. You will be given an opportunity to ask questions.
Continue, hon. Minister.
Mr Sichinga: … which had not worked for eleven years since 2002, has also been successfully rehabilitated and is now ready for test production. Ammonium has been ordered and upon its receipt within the next couple of weeks, production tests will commence. Our expectations and indications so far are that this will also be successful. This is delivery by the PF Government.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Livune: Question!
Mr Sichinga: Sir, this Government will act and not waste time on talking.
Hon. Opposition Members laughed.
Mr Sichinga: No one can dispute the important milestones in the life of the NCZ and livelihoods of a significant number of people not only in Kafue but also beyond. These achievements by the PF Government will be felt well beyond Kafue by all those who will receive products from this plant, including districts and constituencies that are represented by hon. Members of this august House. No one can fail to appreciate that this is great performance by President Sata’s Government.
Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, let me now move on to the issue of maize exports and products. As previously announced, the FRA has entered into a number of sale agreements for maize grain with agencies of neighbouring countries. Please, let it be clearly understood that these are not donations from Zambia to its neighbours. They are business transactions that have been paid for. The proceeds from the sales are all being deposited into a special bank account at the Central Bank from which all the outstanding debt to commercial banks that funded the grain purchases last year is being serviced.
Sir, let me reiterate that the country currently has more than sufficient maize stocks and there is no cause whatsoever for any panic from anybody. As I have said, the FRA holds sufficient maize stocks at the moment, even before the commencement of the purchasing season, of not more than 280,000 metric tonnes.
Mr Speaker, let me also use this opportunity to inform this august House that at the meeting for Southern African Development Community (SADC) Ministers of Agriculture held in Maputo on 7th June, 2013, delegates were informed that the situation of grain availability in the region is quite precarious and that there will be a shortfall in the entire region. As a matter of fact, I was contacted yesterday by the Minister of Agriculture for Malawi who is seeking further assistance. Almost all the countries in the region, except Zambia and, possibly, Mozambique, will experience maize grain shortages.
Sir, the Government sees the food shortages in the SADC Region and the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA) as an opportunity to increase production in order to meet the needs of this growing market. Our strategic direction to increase production all round is, firstly, in order to enhance food security at home and, secondly, to position Zambia as the region’s food basket.
Mr Speaker, let me conclude …
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Sichinga: … by informing the hon. Members that they will find a copy of this forecast survey in their pigeon holes as they go out of this House.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
Mr Sichinga: Let me also make the following observation. Quite often, when hon. Government Ministers have provided answers to questions or made ministerial statements, in reaction, colleagues in the Opposition claim that the Government is wrong unless the action is according to what the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) or United Party for National Development (UPND) would have liked it to be.
Mr Livune: Hear, hear!
Mr Sichinga: Sir, the Government has a lot of difficulties appreciating this stance. The PF Government has its own approach to meeting Zambia’s challenges. To discover is to find something out or determine some ideas that someone else has not determined before. That is how we are approaching this. To invent is to find a new way of solving a particular problem.
Therefore, Mr Speaker, just because the PF has not done things the way others would have done them does not mean that the PF’s approach is wrong. Similarly, just because the PF Government has not done things the way the UPND had planned or would have preferred to do them does not invalidate the PF’s approach. The PF Government has its own ideas, as reflected its manifesto. It has been mandated by the Zambian people to solve the problems at hand; hence the Government does not have to adopt anybody’s way of doing things. I hope that this has clarified any uncertainties that anybody had with regard to the ability of the PF Government to deliver on its promises.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: It is now time for hon. Members to ask questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement issued by the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock.
Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, we have listened carefully to the hon. Minister’s statement and I would like to say that the PF may have its own ideas, but those ideas must not endanger the food security of this country.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Ms Namugala: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has told us that, this year, we might just break even between production and consumption. He is basing this on the forecast of the maize harvest. At the moment, most of the maize has been bought and taken outside the country. Maize buying is supposed to start in May. This is July and it has not yet started. Can the hon. Minister tell us what measures are taken to ensure that the Government buys as much maize as possible so as to avoid people having to pay K80 for a 25 kg bag of mealie-meal and, of course, to ensure food security in the country.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, firstly, let me acknowledge that forecasting is not a new concept. This is undertaken twice. The first one is what we call the pre-harvest forecast and the second one is the post-harvest forecast. The pre-harvest forecast is done in a scientific manner and the level of confidence of this process stands at 95 per cent not only for this year, but also for previous years. Therefore, I would like the hon. Member for Mafinga to listen to what I am saying in answer because I do not want this to be repeated.
Sir, the hon. Member has also said that maize has been purchased and taken out of the country. Well, if that was the case, I would have liked her to have reported this to my office because I also come from Mafinga and I am a constituent of that constituency.
Hon. Members: Ooh!
Mr Sichinga: If there is any maize being exported from Mafinga, it is being done illegally because I have not signed any export permits to any country.
The other point that has been raised is that the purchasing of maize is supposed to start in May. I am sorry that I have to differ with my fellow hon. Member of Parliament because this is not correct. We have never had a situation where we have started purchasing maize in May.
Sir, I have also gone to great lengths explaining the issues of moisture content and the need to make sure that there is no post-harvest loss as a result of buying maize with a high moisture content, considering that maize is kept in bags and in stacks. Therefore, ventilation is normally very poor once the bags are stacked. This is why I have given the percentages of moisture content in the maize not only for Mafinga and Muchinga but also many other areas.
So, the indication that we should have started buying maize in May is not correct. We had planned to start on 10th June, but did not find it convenient because of the high moisture content in the maize.
Sir, as I have already indicated, …
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Interruptions
Mr Sichinga: … we have already sent out to all the districts and constituencies guidelines on purchasing the maize which will start on Monday. We will be procuring the maize in two ways which I have already explained.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: Just a point of note, hon. Minister. This is a topical issue and there is a great deal of interest, given the number of hon. Members who have indicated to ask questions. Therefore, it will be in everybody’s interest that to the extent possible, you abbreviate your responses.
Mr Chishimba (Kamfinsa): Mr Speaker, I heard the hon. Minister clearly say that maize has been sold to neighbouring countries on contractual obligations and that the money has been deposited in a special account at the Central Bank. May I find out how much has been deposited in that special account as at today.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mucheleka: Good question, Chishimba. Muntu wesu, uyu. Tukamupelako inchito.
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, all the money from the FRA sales, including domestic and export, is deposited in that special account. So far, Malawi …
Mr Sichinga paused.
Mr Speaker: Continue.
Mr Sichinga: … has paid 3 million which has enabled us to export 5,000 metric tonnes of maize.
Hon. Opposition Members: Three million what?
Mr Sichinga: US$3 million. We have done the same with Zimbabwe. We have sold 5,000 metric tonnes to Malawi and 8,500 metric tonnes to Zimbabwe.
Hon. Opposition Member: How much did we get from Zimbabwe?
Mr Sichinga: About the same amount which is US$3 million and deposited into that account.
Mr Chishimba: Uncle Bob, bwekeshapo pakuti Mucheleka omfwe.
Mr Mucheleka: Ulimuntu wesu, iwe.
Mr Chishimba: Kutinaba umuntu obe ine, Mucheleka? Ulensebanya, ndiwakwa Sata, ine.
Mr Sichinga: However, over and above that, all the money from local sales has also been deposited in the same account. So, I have given you the information on exports, but if additional information is needed, I will be able to provide it.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, I also want to thank the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock for responding to my point of order.
Mr Speaker, in the Southern Province, we have a number of Zimbabwean businessmen who have been buying maize for the last three months with a view to taking it out to Zimbabwe. Therefore, by the time the FRA goes to buy the little maize in that is in the Southern Province, it will find that there is nothing. Tagging on to the issue that was raised by Hon. Namugala and taking into account that he has only told us that they will only get 500,000 metric tonnes as strategic reserves, how do they intend to achieve that when most of the maize have been bought from subsistence farmers?
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, two questions have been raised. First and foremost, we are encouraging the private sector to buy maize. This is in order because we expect the millers to take responsibility. However, with specific reference to Zimbabweans, there is no way that they can export maize without a permit from my office unless it is smuggled. I expect that hon. Members who know about such practices will inform us so that we can take appropriate action. Otherwise, all the borders have been informed that unless there are legitimate certificates that are issued from my office, it should not be possible to export. They need phytosanitary details as well as permits from my office. So, I do not see how this maize can be exported.
Mr Speaker, I have already mentioned …
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Interruptions
Mr Sichinga: … that apart from what we are going to purchase this time, there is already 280,000 metric tonnes of maize.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mucheleka (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that Zambia and Mozambique might have surplus maize in the region and that we may be able to export. However, I am also aware that the bulk of the maize that is bought by the FRA goes to waste due to inadequate storage facilities coupled with some areas being inaccessible due to bad feeder roads. May I find out the specific measures that the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and, perhaps, in conjunction with the Ministries of Transport, Works and Supply and Communication and Local Government and Housing is taking to ensure that it creates an environment where wastage of maize is minimised as is the case at the moment.
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, I think that the problem of storage was discussed extensively yesterday and I do not intend to spend any more time on it. However, we have got a programme of ensuring that all the storage areas that have got slabs are converted into covered space so that we can secure the maize.
As regards the issue of roads, that is a challenge that the PF Government has directed its efforts to. As you have seen, the President has directed that we break ground in many places to ensure that roads are rehabilitated and new ones are created.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Belemu (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, by and large, the FRA is targeting to buy maize from small and medium-scale farmers and the hon. Minister kept on emphasising that they would not buy GMO maize. May I know what circumstances led to the small and medium-scale farmers growing GMO maize which they are now saying they will not buy.
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, I am not aware that any farmers have been given seed to produce GMO maize. As far as distribution of the subsidy that is being provided by the Government is concerned, we do not have GMO seed because all of it is non-GMO.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, I congratulate my brother on the ministerial statement. As regards the strategic reserves of 500,000 metric tonnes to be bought, how does the hon. Minister intend to cover this purchase province by province seeing that the FRA is the only sure way that every Zambian, especially in remote villages, depends on? How does he intend to reach the villager in Ikeleng’i?
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, I appreciate that question and it will help me to clarify that all the 1,231 depots will be operational and we intend to go to all the places. The FRA is statutorily obligated to purchase from all these locations. Therefore, we will do the best, depending on the road network, to reach those places. Our intention for the remote areas is to use smaller vehicles rather than the larger ones.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, it was rewarding to hear the hypothetical figures of the crop production from the hon. Minister. He stated that according to the crop forecast, there is an 11 per cent drop from the previous season. He also indicated that the millers are encouraged to buy their crop because the FRA may not accommodate them. If that is the case, I would like the hon. Minister to tell me whether the Government is going to respect the demand-driven price of the final commodity, which is mealie-meal which, this far, has hit a record high as a result of the removal of subsidies and the exclusion of millers from buying from the FRA stock since that stock is only meant for reserves.
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, first and foremost, a forecast is a forecast and all we are doing is providing an indication of where we will be. As I said, in the past, this has proved to be quite accurate to the extent of 95 per cent if you want to take it from a statistical confidence point of view. Secondly, we are encouraging millers to carry their stock. However, the national strategic stock is meant to assist in situations of need that may arise due to unforeseen circumstances. This stock will obviously be made available to millers once circumstances demand that it be provided. That it why it is strategic stock.
Mr Speaker, the issue of supply and demand is one that enables us to increase our production and, because there is demand, I indicated, in my statement, that we would like to encourage more and more people to come on board. There are other measures we are putting in place. We are working with the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) and other groups to ensure that we find other ways in which we can also encourage the commercial farmers to produce more grain because the price is good. Yes, that has an impact. However, one would like to think that this impact is temporary because, as production increases, we expect that the price will drop.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, practically speaking, the people of Lupososhi, Luwingu and Kamfinsa districts spend nights at the depots during the maize marketing period as a result of the shortage of empty grain bags. May the hon. Minister assure the people of these areas they will not have to spend many nights at the depots waiting for empty grain bags since we have heard that quite a good number of bags have been procured.
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, I would like to emphasise that 16 million empty grain bags are already in various locations, including Lupososhi. I also indicated in the ministerial statement that it is not just the bags that are in place, but the scales for weighing the grain that will be brought to the depots are also in place. That is why I have encouraged anybody who still has maize that is still a bit wet to dry it at home so that he/she will not have to spend nights at the depots. Let me emphasise to the House that our payment modalities will be such that individuals will be paid by the banks fourteen days after they have delivered their crop. That should enable them not to rush to the banks and wait overnight. We are working out mechanisms to ensure that they will be informed of which day the payments will be made.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Minister for the statement. Allow me to refer to his figures so that he can understand what I am going to ask him. The hon. Minister mentioned that there will be an excess of 453,000 metric tonnes and he is hoarding 280,000 metric tonnes of maize. That will bring the total to 733,000 metric tonnes. He said that he is supposed to hoard 500,000 metric tonnes of maize as strategic reserves. That leaves him with only 233,000 metric tonnes for him to export. May I know whether he has worked out something to ensure that the money he is going to receive will be for the exported maize and that he will not touch what is meant for strategic reserves so that we do not start importing maize from elsewhere.
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, I appreciate that question because the hon. Member is an agriculturalist. I just want to correct him on the figures. The 433 metric tonnes, which are expected to be our surplus on the food balance sheet, include the 280 metric tonnes that I already mentioned. The position for carry-overs is as follows.
Sir, the excess grain that we will have from the current crop may be purchased by the FRA and the private sector as well. Therefore, it is difficult for me to give you a figure of what will happen subsequently because I do not know what amount will go to the private sector and what will remain for the FRA to purchase. Suffice it to say that we will keep the House posted. There is no intention whatsoever to export an amount of grain that will put us in a difficult position to maintain our own requirement. I emphasised in the statement that we are looking after the interest of the Zambians first before we can export.
I thank you, Sir.
Mrs Mazoka (Pemba): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that whoever wants to export maize should go through his office to get a permit. However, private buyers may have other means of smuggling this maize out of the country. Has he put into consideration the fact that these people who are buying the maize illegally might use other routes than his office?
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, yes, we have anticipated that possibility. This is why are working with the security forces to make sure that we do not have illegal exports. As I said earlier, traders require a permit to transport any maize across the borders. There is also a need for them to have a phytosanitary certificate to be provided by the research station at the Mt Makulu Research Station. Therefore, I do not know how this can be done without a permit. However, if any hon. Member is aware of any illegal activity, it is important that we be informed. As I said earlier, I will not issue any permits that will prejudice our own national security, Hon. Muntanga.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mulusa (Solwezi Central): Mr Speaker, I wish to congratulate the PF on openly admitting failure in a very important sector.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mulusa: Mr Speaker, on several occasions, the PF Government has been advised that its incoherent agriculture policy will result in the situation that the hon. Minister has just talked about today. Why can the hon. Minister not simply admit that this situation is as a result of the poor policy in agriculture …
Hon. Government Members: Question!
Mr Mulusa: … and that the PF will be wiser to return to the successful policy of the MMD.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Order!
I am not sure whether you have posed any question.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Have you posed any question?
Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!
Mr Mulusa: Mr Speaker, I did.
Mr Speaker: Order!
What was your question?
Mr Mulusa: My question is why can the PF not simply admit that the situation we are in today is as a result of its incoherent agriculture policy, and that it will be wiser to return to the MMD policy which was successful?
Mr Speaker: That is not a question.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Hon. MMD Members: It was a question!
Interruptions
Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, currently, there is hunger in Kazungula, and all efforts have been made …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
There is a question being posed.
Mr Livune: … to secure maize for the local people. We have heard from the hon. Minister that there are overwhelming requests for maize from neighbouring countries. I fear for my people in Kazungula. Can the hon. Minister assure me and the people of Kazungula that we will be considered first before people from outside the country?
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, for the umpteenth time, I want to emphasise and assure this House that no exports will be made without fulfilling the needs of our people. Domestic requirement comes first. I have said that more than once.
I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}
Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, because of the poor policy on agriculture, there is a reduction in maize production each year. That cannot be denied. Even next year, we are going to produce less. Since we are producing less each year, are we going to continue exporting maize bran to the neighbouring countries?
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, may I take this opportunity to also respond to the point that was made by the hon. Member of Parliament for Solwezi Central, Mr Mulusa, …
Hon. Opposition Members: No. There was no question!
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Minister, there was no question. Please, respond to the question by the hon. Member for Chadiza.
Laughter
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, first and foremost, the hon. Member for Chadiza did not give me any facts or statistics. I understand that when you make an argument, you must back it up with facts, but he gave me platitudes and not facts.
Sir, there is no correlation between poor policy and poor rainfall distribution. We normally refer to that as an act of God or an act of nature, if you want. The issue of army worms is not a policy issue, but one that occurs by the very nature of what exits around us.
Ms Kalima: It was a curse!
Laughter
Mr Sichinga: Therefore, to attribute that to a policy of the PF Government is certainly invalid and baseless.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Order!
Before we go any further, I want to offer some guidance. The exercise we are engaged in now relates to points of clarification. I am sure the word ‘clarification’ is very familiar. This means to clear issues. However, I can see that a number of hon. Members are now taking this as a platform to issue their statements before they ask. It is not time for you to issue statements, but to seek clarification. If you are not able to simply ask for clarification, I am afraid, I will curtail you because you are going outside your remit. Just ask points of clarification. It does not require close reasoning to appreciate what clarification is.
I would like us to make substantial progress. I have a long list of Members who have indicated to speak before me and I want as many of you as possible to participate. So, be focused. There is what is called a focused question which will elicit a focused response and not a running commentary.
May the hon. Member for Senanga continue, please.
Mr Mbewe: On a point of order, Sir.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
That is the problem. Is there anyone speaking to warrant a point of order?
Laughter
Mr Speaker: That point of order is misplaced.
Hon. Member for Senanga, continue, please.
Mr Mufalali (Senanga): Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Mbewe: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock in order not to answer my question on maize bran?
I seek your serious ruling, Sir.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Order!
I will invite the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock to revisit that issue in due course.
May the hon. Member for Senanga continue, please.
Mr Mufalali: Mr Speaker, in answer to the question by Hon. Mwiimbu, the hon. Minister informed this House that everything has to pass through his office, be it export permits or otherwise. Given the pedigree or profile of the hon. Minister and what has been happening in his ministry, how does he intend to ensure that there will be no quashing of his pronouncement as was the case with the other hon. Minister when he announced that he had put a ban on exportation of maize and other pronouncements that he made such as the K3.1 trillion which the hon. Minister of Finance quashed and so on and so forth? How does he now intend to ensure that that is going to be sustained?
Laughter
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Laughter
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, I have no intention of discussing my pedigree or profile, but what I respond to are the facts and questions that are on the Floor.
Sir, the issue of maize bran is included in what I called maize and maize products. Maize bran is a maize product. I said that we were considering issues of the domestic demand first. Maize bran is not exported willy-nilly. It requires permits from my office.
Mr Speaker, may I just correct the hon. Member for Senanga that not everything passes through my office. I clearly stated that this related to permits. Phytosanitary certificates are issued by an authority which is under my ministry, but not by my office. So, that is the position as far as that is concerned.
Sir, as to whether anybody quashed it or not, I am accountable to a higher authority. I am accountable to Cabinet and to the Government as a whole. Government policies can supersede my statement. That is not within my powers. What I have given to you is the assurance of what has been agreed upon by the Government, and that is the position that we hold at the moment.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, …
Mr Muntanga: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister in order to clearly state that other people should not contribute to the way agriculture is run? Is he in order to state that he has 47,000 metric tonnes of fertiliser from the NCZ, but fail to tell us how much urea fertiliser there is so that we know the actual growth and development of maize, which is dependent on top dressing? We need to know whether there is enough urea fertiliser in the country or whether it is being produced because what he is saying is not clear? Is he in order to avoid telling us that?
Mr Speaker: Order!
That is not really a point of order. It is another question, indeed. There are many other things which the hon. Minister may have, should have or ought to have said, and it is not possible to say them all in a ministerial statement. Of course, there are certain salient issues, but there will be omissions. If there are any omissions, ask a question. That is all.
May the hon. Member for Dundumwezi, please, continue.
Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, I see a ‘vaccine’ created by the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock for very serious poverty in this country.
Mr Speaker: Is that a question?
Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, is it morally right for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to start purchasing maize for the 2012/2013 season without paying transporters, especially in Dundumwezi where a number of transporters have not been paid?
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, the statement was on maize output and fertiliser. The issue of the transporters is a separate one. If the Hon. Member had any individuals that need to address the problems of payment they were at liberty to come to our offices or the FRA and we would have dealt with it.
At the moment, I do not know whether this is a transporter that was handling products for the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock or the FRA because there are different transporters. Without that information, it is next to impossible for me to respond to that particular point.
On the question of morality, the procured grain is not from transporters, but from farmers.
I thank you, Sir.
Ms Kalima (Kasenengwa): Mr Speaker, my question has been overtaken by events.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Mr Speaker: Some people are disappointed that it has been overtaken.
Laughter
Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has just encouraged cotton farmers to continue investing in the production of the crop, especially in view of the improved price this year. Apart from the unpredictable market forces, are there any other measures the Government has put in place to cushion the cotton farmers in terms of price in an event of a slump in price?
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, the point enables me to discuss the issues of supply and demand. It is next to impossible for any Government anywhere in the world to provide guarantees on the slump or increase of prices, depending on what is available internationally, especially for commodities such as cotton that are internationally traded. These vary and include other crops such as soya beans, maize, rice and wheat. I am not in a position to offer any guarantee other than say that we will help reduce the cost of production by the subsidies that have been provided in the form of free seed and the exchange with fertilisers that I have already announced.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mulomba (Magoye): Mr Speaker, my question has been overtaken by events.
Mr Antonio (Kaoma Central): Mr Speaker, among other factors that have caused poor harvest was the poor handling and late distribution of seed by the PF Government.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Antonio: When is the Government going to distribute seed this year?
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, this House is already aware of my statement to the House in which I acknowledged the difficulties that were experienced last year. I would like to believe that statements made in the House are statements that stand.
Sir, there may be poor handling of seed distribution from time to time. This is why we have decided to start early. Fertiliser and seed will be distributed by 30th September, as I said in my first statement. This is still way before 30th of September and I would like to assure the hon. Member that if there is any difficulty in his area, he can bring it to our attention.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Lubinda (Kabwata): Mr Speaker, for eleven years, the ammonium nitrate plant was shut down. Over eighteen months, …
Mr Livune: Question!
Mr Lubinda: … this hon. Minister and his Government have managed to bring that plant back to life.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Let the hon. Member complete his question. Otherwise, the hon. Minister will have nothing to respond to.
Continue, hon. Member.
Mr Lubinda: Over this eighteen-month period, the Hon. Minister and his Government have managed to increase the production by 50 per cent.
Ms Kalima interjected.
Mr Lubinda: Could he clarify what magic wand he used which the previous Government failed to use in eleven years?
Hon. MMD Members: Aah!
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Lubinda: Sir, is this also testimony of the fact that even when cynical people try to say anything, without recognising his purpose, they are actually biting their tongues and saying nothing?
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mucheleka: Alefwaya inchito.
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to clarify the importance of rehabilitating the plants because the only way we can ensure that we have stocks of fertiliser available in the country is to know that it is within our control.
Sir, the Ammonium Nitrate Plant is capable of providing the top dressing that the hon. Member for Kalomo Central was asking about. That is its importance.
Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!
Mr Sichinga: Sir, in liquid form, ammonium nitrate solution is the stuff that is used to produce explosives on the Copperbelt and this will enable the NCZ to be sustainable in the long term. The magic wand that was used was the hon. Minister of Finance providing capital to the extent of K70.4 million to enable us rehabilitate the plant which has further enabled it to increase its rated capacity by 53 per cent.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Sichinga: This is why it is going to produce more than enough ammonium nitrate which is going to provide the top dressing that you have asked about, Hon. Muntanga. This is important for the sustenance of the NCZ. That is the strategic plan that the PF Government has.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, the price of fertiliser has been increased from K50 to K100. I wanted to know how many 50 kg bags …
Ms Kalima: On a point of order Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Mbulakulima: Very good.
Laughter
Ms Kalima: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister in order to misinform this House that ammonium nitrate is the right fertiliser to be used in maize as top dressing when the recommended fertiliser is urea with a nitrogen content of 46 per cent.
Is he in order, Sir?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister will come back to that issue in response. Take note of that, hon. Minister.
Mr Sichinga indicated ascent.
Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, before I was interrupted by that able hon. Member of Parliament, I was asking the hon. Minister, taking into account that the price of fertiliser has been increased from K50 to K100 and what he has said that farmers are at liberty to exchange bags of maize for fertiliser, how many 50 kg bags of maize the FRA will exchange for a bag of fertiliser and how that was arrived at. Will there be packing and reweighing?
Mr Sichinga: Mr Speaker, I did make a ministerial statement in this House to this effect and also distributed materials to all hon. Members of Parliament in their pigeon holes in which I explained this same process. Nevertheless, I will emphasise the point. The arrangement is that the subsidy pack comprises two types of fertiliser and these are basal dressing and top dressing. These are 50 kg bags of fertiliser and we are providing two for basal dressing and two for top dressing in exchange for four bags of maize for each two bags that are provided. The seed is given to the farmers at no cost. I hope that answers that particular question.
The information pack is already with you, Sir, and I hope that hon. Members of Parliament do read the literature that is provided to them.
Secondly, the issue of misinforming this House does not arise. In fact, the mover of that point of order knows very well that ammonium nitrate has always been used as top dressing although there are other options. Some people mix it and others do not, depending on the application and the kind of soils that they have. Therefore, the question of misinforming the House does not arise.
I thank you, Sir.
__________
HIS HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME
Professor Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, can His Honour the Vice-President assure the small and medium-scale farmers that the measures that the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock has announced will not demoralise them from producing maize. This is with particular reference to the buying of Grade A maize by the FRA alone this year. Can he clarify this and put the medium and small-scale farmers at ease.
The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, I am a bit baffled because the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock has just been talking endlessly about his arrangements for buying of maize and now we are continuing with the Vice-President’s …
Laughter
The Vice-President: … second guessing of the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock. The question of grading maize is a flexible notion. It is like the US No. 2 which is a standard one for export. I think white maize is the only maize that is grown. There are no GMOs. Grade A means that it is intact basically, rather than shattered. I think that is not an issue.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, it is now very clear that hon. Members of Parliament for the North-Western Province have not been speaking on behalf of the people of North-Western Province. That is why there is no development in the province. May I know when the road between Mwinilunga and Ikeleng’i that leads to Angola will be constructed?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I wish the hon. Member would do one of the two things. He can either obtain a list of all the roads in Phases 1, II and II in the Link Zambia 8,000 Road Programme from the Road Development Agency (RDA) so that he can get the ideal information accurately or give me advance notice of that question so that I can do the reading for him. I do not know off the cuff when that road is going to be completed.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Milambo (Mwembeshi): Mr Speaker, with the removal of subsidies on maize and fuel, how does the Government plan to cushion the poor?
His Honour the Vice-President: Mr Speaker, if we removed subsidies on maize and fuel, it means that there is more money for education, cash transfer and even for free secondary education in the sites. There are many ways in which to cushion, as the questioner puts it, the plight of the poor. The more money we have, the more projects we can implement.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mutale (Bwacha): Mr Speaker, concerns have been expressed in various sections of our society over the issue of the Barotse Agreement. Can His Honour the Vice-President inform the House and the nation at large what the PF Government is doing about this issue.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I answered that question in some explicit detail either last week or the week before. Therefore, I would ask to be moved on to the next question.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mwale (Chipangali): Mr Speaker, four or three years prior to 2011, this country had a bumper harvest and we even exported maize. Eighteen months down the line, what black magic has happened to this country for us to only break even between production and consumption? What has gone wrong in the eighteen months that the PF Government has been in power?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Ms Kalima: Buyer farmer!
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, again, speaking on behalf of the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock who I heard clearly explain, force majeure (events beyond our control), erratic rainfall and insect infestations. It is not due to lack of inputs and competence. Agriculture, as the hon. Member knows, is an up and down business and we happen to be on a down as far as the weather is concerned.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, the Non-Governmental Organisation Act was passed by the MMD Administration and was vehemently and, perhaps, even ferociously opposed by the PF in Opposition. Currently, there is a debate in the country over this issue and there are contradictory statements from the Cabinet. May I know what the position of the Government is on this issue.
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member should obtain from the PF Secretariat, a copy of its manifesto which states very clearly that in order to enhance the role of the civil society and its relationship with the State, the PF Government shall:
(a)recognise the State and civil society as mutually interdependent and complementary partners in national development;
(b)guarantee the active participation of civil society in matters of social justice and good governance;
(c)promote constant dialogue between the State and civil society; and
(d)review the Non-Governmental Organisations Act of 2009 so as to promote the above objectives.
I thank you, Sir.
Chishimba (Kamfinsa): Mr Speaker, yesterday, the hon. Minister of Health gave a ministerial statement, confirming contamination of the products that were seized from certain Zambeef outlets. Is the Government planning to take legal action on the suppliers of the contaminated products to the Zambian people who consumed the products? Is the Government also planning to close the outlets where the contaminated products where found?
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, yesterday, the hon. Minister of Health made a statement and questions and matters of clarification arose therefrom. I would plead, again, not to be made to answer on behalf of hon. Ministers who have given very comprehensive and competent statement and answers.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Katambo (Masaiti): Mr Speaker, there are a lot of illegal routes into the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) near Kasumba Lesa Border Post. Hence, there are a lot of cars and goods being smuggled into the DRC. What is the Government doing in order to fence off the area because the border is very porous?
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, we are assigning more police officers to that section of the border. However, it is impossible to completely close off Zambia from its neighbours. Our border with the Congo alone is 1,800 km either of mere water shed or river. You see very healthy people sunning themselves along the Luapula River because they work in the night and rest during the day. As already stated, it is impossible, but we are trying to track it off as much as we possibly can by assigning more police officers to Kasumbalesa.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, in answer to Hon. Lufuma’s question pertaining to the position of the Government on the Non-Governmental Organisations Act, His Honour the Vice-President indicated that the PF Manifesto indicates that the Act is going to be reviewed. When does it intend to bring an amendment to that particular Act to comply with the agreement between itself and the NGOs prior to the elections of 2011?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, there is no agreement that I am aware of between the NGOs and the PF either as a party or as a Government. We will bring it when we have reviewed it and we look forward to receiving input from all hon. Members of Parliament, including the questioner.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President whether the salary increment that the civil servants and other Government workers are expecting in September will have arrears and, if so, dated from when?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the agreement with the unions is that it will be effective in September and that will be adhered to.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr L. J. Ngoma (Sinda): Mr Speaker, ever since the PF took over power, we have seen a culture, especially emanating from the Office of the President, of humiliating and lambasting elected senior public officials in public.
Mr Livune: Hear, hear!
Mr L. J. Ngoma: A few days ago, the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs was lambasted in full view of the public.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Ms Kalima: Shame!
Mr L. J. Ngoma: I want to find out from His Honour the Vice-President whether it is the PF’s policy for public officials and senior Government officials to be humiliated in full view of the public.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, it is very difficult not to have a chapter and verse and to just have a general statement like that from the questioner. However, it is part of our culture in the PF to dinder each other to get us …
Mr Speaker: What does that word mean?
The Vice-President: It means to provoke each other in order to get better performance. If you want to bring back a more polite culture, then go to the electorate and see if they will buy that.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Laughter
Mrs Mazoka (Pemba): Mr Speaker, the price of mealie-meal has continued to rise. I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President why this is so, considering that the mealie-meal that is currently costing so much now was milled from the maize that was subsidised. What is the rationale behind increasing the price of mealie-meal?
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, pricing is quite a complicated issue, but the millers are basically increasing the price of maize or have increased it for many months. There is a shortage of maize in the entire region, including all our neighbours with the possible exception of Mozambique. Our seven other neighbours have a serious deficient in maize and there is demand coming from these places. Whether it is milled legally or illegally, the fact is that we are in a deficient situation regionally. It has been aggravated by the fact that the South Africans are selling all their surplus white maize to Mexico and China as a matter of policy change. So, there is no maize coming from the south as was the case in the past to help us meet the demand in the region. That is the underlining reality and pricing decisions follow that reality. Whether they are jumping the gunner bit or are lagging behind a bit, it does not alter the fact that we are in a maize-deficient situation and not a maize-surplus situation.
I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}
Mr Ndalamei (Sikongo): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from his Honour the Vice-President when his Government will educate police officers so that they start giving permits to political parties to hold rallies throughout the country.
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Home Affairs made a statement to this House on that very subject last Wednesday and I would have thought the hon. Member would have asked him that question. All I can suggest is that as the House rises today and we go back to our constituencies, we should take with us a copy, which can be obtained from the debating records of the hon. Minister’s statement, to help us enlighten our local police forces in case they are not entirely enlighten as to what the Government’s policy is. It is very clear and I have a copy of the statement which I can send across to the questioner now.
I thank you, Sir.
Ms Kalima (Kasenengwa): Mr Speaker, last week, His Honour the Vice-President, indicated that the Chief Justice was on contract. It is in public domain that the ratification of the Chief Justice by this House was not approved. Could His Honour the Vice-President state what comes first between ratification or awarding of the contract and what type of a contract the Chief Justice is on.
I would like to seek …
Mr Kampyongo: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to rise on this point of order. You made a ruling this very week with regard to the way our Committees operate. Is the hon. Member in order to pose a question when she has vested interest as part of your Committee that was mandated to look at the matter.
I need your serious ruling, Sir.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: The problem with the point of order is that the question has not been completed. So, how do I decide midstream?
Ms Kalima: Should I start again, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker: You can continue, hon. Member.
Ms Kalima: Okay.
Laughter
Ms Kalima: Could His Honour the Vice-President state what comes first between ratification or the awarding of a contract and the type of contract that the Chief Justice, Ms Chibesakunda, is on. I would like His Honour the Vice-President, as he answers, to use the microphone because it is difficult for me to get what he is saying because of his accent.
Hon. Government Members: Musungu.
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, ratification means approving something that has already been done. So, obviously, the appointment comes first and the ratification comes second. Nothing on that individual’s ratification has ever come to this House that I recall.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, I have always believed that his Honour the Vice-President had a heart for other people, but I am beginning to have second thoughts now.
Mr Speaker, there are people such as District Commissioners (DCs) and Permanent Secretaries (PSs) who were dismissed immediately the PF came into power and have not been paid their terminal benefits to date. Some time back, His Honour the Vice-President promised that they were going to be paid. I would like to find out when these people will be paid their terminal benefits.
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, had the hon. Member slipped me a note even just this morning I could have got this information for him. As it is, I do not have it.
I thank you, Sir.
Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President when he last went to Lumumba and Freedom Way roads incognito to find out more about the street vending that is going on there.
Sir, from where Lumumba, Freedom Way and Cairo roads start to where they end, the whole area has been turned into a market. If His Honour the Vice-President has been there, can he tell us which toilets the vendors, some of whom have children, use. The situation has become worse since the change of policy by the PF Government.
Can the His Honour the Vice-President tell us if he has been there and what the Government intends to do to make it easier for people to conduct business in the central business district of Lusaka?
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, it is very difficult for me to drive or walk down there incognito.
Laughter
The Vice-President: Perhaps, the hon. Lady could tell me what, apart from dark glasses and a false beard, I should wear, given the shortage of well-known muzungus in this country.
Laughter
The Vice-President: It is rather difficult to disguise my identity.
Mr Speaker, I have, however, flown over the area incognito ...
Laughter
The Vice-President: … and I agree with her observations. I shall consult with the Lusaka City Council on the very issue of sanitation that she has raised.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Kunda (Muchinga): Mr Speaker, the people of Muchinga Constituency are crying because of the price of maize, as indicated by the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock.
Sir, removing subsidies is taking money from people’s pockets. This Government came into power, promising to give more money to the people. Is His Honour the Vice-President going to consider increasing the floor price of maize, taking into account that the cost of doing business has increased?
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the current price is based upon last year’s subsidies. The price for next year will be based upon this year’s fertiliser and seed input costs. Therefore, I would expect the floor price, indeed, if there is such a thing, to increase by next year.
Mr Speaker, if the people of Muchinga are crying, as the hon. Member describes, then it may be for other reasons than the price of maize.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mucheleka (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, the gains that we have made with regard to democracy and human rights cannot be reversed.
Mr Speaker, lately, it has become very common for Opposition leaders to be harassed. I am aware that just two days ago, the …
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Member for Lubansenshi, it is possible to formulate a question directly premised on what you are thinking.
You may proceed.
Mr Mucheleka: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your guidance.
Sir, what steps is the Government taking to ensure that it educates, particularly PF cadres, to respect the fact that this country has embraced democracy and therefore must not harass leaders that appear on private radio stations such as Radio Mano in Kasama because I have information that I might be the next victim.
Laughter
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, every PF cadre is aware that we have a multi-party dispensation. It is in fact because we have this dispensation that we were able to get ourselves elected into Government.
Sir, we urge our cadres not to be violent. Friction tends to arise, I hate to say, but it is true, wherever the UPND is campaigning heavily. I think that we should, maybe even jointly as parties, speak to our cadres about this.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, not long ago, there was an instruction from the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces to our defence and security forces to mobilise and go to Lukulu and sort out the people there …
Laughter
Dr Kalila: … on allegations that there were ex-service men being trained to topple the Government. I would like to find out the outcome of that particular exercise.
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am afraid, I do not recall the instruction being made publicly anywhere.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
The Vice-President: As far I am aware, nothing of any interest, in terms of security, has transpired in Lukulu.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
The Vice-President: I campaigned there myself. I moved across the whole area and it was peaceful.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, with the rise in the pump price of fuel, some road contractors are pulling out. I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President what the Government is doing concerning the many contractors of road works and other projects who prepared the bill of quantities (BOQ) based on the old fuel prices.
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, contracts for anything constructive tend to have variation clauses and contingency provisions. I, therefore, very much doubt that in this lucrative business of road construction anybody would pull out.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Antonio (Kaoma Central): Mr Speaker, the price of mealie-meal is going up and we expect that it will rise even further by next year. Has the PF Government got any plans to open mills to cushion the impact of the high prices?
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, no.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Simfukwe (Mbala): Mr Speaker, we have just learnt that the Government only intends to buy 500,000 metric tonnes of maize. The people of Mbala would like to know how much maize, from this amount, will be bought from Mbala.
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am sorry that I lack the specific detail in my pocket.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr W. Banda (Milanzi): Mr Speaker, on Wednesday, 17th July, 2013, the Zambia National Team made it to the Council of Southern African Football Associations (COSAFA) Senior Challenge final to be played against Zimbabwe. What is your message, Honourable Vice-President, to the Zambian fans out there as well as the national team?
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, my message is that I will be there and I know who I am backing. I, therefore, urge them to follow my example.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, considering the unprecedented rate of induced by-elections by the PF Government and the cost of these elections, when will the Government consider printing ballot papers locally?
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, soon.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Chipungu (Rufunsa): Mr Speaker, some DCs are at it again. They are arrogant and have no respect for hon. Members of Parliament. In fact, they have already started campaigning for the by-elections. Is it, therefore, not possible for the Government to swap such DCs, especially those that originate from the districts where they are stationed?
Hon. Opposition Members: Swap them!
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, only when we receive sufficiently specific information which does not say something like, “some DCs”, but that which gives us much more specifics, can we consider taking action.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, I have noted …
Mr Mutelo: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, is the Government in order to deny that no instructions or security personnel were sent to Lukulu when this same issue had even come in the form of an urgent question in this House. Is it in order for the Government to say, today, that such a thing did not happen, and yet helicopters were there in Lukulu and it was evident to everyone? Is it in order for the Government not to confirm what it found out?
I seek your serious ruling, Sir.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: I have ruled before and not long ago that points of order should be made contemporaneously and timorously.
May the hon. Member of Parliament for Solwezi West continue, please?
Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, the Constitution of Zambia is very clear. Chiefs are not supposed to take part in politics. Lately, I have seen in the newspapers the President parading traditional leaders and telling them to comment at public rallies when he is campaigning for the PF. His Honour the Vice-President, is that correct?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, we acquired that custom from our predecessors, the MMD.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Laughter
The Vice-President: The fact that they are not supposed to participate in partisan politics does not mean that they cannot participate with the Government in public or private meetings.
Mr M. H. Malama: Hear, hear!
Ms Kalima: Mule umfwako insoni.
The Vice-President: I thank you, Sir.
Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, is the Government considering constructing a mausoleum for the late President F. T. J. Chiluba?
Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to raise a point of order on His Honour the Vice-President.
His Honour the Vice-President has just informed the nation that the PF acquired those bad traits from the MMD which are contrary to the Constitution. Is he in order to continue violating the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia just because the MMD also violated it, and yet we swear to uphold the Constitution of Zambia?
Is he in order, Sir?
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: His Honour the Vice-President, please, take into account that point of order as you respond to the question from the hon. Member of Parliament for Dundumwezi.
You may continue hon. Member of Parliament for Dundumwezi.
Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, I would like to know when this Government will construct a mausoleum for the late President Dr F. T. J Chiluba.
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am not aware of any plans to do such a thing.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Mr Speaker: What about the point of order raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central?
The Vice-President: The hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central has a slight sense of humour deficit sometimes.
Mr Mwiimbu: Aah!
The Vice-President: When I said that we acquired that bad habit from our predecessors, that was a joke.
Interruptions
The Vice-President: I said …
Hon. Opposition Members: Question!
Mr Speaker: Order!
Let him respond.
Interruptions
The Vice-President: … traditional leaders and Government leaders have to meet and they have to attend each other’s meetings. It is straightforward as long as they are not there purely to campaign.
I thank you, Sir.
Interruptions
Hon. Opposition Members: No!
Mr Sing’ombe: You are joking!
Interruptions
__________
QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER
SUSPENSION OF LIVINGSTONE CITY COUNCIL
747. Mr Livune (Katombola) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing when the suspension of Livingstone City Council Councillors would be formally lifted, considering that the suspension period had expired.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr Tembo): Mr Speaker, …
Mr Speaker: Order!
Business was suspended from 1045 hours until 1100 hours.
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, when business was suspended, I was about to respond to the question raised by the hon. Member for Katombola.
Sir, I wish to inform this august House that the suspension of Livingstone City Council comes to an end by operation of the law today, Friday, 19th July, 2013, and not 17th July, 2013, as referred to by the hon. Member of Parliament.
Mr Speaker, the House may wish to know that the extension of the suspension of the Livingstone City Council was effective from 19th April, 2013 to 19th July, 2013 under the Gazette Notice dated 19th April, 2013. This is in accordance with the provisions of Section 88 (3) of the Local Government Act, Cap 281 of the Laws of Zambia.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, …
Mr Mbewe: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order which touches on the decorum of this House. People of Chadiza sent me here to represent them and talk on their behalf.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Ale, ale!
Mr Mbewe: When I come here, I am representing more than 50,000 people of Chadiza. Therefore, whenever I talk, I do so on behalf of these people, hence the Government is liable to give me satisfactory answers.
Mr M. H. Malama: Liable?
Mr Mbewe: Yes, it is a mandate that you must give me correct answers.
Mr Speaker: Do not engage the other Members.
Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, …
Mr Speaker: I am speaking. You cannot speak when I am speaking.
Hon. Government Members: Sit down, iwe!
Mr Speaker: That is also part of decorum.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: When I am speaking, nobody else speaks. Do not engage the other Members. Just make your point and I will deal with the other Members.
You may continue.
Mr Mbewe: Mr Speaker, even as you preside over the House, people listen and see.
Mr V. Mwale: Yes!
Mr Mbewe: Is the Government in order not to be answering my questions when I ask?
Hon. Government Members: Aah!
Mr Mbewe: Today, I asked the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock about the maize bran, I have not got an answer. Last week, I raised a point of order on the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport, asking whether the Government was in order to mislead the House. Today, the House is adjourning sine die and there is no answer despite the fact that you guided him to answer that question.
Sir, three weeks ago, I asked His Honour the Vice-President to state when the Judicial Reforms would start and whether these reforms had ended. I did not get a reply to this either. Therefore, I am going home a very sad person. Is the Government in order to keep quiet when we want satisfactory answers?
I need your serious ruling, Sir.
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
As far as I recall, and it is not long ago, it was just this morning that I directed that the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock should respond to your question as he continued responding to other questions. As far as my human memory is concerned, he did just that. Fortunately, we are backed up, technologically, with a verbatim record that can be proven in due course, whether or not my memory to that extent has, in any event, failed me. Secondly, that issue you have raised is certainly very valid and I, personally, keep track of these issues very closely. In fact, as closely as last evening when I retreated, and I gave a note to the Clerk of the National Assembly who has since communicated to His Honour the Vice-President who will, in turn, respond to the second issue before the House rises. Thirdly, on reforms, quite frankly, I may be wrong, but now, again, I can only engage my memory. I do not recall that issue and, therefore, it would not be fair and proper for me to take a definitive stand on that question. Again, we will search our verbatim record to see whether or not such an issue was in fact raised. However, let me assure hon. Members that a multi-party system of Government is symbiotic in nature. For the time being, the PF is actually in the helm. They are in the driving seat.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: At the same time, you have a mandate, and I respect that mandate to ensure that you hold this Government to account. If there are any lapses, human or of any sort, those of you who have interacted with me closely, especially the whips, will know that I maintain an open door policy. We will not let your colleagues on the right to carry on without being subjected to account. This is an accounting process, and I am here essentially as an umpire to ensure that the accounting process takes place. That is my ruling.
The hon. Member for Katombola can continue.
Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, magnanimity is not a sign of indolence, but wisdom. Considering the importance of activities happening in Livingstone, would the Government not consider it paramount to restore order in Livingstone so that there is no confusion in that town for the sake of the outsiders who are coming.
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member and you can rest assured that order will be restored in Livingstone once the period of suspension elapses. That period is ending at midnight tonight and, tomorrow, a statement will be issued.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker …
Mr L. J. Ngoma: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr L. J. Ngoma: Mr Speaker, just a while ago, you judiciously guided that points of order be raised almost immediately and urgently. I take this opportunity to follow that guidance. Not long ago, just before business was suspended, His Honour the Vice-President, in answering the question posed by the hon. Member of Parliament for Solwezi West, indicated that the Constitution can be abrogated. If he was joking, my heart bleeds.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Mr L. J. Ngoma: Is His Honour the Vice-President in order to turn this very important House into a joking chamber by encouraging hon. Members to abrogate the Constitution only if they are joking?
Hon. MMD Member: Joking Government!
Mr L. J. Ngoma: Is he in order to abrogate the Constitution for the sake of joking?
Hon. MMD Member: Joking Government. Everything is a joke.
Mr Speaker: Ordinarily, I would have said this is not contemporaneous, but I will not say that. Probably, you did not catch my eye when you attempted to raise the issue earlier on. My Ruling is very simple. From the clarification that His Honour the Vice-President made, and the way I understood him was that the statement was made in jest as a matter of humour.
Hon. Opposition Members interjected.
Mr Speaker: Let me finish. You have asked for a ruling and so you have to wait for it. He said what he said in jest. Now, you ask me to implicitly decide whether or not this is a joking chamber. That is implicit in your request, and we all know how much humour is practiced in any case in this House. We know how much humour is practiced, of course, under my watchful eye. I am part of that culture of humour. At appropriate times, I do also practice humour. So, in my view, you should give His Honour the Vice-President the benefit of doubt on this issue. He went further on to qualify what the correct position would be, and I do not think I can carry it further than that.
The hon. Member for Monze Central can continue.
Mr Mwiimbu: … the hon. Minister has just indicated that the suspension will elapse at midnight tonight. Is the hon. Minister aware that there are councillors in Livingstone who were voted and sworn into office after the suspension of the council and they are being punished by the PF Government when, in fact, they had no role whatsoever in the purported wrong doing of other councillors. Is the Government seriously taking into account that the councillors who did not participate in any wrong doing should not be punished?
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, the suspension of Livingstone City Council did not reflect on the behaviour of individuals but collective responsibility. We suspended the entire council.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, him being a member of the MMD, but serving in the PF Government, I would like the hon. Deputy Minister to help me appreciate this matter. We understand that the main reason this council was suspended was that it is Opposition dominated. Could he confirm that.
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I am very comfortable with commenting on issues bordering on partisan politics. We did not suspend Livingstone City Council because it run by opposition party members.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Belemu (Mbabala): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that the suspension comes to an end at midnight tonight and that when we wake up tomorrow, there will be a statement. What about those of us that do not intend to sleep because we are going to Livingstone, should we take it that after midnight, that council has been restored?
Interruptions
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I have already indicated in my earlier answer that, tomorrow, there will be a statement issued. We cannot say anything today because the suspension is still in effect.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Sir, three months after elections, Siavonga District Council was suspended. Three months later, the suspension was lifted. To date, we have not been informed about the findings of the commission that was sent there and why the council was suspended. Is this going to be the same case for Livingstone or is the Government going to avail the councillors in Livingstone the report of the ministry’s findings?
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, the question is specifically on Livingstone City Council. Even the offenses are quite different. So, I cannot answer the question posed by the hon. Member of Parliament for Siavonga. We are dealing with Livingstone City Council.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, will the findings about Livingstone be made known? That is the question.
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, a statement will be issued tomorrow and I think the findings will be mentioned in that statement.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mufalali (Senanga): Mr Speaker, not long ago, the hon. Minister of Local Government and Housing was on the Floor of this House telling us that the councillors should behave. Otherwise, they were all going to be fired.
Laughter
Mr Mufalali: Now that the suspension is about to be lifted, has the behaviour of the councillors changed since the ministry has been monitoring them?
Mr Tembo: Mr Speaker, I have already indicated that a statement will be issued. So, all those issues will be addressed in the statement.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: We seem to be engaged in a lot of speculation now.
_____________
ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER
LUNCH ARRANGEMENTS
Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform you that the following arrangements have been made for lunch this afternoon:
(a)there will be lunch at 1300 hours and the lunch break will be from 1300 hours to 1400 hours and the House will resume sitting at exactly 1430 hours; and
(b)lunch for all hon. Members will be served in the National Assembly restaurant here at Parliament Buildings and lunch for members of staff and Government officials will be provided at the National Assembly Motel.
All these arrangements are being effected under the aegis of Mr Speaker.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Subsidies.
Mr Speaker: I would like to advise hon. Members to be punctual. In this regard, I implore all the Party Whips to ensure that we have a quorum at 1430 hours.
I thank you.
Hon. Opposition Members: The lunch is a subsidy.
Mr Speaker: It is a grant.
Laughter
_____________ {mospagebreak}
KAPUTA DISTRICT COUNCIL MARKET
748. Mr Chansa (Chimbamilonga) (on behalf of Mr Ng’onga) (Kaputa)) asked the Minister of Local Government and Housing:
(a)when the Kaputa District Council Market was constructed;
(b)how much money had been set aside for rehabilitation of the market in 2013;
(c)whether there were any plans to improve the security lighting in and around the market in 2013; and
(d)when a new market would be constructed in Kaputa.
The Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing (Mr N. Banda): Mr Speaker, the Kaputa District Council Market was constructed between 1995 and 1996. There is no budgetary allocation for the rehabilitation of the market in the 2013 Budget. The provision of security lighting for markets is the responsibility of local authorities. Therefore, the ministry will engage Kaputa District Council to prioritise the provision of security lighting in and around the market. The Government will consider supporting this project in 2014. However, Kaputa District Council is advised to submit its request for support to the Ministry of Local Government and Housing through the area hon. Member of Parliament.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
NKULWASHI RURAL HEALTYH CENTRE IN KABOMPO
749. Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West) asked the Minister of Health when the extension and rehabilitation works at Nkulwashi Rural Health Centre in Kabompo West Parliamentary Constituency would commence.
The Deputy Minister of Health (Mr Mulenga): Mr Speaker, the extension and rehabilitation works at the health centre are expected to commence as soon as the tender procedures are concluded. This project is now at tender stage and it is expected that works should commence soon after tender procedures are concluded.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
DEFENCE FORCE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION
750. Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi) asked the Vice-President how many bridges the Zambia Defence Force constructed, countrywide, in response to disasters from January, 2011 to March, 2013, year by year.
The Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President (Mr Mwango): Mr Speaker, during the period under review, the Zambia Defence Force constructed the following bridges in response to disasters:
Contractor Province 2011 2012 2013
Zambia Army Eastern 13 4 Nil
Southern 3 2 7
Northern 4 4 Nil
Luapula 7 Nil Nil
Lusaka 3 2 Nil
Copperbelt Nil Nil Nil
North-Western 5 1 Nil
Western 5 2 Nil
Central 5 2 Nil
Total 45 17 7
Contractor Province 2011 2012 2013
ZNS Eastern 15 17 2
Southern 4 Nil Nil
Northern 5 Nil Nil
Luapula 13 Nil Nil
Lusaka 4 20 5
Copperbelt Nil Nil Nil
North-Western 6 2 Nil
Western 5 Nil Nil
Central 7 Nil Nil
Total 59 29 7
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I have noted that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) has been using the Zambia National Service (ZNS) to construct bridges in areas where the bridges were washed away. Is it not prudent to utilise the services of the engineering wing of the Zambia Army in Mufulira other than contracting private individuals who have been performing very badly in the building bridges?
The Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President (Mr Kalaba): Mr Speaker, the truth of the matter, going by the answer that has been given by the hon. Minister, is that we are using the ZNS as well as the Zambia Army in areas where disasters have struck. Before they go on site, there is always an engineer’s estimate done. Engineers always give a view of how the project is going to be implemented. Therefore, construction of bridges is always done within the engineers’ purview.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Simfukwe (Mbala): Mr Speaker, prior to 2011, the policy was to emphasise mitigation and disaster prevention. For that reason, there was a programme prepared to use the Defence Force. Estimates were made for various crossings and bridges that were in danger of collapsing. Looking at the figures that we have been given today, it looks like that policy has been abandoned. Could His Honour the Vice-President confirm that the Government will no longer follow this programme of preventing disasters by using the Defense Force to repair crossings?
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I cannot confirm that. The programme is continuing. However, what we are looking at here is 2011 when there was, first of all, quite heavy rainfall and, secondly, it was an election year in which our predecessors found it important to suddenly attend to a lot of bridges.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, in Solwezi West Parliamentary Constituency, the bridge at Mumbeji, connecting Senior Chief Mukumbi and the DRC, through Kalengelenge, was washed away and a report was given to the DMMU to ensure that the bridge was repaired. To date, there is nothing that has happened in that area. What is the DMMU doing to ensure that the bridge at Mumbeji is repaired?
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, as far as I am aware, a BOQ is being worked on. I do not know why there is a delay, but I will certainly find out and avail the information to the questioner.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, I have not heard of any bridges for the Southern Province for two consecutive years. At the moment, the bridge connecting Kalomo and Kazungula, through Kauwe and Nguba wards, has been completely washed away. This area is a maize belt and I do not even know how the maize will be transported. Why is the Government not repairing that bridge?
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the same answer as the previous one applies. Again, I can only wait for the DMMU to respond to that question. I cannot respond to it just from my head.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mwale (Chipangali): Mr Speaker, what is the Office of the Vice-President doing to ensure that the bridges that are constructed by the Defence Force are of good quality so that we do not have to attend to them year in and year out? I have in mind one bridge that was constructed in my constituency in Chief Kapatamoyo’s area which was washed away six months after it was constructed by the army.
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, there are supervising engineers and I hope that that complaint has gone to the DMMU. I should hope that you have written to the DMMU and received a reply by now. However, we try to supervise the works and maintain the standards. I have seen very good bridges built at one-tenth the cost of what private contractors have been paid for the same work.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out if the Office of the Vice-President is aware that there is some equipment for bailey bridges that has been lying idle at Kasempa Boys Secondary School for over five years. This was initially supposed to have been used to construct a bridge in Musonweji in Mufumbwe.
The Vice-President: I am sure the office is aware. I, personally, was not aware but I am now.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
UNZA AND CBU STUDENT BURSARIES
751. Mr Chungu (Luanshya) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:
(a)how many students from the University of Zambia (UNZA) and the Copperbelt University (CBU) benefited from the Government bursary in 2011 and 2011; and
(b)how much money in total was spent on the bursary.
The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Professor Willombe): Mr Speaker, the students who benefited from the Government bursaries in 2011 and 2012 at UNZA and the CBU are as follows:
Year University Number of Student Beneficiaries
2011 CBU 3,862
UNZA 7,653
2012 CBU 4,226
UNZA 8,247
Mr Speaker, the following are the total amounts spent on bursaries for the period 2011 and 2012 for the students at CBU and UNZA:
Year University Amount Spent (K)
2011 CBU 41,915,732
UNZA 78,641,628
2012 CBU 53,049,257
UNZA 86,887,258
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mwiimbu: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: Order!
A point of order is raised.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Finance informed us that effective 1st July, 2013, there would be no currency in this country called KR. Is the Government in order to continue talking about KR on the 19th of July when that currency has been discarded by the Government itself? Is the hon. Minister in order to mislead this House?
Mr Speaker: Order!
I think that that does not require debate. Maybe, it is a problem of conversion and the rate at which it takes place. However, I think that the point has been made, Hon. Mwiimbu. I hope the colleagues on the right will take note of their position.
Mr Chungu: Mr Speaker, the Government bursary on education is a well-intended programme. However, it has been abused by those that have been mandated to sit on the Bursaries Committee. These funds are meant for the underprivileged. However, you will find that 75 per cent of the people that are benefiting from the bursaries at the two institutions of learning are from well-to-do families. I would like to find out what the Government is doing to correct this situation so that the monies go to the intended beneficiaries.
Professor Willombe: Mr Speaker, the position on the bursaries, especially for the universities, is that the students that are given admission to universities are listed and submitted to the Bursaries Committee for consideration. We cannot change what the universities are doing. The lists of people that we consider for bursaries come from the respective universities. If those that are admitted to the universities are well-to-do, then that is the position. If those that are admitted to the universities are not well-to-do, again, it will be dealt with in the same manner. We do not change and start instituting other procedures in the system. We follow the laid-down procedures.
I thank you, Sir.
PHYSICAL EXERCISES POLICY
752. Mr Matafwali (Bangweulu) asked the Minister of Health when the Government would come up with a policy to encourage citizens to do some physical exercises in order to reduce on diseases.
The Deputy Minister of Health (Dr Chikusu): Mr Speaker, the need for involvement in sport and physical activity need not be overemphasised. It is a well-known scientific fact that regular physical activity such as walking, cycling or participating in sport has significant benefits for health. For instance, it can reduce the risk of cardio vascular diseases, diabetes, colon and breast cancer and depression. Moreover, adequate levels of physical activity will decrease the risk of hip or vertebral fracture and also helps control weight.
Mr Speaker, the Government recognises the significance of sport and physical activity in enhancing the health of the people and wellbeing. The National Health Policy that was approved by the Cabinet last year encourages people to participate in sport and other physical activities as a preventive measure, especially for non-communicable diseases. While the policies are in place, the decision to participate in sport and physical activity is an individual’s responsibility.
I thank you, Sir.
OBESITY IN ZAMBIA DEFENCE FORCE
753. Mr Matafwali asked the Minister of Defence when being overweight, which inhibits officers from performing optimally would become a basis for terminating employment contracts in the Zambia Defence Force as is the case in other African countries.
The Deputy Minister of Defence (Col. Lungu): Mr Speaker, unlike the case is in some other African countries, the Zambia Defence Force does not have a policy that may be used to terminate employment contracts of overweight personnel. However, units conduct ‘fit to fight’ tests by age group yearly to gauge the fitness levels of personnel.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, leaders should lead by example.
Laughter
Mr Mwiimbu: Is the hon. Minister encouraging those who are leading the Defence Force to be overweight so that they do not lead by example?
Laughter
Hon. Opposition Members: Nshima!
The Deputy Minister of Defence (Mr Mwila): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has clearly stated that we do not have this policy in Zambia at the moment, but it is there in other countries. Currently, we are guided by the Defence Act.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Speaker: Anyway, on a light note, I have personally seen some activity in that regard.
Laughter
Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, we are given to understand that there is no policy but, at the same time, we know that it is correct and necessary to be lean in order to perform as military personnel. Are you considering introducing this policy so that we can have efficiency in the army?
Mr Mwila: Mr Speaker, we do not have those intentions at the moment.
I thank you, Sir.
MOTOR VEHICLE OWNERSHIP
754. Mr Chansa (on behalf of Mr Ng’onga) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication how many cases of change of motor vehicle ownership were recorded from January, 2010 to April, 2013, year by year.
The Deputy Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr M. H. Malama): Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Road Transport and Safety Agency (RATSA), processed the following change of ownership for motor vehicles and trailers during the respective years:
Year No. of Transactions Recorded
2010 16,029
2011 18,188
2012 19,504
2013 (as of April) 6,578
I thank you, Sir.
MEDICAL RESEARCH LEVELS
755. Mr Chansa (on behalf of Mr Ng’onga) asked the Minister of Health:
(a)whether the ministry was satisfied with the levels of medical research it had been conducting since the 1990s; and
(b)if the research was not satisfactory, why.
The Deputy Minister of Health (Dr Chikusu): Mr Speaker, the Government is not fully satisfied with the level of medical research that has been conducted by the National Research Institutions since the 1990s because of some of the following reasons:
(a)there has been limited infrastructure and equipment to enable researchers carry out high-quality research and development activities;
(b)there has been limited internal funding for health research that is responsive to the health needs of the Zambian people;
(c)there has been no institutional and legal framework to carry out extensive health research; and
(d)much of the research has been externally-driven and may not have contributed much to improving the health status of the Zambia people.
Mr Speaker, the House may wish to note that to address the above challenges, the Government, through this august House, facilitated the enactment of the National Health Research Act No. 2 of 2013 which seeks to promote the development, prioritisation, regulation, financing and co-ordination of health research and provide guidelines and standards for undertaking research.
Sir, the Act also seeks to protect the public from abuse arising from unethical practices in health research. These actions will be mainly carried out and supervised by two key bodies established by the Act, namely the National Health Research Authority and the National Health Research Ethics Board. It is envisaged that with an elaborate institutional and legal framework, the capacity for Zambia to do better in the area of health research will be enhanced.
Mr Speaker, the House may further wish to note that districts are being encouraged to identify and prioritise health research questions so that the research being conducted can address the health needs of the local population.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out if, among the researches that are carried out, there is a component of Highly Infectious Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDs).
Dr Chikusu: Mr Speaker, yes.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Kaingu (Mwandi): Mr Speaker, how far has the hon. Minister gone with the Sondashi Formula?
Dr Chikusu: Mr Speaker, the Sondashi Formula is at the first phase of clinical trials which determines safety. This phase is due to start very soon at the Tropical Disease Research Centre (TDRC) in Ndola, and the money has already been given for that purpose.
I thank you, Sir.
FERTILISER STORAGE SHED IN LUWINGU
756. Mr Bwalya asked the Minister of Agriculture and Livestock:
(a)when the Government would construct a storage shed for fertiliser in Luwingu District; and
(b)when the construction of the Farmers’ Training Centre in Luwingu District would be completed.
The Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock (Mr Monde): Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to ensuring the development and improvement of agriculture infrastructure, including storage facilities in the country. This is currently being done through the promotion of private-sector investment in this sector.
Sir, the current Government input delivery system under FISP operates in such a way that the Government does not need to have its own storage facilities for fertiliser.
Mr Speaker, the Government, through FISP, procures fertiliser from various private suppliers at the Delivery Duty Unpaid (DDU) price. This means that the suppliers of fertiliser are responsible for the transportation and storage of the fertiliser in that particular district until it is distributed to the beneficiary farmers.
Sir, through this arrangement, the private sector suppliers are encouraged to put up storage structures in various operational areas, including Luwingu District.
Mr Speaker, the construction of the Farmers’ Training Centre in Luwingu is expected to be completed between August and October, 2013.
So far, a dormitory with sixteen self-contained rooms have been constructed. In 2008, there was a budget allocation of K500,000. The 2013 budget allocation for the completion of the farmer training centre is K100,000. So, a total of K8,000 has been realised. So far, a total of K508,000 has been spent on the project.
Sir, major works that have been done so far include the construction of a dormitory with sixteen self-contained rooms. Plumbing works have also been done, including the septic tank and soaker way. Outside plastering has been done while inside plastering is 75 per cent complete.
Mr Speaker, the major outstanding works include wiring the building, floor construction, painting and procurement of the water tank.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Bwalya: Mr Speaker, this is meant to be a modern institute. The contractor has abandoned the project, and yet we are now being told that it will be completed between August and October. Has anther contractor been engaged to complete the work?
Mr Monde: Mr Speaker, there are minor works which are remaining. The contract was terminated in August last year due to the contractor not being on site, but we are in the process of engaging another contractor as soon as we get the funds to complete the remaining works.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, how can the hon. Minister assure this House that the works will be completed in the period that he has indicated when funds have not yet been sourced?
Mr Monde: Mr Speaker, the funds we are talking about amount to K92,000 for the remaining works which are not so much. So, between August and October, 2013, works will be completed.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Mucheleka (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, the construction of the institute has stalled and the hon. Minister has indicated that it may be completed before the end of October. However, in his response, he indicated that they are in the process of looking for another contractor. Can we get a specific response with regard to how soon the new contractor will be engaged and when the funds will be released to ensure that this project that has taken too long to complete is completed by October.
Mr Monde: Mr Speaker, the District Tender Committee has submitted what is required for the remaining works. I did mention that what is remaining is wiring the building, constructing the floor, painting and procuring water tanks that can be done within that period.
I thank you, Sir.
__________{mospagebreak}
MOTIONS
Suspension of standing orders
The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that Standing Orders 20 and 21(1), if necessary, and Standing Order 101 be suspended to enable the House to complete all business on the Order Paper and all matters arising therefrom and that, on such completion, the House do adjourn sine die.
Mr Speaker, this is a procedural Motion which, I believe, is non-controversial although some people will find controversy even in a cup of tea. This Motion is designed to enable the House to conclude its business today and thereafter take a break.
Sir, the current meeting of the House commenced on Tuesday, 18th June, 2013, and, as of today, the House has been sitting for a total of nineteen days. Today being the last day of the meeting also marks the end of the Second Session of the Eleventh National Assembly. The third session begins later in September this year.
Sir, during this meeting, a total of 265 Questions for both oral and written answer were placed on the Order Paper and adequately answered by the Executive. The House also debated twenty Motions to adopt annual parliamentary committee reports as well as two Private Members’ Motions.
Mr Speaker, in addition, fourteen ministerial statements were presented to the House while twenty-six annual reports from the Government and quasi-Government institutions were laid on the Table of the House. The House also considered and passed two Government Bills and welcomed four new hon. Members of Parliament. These are the hon. Minister for Southern Province, who was nominated to the House by His Excellency the President and the hon. Members representing Feira, Kapiri Mposhi and Lukulu West parliamentary constituencies, following the by-elections held in the three constituencies.
Mr Speaker, the House has completed its programme of work and fulfilled the purpose for which it was convened, which is primarily to consider and adopt reports of parliamentary committees.
Sir, the Government is, therefore, committed to taking the recommendations of the committees seriously and acting on them accordingly. In this regard, allow me to thank all hon. Members for their dedication to duty and the constructive and invaluable contributions made during the meetings.
Mr Speaker, having accomplished the business set before it, it is appropriate for the House to go on recess so that all hon. Members can attend to other equally challenging national assignments outside this Chamber. The first one is tomorrow at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola at 1500 hours, which is the kick-off of the final of the COSAFA cup where Zambia will be playing Zimbabwe.
Sir, there will be no Zambian referees officiating. However, to clarify a query that was raised, there are a total of eight full referees and eight assistant referees from thirteen countries that participated in this cup. Zambia has provided one referee, Mr Janny Sikazwe, and two assistant referees. So, I hope it is clear.
Mr Speaker, I think there was confusion when Hon. Kambwili said there were eight Zambian referees. He was referring to the region as a whole, including Zambia.
Sir, as the House may be aware, we are almost at the end of the harvest season and some parts of the country recorded poor yields partly because of the army worms and poor rains. However, as the House adjourns, I wish to appeal to all hon. Members to go to their constituencies and undertake an assessment of the actual situation on the ground and to stay in close touch with the DMMU.
Mr Speaker, three hon. Members who, last week, in the Vice-Presidents Question Time, raised queries about their own areas. These are Hon. Antonio of Kaoma, Hon. Ntundu of Gwembe, who was threatening to row himself across the Lake Kariba to Zimbabwe and settle there, and Hon. Mufalali of Senanga. I have distributed copies of these answers to all three of them and will repeat the exercise with the DMMU on the questions that were asked today.
Mr Speaker, I am aware that the next planting season will begin when the House will be in session. Therefore, it is important that hon. Members use the recess to prepare adequately for the planting season by ensuring that farming inputs are available and distributed to the intended beneficiaries. The FISP fertiliser and seed is intended for small farmers. It is not intended for the so-called emerging farmers with canter trucks and tractors, commercial farmers, headmasters, policemen, civil servants and hon. Members of Parliament. It is intended for small village farmers. I would like to see our hon. Members take a more vibrant interest in getting to the poorest of the poor. We are helping the vulnerable farmers.
Mr Speaker, hon. Members should also use the recess to supplement and complement the Government’s efforts in the supervision of various developmental projects going on in many parts of the country. On the-spot-checks by hon. Members and subsequent feedback to the concerned ministries are important as we endeavour to develop our nation. I have already spoken about staying in touch with the DMMU on the emergency side and also, earlier today, I recommended that members avail themselves a copy or several written copies of the statement made by the hon. Minister of Home Affairs on the behaviour or relationship between the police and hon. Members of Parliament. We want relations to be good and not bad. We do not want hon. Members of Parliament to be impaired in carrying out their duties. That was made very clear by the statement which I have seen.
Mr Speaker, as I conclude, let me commend you, Mr Speaker, the hon. Mr Deputy Speaker and the hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees of the Whole House most sincerely for the efficient and impartial manner in which you guided the Business of the House.
Mr Speaker, let me also express my profound gratitude to the Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff for the excellent services they continue to render to this House, including advice to the Vice-President on what to do in difficult circumstances, although she does not give me the answers during the Vice-President’s Question Time.
Laughter
The Vice-President: Sir, let me also express my gratitude to all hon. Ministers, hon. Deputy Ministers and staff from the Office of the Vice-President and other Government ministries and departments for the support and assistance they provided to the House and which contributed to the success of the meeting.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Somebody would like to perform my task.
Laughter
Mr Speaker: Before I call upon the first hon. Member to speak, let me just provide technical guidance. This Motion, by definition, must be completed before 1255 hours, regardless of how much we want to debate. If we do not, then it lapses and it defeats the whole purpose of the Motion. So, come what may, when we approach that time, I will stop the debate so that the Motion can take effect.
Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, I thank you for making it possible for me to debate the Motion on the Floor of this House. I can assure you, Mr Speaker, that I will be very brief because I only have a few points to raise. The first one concerns the PF Government’s continued abrogation of the Constitution of the Republic of Zambia.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, this is fundamental. The Government in power must always protect and defend the Constitution of Zambia. What we are seeing now is alarming and must be stopped. For example, the chiefs are being paraded at campaign rallies and asked to support particular candidates, particularly those coming from the PF Government. This is not right and must be stopped.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, at the moment, there is serious debate between the Judiciary and the Legislature. I belong to the Legislature. The appointment of Justice Chibesakunda has been controversial and I do not understand why this has been so.
Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!
Mr Mwanza: Sir, this House made a decision and we have heard from one of the hon. Ministers who was trying to support the idea that the Committees we have do not have the powers to ensure that somebody is appointed. This is what I am concerned about because it is hinging on our obligation as hon. Members of Parliament.
Mr Speaker, I want to put it on record that we, hon. Members of Parliament from the North-Western Province, were legitimately elected by the people of North-Western Province.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, we stood strong to reject the PF Government because we knew that they were not going to bring any development for the people of Zambia.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwanza: We have been proved right. The people of Zambia know exactly what the PF Government’s aim was. Its aim was to dupe the people of Zambia into believing that that they were going to perform when in actual fact, they have not done so. The people of North-Western Province, including myself, are fed up of the PF Government using the resources that are coming from the North-Western Province to develop Muchinga Province.
Mr Livune: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, Muchinga is a new province of Zambia, but the development that is taking place there is unprecedented. It is neither found in Mongu nor Livingstone. Why are things happening that way?
Interruptions
Mr Mwanza: Sir, if the PF Government wanted to take development to other provinces, they could have done the same to the Northern Province, but they are only interested in Muchinga Province because, apparently, the President hails from there. That is wrong.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, in the North-Western Province, we are aware that a 50 kg bag of maize will cost K65 and two bags of maize will cost K130. The farmers in the North-Western Province want to know what is going to happen to the K70 because they are giving two bags of fertiliser to each of the farmers which are worth K200. If you subtract K130 from K200, you will remain with K70. Where is the K70 going? Is it going to the farmer or it is a subsidy which has been provided by the PF Government? So far, no explanation has been given. We want an explanation as the House goes on recess.
Mr Speaker, my last contribution is in regard to the Constitution of Zambia. The Constitution-making process is a fallacy. It is an embarrassment to the PF Government after having debated so well that they were going to put the Constitution of Zambia in place in ninety-days.
One year and nine months down the line and the Constitution is still nowhere to be seen. There is no clear roadmap for the people of Zambia to know that the PF Government means serious business and are not jokers as evidenced by the remarks of the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia this morning.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwanza: Mr Speaker, as the House goes on recess, the people of Solwezi West Constituency would like the issue of the constitution-making process to be resolved. There should be a clear roadmap on the Constitution. The Constitution Commission should be appointed and the date of the referendum set. These benchmarks are what the people of Solwezi West Constituency and the people of Zambia as a whole are demanding for. Failure to that, the Government will find it very difficult to operate in this country.
Sir, I said I was going to be a man of few words and I wish to thank you for giving me the opportunity to debate.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear.
Professor Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, I will equally be very brief. Indeed, it is time for the House to go on recess and I support the Motion. However, in supporting the Motion, I have a few reflections that the Executive should take into account.
Sir, first and foremost, we will soon enter the Budgetary Session and between now and the time we will come back, the Executive will be very busy with the Budget.
Mr Speaker, we would like to see a Budget that holistically embraces the development needs of our country. As His Honour the Vice-President has indicated in his Motion, there are efforts directed at endeavouring to develop the country. Indeed, the people of Nalikwanda and other parts of the country would like to see development.
Sir, our colleagues have been in the Executive for two years now, directing the affairs of this nation, but there are a number of disappointments in various parts of the country, especially constituencies that are represented by hon. Members from the Opposition. Statements have been made by the Executive in this House to the effect that development will never go to constituencies that are represented by hon. Members from the Opposition.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Professor Lungwangwa: These are statements that are very unfortunate because the resources that our colleagues are managing are public and national resources. Every child, woman and individual in the various parts of our country is entitled to a share of these resources. We should not play politics, but demonstrate leadership. It is true leadership and statesmanship …
Mr Chikwanda: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Chikwanda: Mr Speaker, my sincere apologies to the hon. Professor for interrupting his debate.
Sir, for the Executive to state that they would deny constituencies represented by hon. Members from the Opposition their due share of development is a very serious matter because it would …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
There is a way in which we conduct business. If one person is speaking, you should keep quiet. That is the way we conduct business.
Mr Chikwanda: … be morally abominable and would be an abdication of our responsibility, as a nation’s leadership, to do such a thing. Is the hon. Professor in order not to indicate specific circumstances, the date and where such a statement was made?
Interruptions
Mr Chikwanda: Is he in order? I need your serious ruling, Sir.
Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Nalikwanda, continue, bearing in mind the need for specificity.
Professor Lungwangwa: I thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
We must provide leadership in our country. We should all live a legacy of attending to the development needs in all corners of the country. We should not be seen to be divisive, segregating and neglecting any part of this country.
Mr Speaker, statements regarding belonging to a particular party and, in this case, the Ruling Party, have been made publicly. We have heard and seen them in the media. This is not right. In the interest of the development of this country, all children in any part of this country are entitled to the resources of this country. There should not be any discrimination. The excitement of the politics of eating must come to any end.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Professor Lungwangwa: This is what we have seen over the past two years. Our colleagues who are managing the resources of this country must now transcend the excitement of the politics of eating and look at national development in its totality.
Sir, to be more specific, there have been no development projects going on in the Western Province, for example for two years now.
Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!
Professor Lungwangwa: The development projects which are going on such as the construction of the Sesheke/Senanga Road were left by the MMD Government.
Hon. MMD Members: Hear, hear!
Professor Lungwangwa: The Kalabo/Mongu Road construction project was left by the MMD Government and all the various construction works which are being completed were left by the MMD Government. In the last years, there is nothing we can point to as the development projects that have come through the PF Government. This is the neglect that we are talking about.
Mr Livune: Hear, hear!
Professor Lungwangwa: Our colleagues must soul search and attend to the development needs of every part of this country. As the Ministry of Finance looks at the Budget, it should begin to be more equitable and look at these resources as public resources so that when we come to debate the National Budget, we should look at it is truly national.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Professor Lungwangwa: It should be one that is going to address the problems, for example, of the canoes, feeder roads and schools in the different parts of our country. That is leadership. What has been happening over the past two years has not been in accordance with the expectations of all of us. Leadership must transcend and narrow interests must be broader. We would like to see our colleagues who are managing the national resources exercising leadership so that people of Nalikwanda, for example, do not worry about their crossing points. Money should be made available for the culvert to be put there so that children can go to school without fearing to cross the rivers because of the crocodiles which might harm or kill them. This is the kind of leadership we would like to see.
Mr Speaker, over the next two to three years, we shall continue to bring these issues to the attention of our colleagues because we expect them to exercise good leadership that is in the interest of everybody.
I thank you, Sir.
Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I support the Motion to suspend Standing Orders 20 and 21 to allow the House to conclude its business. I will be very brief.
The end of this meeting of the House is very important to all of us hon. Members of this House because it will provide some time for us to reflect on how useful or, indeed, how useless our performance has been in the duties that people whose interests and aspirations we represent gave us.
Mr Speaker, as we go back to our constituencies, we, especially hon. Members on your left, have a duty to tell the people about the debates of this Chamber. The public needs to know the truth and nothing but the truth about how the country is being governed.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: Sir, I will quickly deal with the contentious matters that we dealt with in this particular meeting that lasted nineteen days, including the removal of subsidies.
This is a topical issue that we need to go and explain to the people who woke up on 20th September, 2011 to make it possible for us to come to this august House. We have to make them understand why the price of mealie-meal is escalating. They need to understand why the price of fuel, in the face of the regional price of US$1.20 per litre, is US$1.83 per litre in this country. We need to make the people who brought us to this House understand these issues. They need to understand that someone somewhere is either unduly pocketing 60 cents or there is some imprudent manner in which this much-needed resource is being procured in this country.
Mr Livune: Hon. Kabimba must explain.
Laughter
Mr Nkombo: It is true that, regionally, the price of fuel is 60 cents cheaper than it is in this country. As far as I know, it can only be as a result of those two reasons I have already stated.
Mr Speaker, we need to go and explain, just to buttress the point that the hon. Member of Solwezi West put across, that the PF have become champions of mutilation and amputation of our Constitution.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: They have become champions.
Sir, this House is sacrosanct. Whether it was a light moment or not, my good friend, as elderly as he may be, His Honour the Vice-President told us that the issue of ratification of the Chief Justice, a constitutional office holder, is mere routine. We need to go back to the people and tell them, in no uncertain terms, that we have jokers in Government.
Hon. Government Members: Aah!
Mr Nkombo: The issue of ratification is imbedded in our Constitution.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Member for Mazabuka Central, …
Mr Nkombo: Yes, Sir.
Mr Speaker: … just pause for a moment.
I will not restrain you from discussing issues. That would be inappropriate. However, we know a very well-settled convention of not debating ourselves. You are free to discuss whatever issues you want, but we cannot debate ourselves. We cannot start singling out individuals and generalising and characterising. That is unacceptable.
You may continue.
Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I truly treasure your guidance and I will leave His Honour the Vice-President to his peace.
Laughter
Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, the issue that we are going to explain in our constituencies to every person who is interested is that the person who is occupying the Office of the Chief Justice, in our view, and according to our interpretation of the laws that were enacted in this House, is a wrong person. This, hon. Members of Parliament, is a screaming message that you must take to your constituencies.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: Sir, as we reflect upon this period that we will not be coming to assemble here, it is important that while we understand and agree that by-elections are part and parcel of our Budget, there comes a time when a rot has to be put to a stop.
Mr Speaker, the UPND has no qualms about hon. Members of Parliament using their right to appeal against what may appear to be malpractices. They can go to court and seek redress and go to by-elections and, where possible, win and come back to this House. This is what a democracy is. It is expensive.
Mr Speaker, the Head of State and the members of the Executive, many times during by-elections, have told the electorate that if they wanted to see development, they would have to vote for the PF. What happened to the democracy that we fought for? It is only fair that as we render the allegiance that we pledged to give to the Head of State and defend the Constitution that governs us, the Executive wing of the Government also respects the same Constitution.
Mr Speaker, a situation where the Government is the only one to be heard during a by-election simply because they have the advantage of publicity and they are the sponsors of by-elections, should come to an end. They are busy talking to weak souls and offering them jiggies and sumo biscuits so that they can join them.
Hon. Opposition Members: Jiggies!
Mr Nkombo: This is why hon. Members on your left, Sir, must go to their constituencies and explain that Zambia has got the most bloated Executive in excess of seventy. There is no such a thing in Africa or the whole wide world.
Mr Speaker, they are now eating into our space on your left.
Laughter
Mr Nkombo: There are three hon. Deputy Ministers in one ministry, in the face of removed subsidies. Instead of managing resources, they are bloating the Government. There are more than seventy individuals in the Executive and they are still looking for more.
Mr Speaker, the Head of State is on record, each time he is swearing-in the same people I referred to, …
Hon. Opposition Members: Weak souls!
Mr Nkombo: I do not want to say that.
Laughter
Mr Mwale: They are.
Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, the Head of State tells the same people that I referred to, and I can produce evidence that, “you will have a car, a phone, no utility bills and a house.” Is that not luring?
Mr Speaker, had the hon. Members on your left been weak souls, this Government would have been a one party-participatory democracy.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: You can tell from their association with those who propagated the one-party participatory democracy that what I am saying is actually true.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, this House is here for us to debate and convince one another on how we are going to run this country. I think it is our absolute right to state this message very clearly.
Mr Speaker, the media has been contaminated. The media has been trained to ask hon. Members who go to report problems in their constituencies questions like now that you are with hon. so and so, does it mean that you have crossed the Floor. Crossed this leopard and this lion for sumo biscuits (pointing at the leopard and lion in the Chamber)? We are in Government together and this is one lesson that the PF needs to learn forthwith.
Mr Livune: Workshop!
Mr Nkombo: The success of any project in my constituency is the success of the PF. There is no doubt about that. There have been inflammatory statements about what the PF Government is capable of doing which has failed to be done in the constituency that I am privileged to represent.
When Hon. Mulomba was vying to come to this House, His Honour the Vice-President, seated here, indicated …
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central, I have already counselled on that line of debate. I know it is tempting, but it is simply not allowed.
Mr Nkombo: My apologies, Sir, I withdraw that statement.
Mr Speaker, the PF Government, in their desperate need for votes, went to Mazabuka and told us that within a month, they had found an investor who was going to resume the Munali Nickel Project. That project has been closed since September, 2011. At the time they were entering Government, they showed a lot of good will, but they have since abandoned that project.
Sir, I would like to remind His Honour the Vice-President to find an equity partner for people to get the jobs that they were promised. That infrastructure is now a shell. It is true that this may not be their problem, but some people were internally displaced from their land and taken to a dambo where even cows can hardly survive, and that is where they live to date.
Mr Speaker, as I conclude my debate and, since I have been forbidden from mentioning names, I would like to remind the PF Government to look at their manifesto. There are a few good things that they have put in their manifesto and one of them was that they were going to actually repeal the Non-Governmental Organisation Act.
NGOs are essential partners in any government operation. A few days ago, in fact, as recent as yesterday, the PF Government were saying, against what they wrote in their own manifesto in the spirit of not kubeba, that they are not going to touch that Act and change a single word in it, and yet part of the platform, to be fair with them, that they used to ascend to power, were the NGOs. It is undisputable that they used the NGOs as a springboard to get to where they are today. Time will tell.
Interjection
Mr Nkombo: It is not nonsense. As a man lives, so shall he die.
Mr Livune: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: If you live by fraudulent means, I was going to use the word ‘lies’ but it is unparliamentary, you will also exit through that same lie.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
The Minister of Justice (Mr Kabimba, SC.): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me this opportunity to contribute to debate on this Motion.
Sir, when His Excellency the President came to open this Session of Parliament, he extended an olive branch to our colleagues on your left to work together with us on the right in order to develop this country.
Interruptions
Mr Kabimba, SC.: It is clear, Mr Speaker, that the abrasiveness of the debate coming from the left cannot achieve that spirit. It is unfortunate …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Members, it is so nice to keep quiet because you can hear what the other person is saying. These running commentaries are uncalled for. You are all in the same business of serving the people of Zambia and this is a partnership. Let us respect each other.
May the hon. Minister of Justice continue, please?
Mr Kabimba, SC.: Thank you very much. I was going to emphasise the very words that you have used that there is a partnership between our colleagues on your left and us to develop this country. The problems that this country has inherited over a period of twenty years cannot be solved by the people on your right alone.
It would not do anybody any good, let alone the people out there listening to us, if we are going spend a lot of our time in this House pandering to the gallery so that our voices can be heard. We have a job to develop this country.
Sir, I also want to emphasise that in September, 2011, elections were held in this country and the people of Zambia spoke wrongly or rightly.
Hon. Opposition Members: Wrongly, wrongly!
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: Their voice was very clear that they would vest the governance of this country in the PF.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: It will not do anybody any good to try to question the judgement of the Zambian people. The time will come when we will be able to do that in 2016.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: In addition to that, in a democracy, you tell the popularity of a political party by an election.
Hon. Government Members: Yes!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: We have had by-elections going on and I have not seen any political party that has stayed away from these by-elections. Each one of us has gone to taste our popularity and our argument with the Zambian people.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: The Zambian people have spoken repeatedly …
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: … that the PF …
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: … is still the political party in which they have confidence.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: That message is clear. We would be bad democrats, Sir, if democracy was only relative to us when we won an election. We have had so many local government by-elections; the taste of political parties at the local community level and we have beaten the Opposition in those elections.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: How else do you want the people of Zambia to speak to you? They have constantly made it clear that this is the political party in which they believe and this is the group of men and women in whom they believe.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: So, it will not help to cry to the high heavens in this House instead of us working together to develop this country.
Mr Speaker, since 1991, this is the first time that we have seen development criss-crossing the borders of the provinces in this country.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Hon. Opposition Members: Question!
Ms Kalima: Ubufi!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: This is the first time, Sir, since 1991, that we have a leadership and a leader that is bringing back the unity that this country requires so much.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Ms Kalima: Ubufi!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: I just hope that our colleagues on the left would cease this opportunity if they want to come back in 2016 in the Opposition again.
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: The chances of them winning an election against the PF in 2016 are almost non-existent.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Interruptions
Mr Kabimba, SC.: However, the people of Zambia will do them a favour by retaining them in the Opposition again.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kabimba, SC.: Do not provoke them. Let them work with this team here to make sure that it continues bringing about development as they sit on the left of Mr Speaker.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
Just wait His Honour the Vice-President.
Interruptions
Order, order!
Interruptions
Hon. Member for Kasenengwa, Order!
May his Honour the Vice-President continue.
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I wish to thank the four people who contributed to debate on this Motion in addition to myself. Really, there is some active imagination around that one normally associates with the Zambian Watchdog publication to the effect that there is no development in the Western Province. It is a libellous statement and it is completely false. US$36 million has just been allocated there, under the World Bank, to various projects like canal drainage and so on and so forth. There are stadia projects there, and there is a school being built. In one hon. Member’s constituency, a secondary boarding school is also being built.
Sir, I would also like to thank my young friend from Mazabuka. I am glad that he curtsied to me because I am more elderly than him, but elderliness is a matter of a frame of mind, and I wonder which one of us is more ancient on that basis.
The hon. Minister of Justice was very succinct and straight to the point.
So, Sir, I beg to move and I thank you.
Question put and agreed to.
Hon. Opposition Members called for a division.
Mr Speaker: The division has failed.
Laughter
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
Given that it is very close to 1255 hours, and we have a very substantive Motion to debate, namely the Report of the Public Accounts Committee, I would direct that we suspend business and, as I indicated earlier, business will resume at 1430 hours pronto.
Business was suspended from 1249 hours until 1430 hours.
[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]
REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE ON THE REPORT OF THE AUDITOR-GENERAL ON THE ACCOUNTS OF PARASTATAL BODIES
Mr Mwale (Chipangali): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Accounts of Parastatal Bodies for the Year Ended 31st December, 2011, for the Second Session of the Eleventh National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 17th July, 2013.
Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?
Mr Matafwali (Bangweulu): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.
Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, in accordance with its terms of reference, your Committee considered the Report of the Auditor-General on the Accounts of Parastatal Bodies for the Year Ended 31st December, 2011. The audit covered twenty-one parastatal bodies.
Sir, from the outset, let me state that it is our obligation, as the Public Accounts Committee and Parliament, to be satisfied, on behalf of the Zambian people, that all ministries, provinces and other spending agencies, including parastatal bodies, have systems in place to ensure proper accountability for the funds entrusted with them. We have a responsibility to make certain that there are systems for effective and efficient delivery of their respective mandates.
Sir, it is for this reason that your Committee urges managements and boards in these institutions to view audit reports, both external and internal, as vital management tools that should be used to improve their performance by taking corrective action when and where necessary.
Sir, like other previous audit reports on accounts of parastatal bodies, the audit report under consideration has revealed a litany of irregularities by these organisations, which is disheartening to your Committee. This report speaks about many instances of:
(a)lack of preparation of financial statements;
(b)failure to remit statutory contributions;
(c)weaknesses in procurement procedures;
(d)unaccounted for funds; and
(e)irregular payments and poor financial performance by respective parastatal organisations.
Mr Speaker, the question that your Committee has been asking itself is why this state of affairs has continued to prevail. Why should our parastatal bodies be a haven for poor financial management and performance? In the view of your Committee, this can be attributed to failure by the Government, as the owner of these institutions, to provide leadership. This is evidenced in the Government’s failure to put in place a policy and legal framework to guide the operations of parastatal bodies. This has been the case ever since the decision to privatise all parastatal bodies was made.
Sir, although the Secretary to the Treasury informed your Committee that the Government is working on a policy and legal framework to govern state-owned enterprises, your Committee is skeptical, as such submissions have been made before. Your Committee, however, urges the Secretary to the Treasury to ensure that this measure is put in place before the end of the year, as assured.
Mr Speaker, time and again, your Committee has urged the Government to continuously review the status of parastatal bodies in order to determine whether such bodies are still relevant and are playing the role for which they were established and whether they are adequately capitalised to enable them to deliver their mandate effectively. Unfortunately, the Government does not seem to appreciate this advice. I will illustrate this by using the plight of two water transport companies, namely Mweru and Bangweulu water transport boards. These two companies are in a sorry state and have not been delivering on their mandates to provide water transport to the people of Mweru and Bangweulu catchment areas for a while. I hope the His Honour the Vice-President and hon. Minister of Finance are listening.
Mr Speaker: Order!
Please, just continue with your report.
Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, for example, the only boat for Mweru Water Transport Board that was available stopped operating in 2009 while the boat at Bangweulu stopped operating in September, 2011. To date, both boats are still not operational. The existence of these two water transport companies is questionable, as their core business of providing water transport is not being conducted. The simple message from your Committee to the Government is that it should decide whether the parastatal bodies are still relevant and then provide adequate capital for their efficient operations.
Sir, I want to briefly comment on other irregularities covered in your Committee’s report. The first matter that caught the attention of your Committee was the failure to constitute boards of directors in most parastatals. Culprits among them include Nkana Water and Sewerage Company, North-Western Water and Sewerage Company and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC).
Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!
Mr Livune: Shame, shame!
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Mwale: For the ZNBC, the board of directors was dissolved in December, 2010 but, to date, the corporation runs without a board, contrary to ZNBC Act No. 20 of 2002.
Your Committee is saddened that this has led to most parastatal bodies failing to take critical corporate decisions due to the non-existence of the respective boards to approve management recommendations. Your Committee urges the Government to ensure that the appointment of boards of directors is done in a timely manner to avoid creating inertia in the administration of parastatal bodies.
Sir, the second matter of great concern is the issue surrounding the management of MOFED Limited, Tanzania. This is one of the companies that have suffered greatly due to lack of close supervision and monitoring by the Government and the board. Your Committee observes that the company has faced a lot of challenges relating to poor corporate governance and has irregularities which mostly border on fraud and abuse of authority.
Mr Speaker, let me cite one example of what I am talking about here. In 2007, the company was offered forty hectares of land at K250 million by Nakonde District Council to be used as a dry port. In May, 2012, the ownership of the dry port was changed from the company to ZAMESCO Ltd, a private company. What surprised your Committee is that this was done without the approval of the Board of Directors. The company did not even maintain any correspondence on this matter. Your Committee was informed by the controlling officer that one officer dealt with this matter and even used company letter heads without the knowledge of management and the board. What is of concern to your Committee is that the matter has not been reported to the investigative wings for further investigations and possible prosecution.
Sir, this is just one example of the many cases in this company and, indeed, that were queried on issues that border on fraud and abuse of office which, unfortunately, have not been reported to the investigative wings. Your Committee, therefore, strongly urges the Secretary to the Treasury to ensure that all matters raised in the report of the Auditor-General that border on fraud and abuse of office are immediately reported to the investigative wings.
Thirdly, while we are calling for close supervision of parastatal bodies by the Government, this should not be taken to mean Government interference, as this can be detrimental to the performance and wellbeing of the organisations.
Sir, let me illustrate this with the weakness that we highlighted in the management of grain by the FRA. Your Committee heard that due to policy pronouncements by the Government, the FRA purchased excess crop to the tune of K1.5 trillion. This resulted in excess stock losses of up to K1.1 trillion because the agency did not have the capacity, in terms of space and other requirements, to secure the crop. Your Committee urges the Government to give room to management and the Board of the FRA to conduct their business in a professional manner.
Mr Speaker, let me conclude by thanking you and the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance you rendered to your Committee during the session. I would also like to thank the Secretary to the Treasury and all the controlling officers, including their respective representatives that appeared before your Committee for their co-operation. The deliberations of your Committee could not have been ably concluded without the assistance of the offices of the Auditor-General, the Accountant-General and the Controller of Internal Audits. Lastly but not in any way the least, I would like to show my gratitude to the members of your Committee for their professionalism and the tenacity they displayed in carrying out their duties during the Second Session of the Eleventh National Assembly as well as their questioning of subjects, resulting in the conclusions being presented to this House. I, therefore, commend this report to the House.
Mr Speaker, I beg to move.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Does the seconder wish to speak now or later?
Mr Matafwali: Now, Mr Speaker.
Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me this opportunity to second the Motion on the Floor of the House.
Firstly, I want to pay tribute to the mover of the Motion for not only the able manner in which he has highlighted the key issues contained in your Committee’s report, but also the professional manner in which he has handled matters related to your Committee for which he has been chairperson for the First and Second Sessions of the Eleventh National Assembly.
Mr Speaker, it is during his tenure of office that your Committee has gained not only regional recognition, as one of the best public accounts committees in the region, but also hangs high in the ranking at both continental and global levels.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}
Mr Matafwali: Mr Speaker, let me state, from the outset, that my contribution on this Motion will anchor on two pertinent issues which came to the fore in your Committee’s interaction with some institutions. The first one is the issue of increasing financing deficit faced by the Public Service Pension Fund. Your Committee was informed that the last actuarial report covering the period 2006 to 2008 revealed that the fund had vested benefits valued at K12.8 trillion as opposed to the net assets available for benefits that stood at K402 billion, thereby resulting into a deficit of K11.678 trillion. What this means is that the fund is actually technically insolvent.
Sir, as hon. Members of Parliament may be aware, the genesis of these challenges for not only the Public Pension Fund, but also the Local Authority Superannuation Fund (LASF) was the coming into effect of the National Pension Scheme Act which meant that all new entrants in the Public Service, except for those joining the defence and other security forces were to be registered with the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) instead of the Public Service Pension Fund. This has created a serious mismatch between contributing members and pensioners, thereby making the sustainability of the fund doubtful, as more members become pensioners without corresponding new members, thereby increasing the dependency ratio.
Mr Speaker, your Committee was in fact informed by the controlling officer that although the ideal dependency ratio for the fund is 1:5, that is to say one pensioner to five serving members, the dependency ratio of the fund had deteriorated from 1:2 in 2010 to 1:186 in 2011.
Sir, your Committee is of the view that the problem demands decisive action from the Government, and this needs to be done sooner than later. Your Committee was however consoled by the statement by the Secretary to the Treasury that a committee had been set up to make recommendations on the way forward.
Mr Speaker, the second matter that continued to be worrisome to your Committee is the failure by local authorities to account for funds disbursed to them by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to conduct voter education, voter registration and elections at large.
Sir, these monies were subjected to all forms of abuse and most local authorities have not bothered to respond to calls by the controlling officer to account for the funds. In the current case, the following were some of the financial irregularities highlighted:
(a) unretired imprest stood at K354 million;
(b) missing payment vouchers stood at K260 million;
(c) inadequately supported documents stood at K5.6 billion;
(d) unaccounted for fuel was K594 million; and
(e) irregular drawing of fuel was K122 million;
Mr Speaker, your Committee, therefore, observes that owing to the ECZ’s heavy reliance on local authorities when conducting elections, it will continue to experience principle problems as evidenced by the cited cases. Considering the huge amounts involved, I wish to strongly urge the Government to take appropriate disciplinary action against councils and officers that delay in responding to queries to minimise future occurrences.
I also urge the Government to involve the Local Government Commission in the matter, as the issue cited borders on indiscipline of officers.
Mr Speaker, permit me to echo the sentiments of a legion of other hon. Members of Parliament on the need to review the current Committee system which, in my view, has become moribund in the face of a challenging environment. Let us give the Public Accounts Committee and all other Committees more teeth to bite.
Mr Speaker, lastly but certainly not the least, I urge all hon. Members of the House to support the Motion. With these remarks, I beg to second the Motion.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you sincerely for giving me the opportunity to render my support to the Motion that has been ably moved by the hon. Member and Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Mwale, and seconded by Hon. Matafwali.
Mr Speaker, I would like to remind our colleagues on your right that prior to the 2011 Elections, the PF Government made fundamental pronouncements to the people of Zambia pertaining to the privatisation of the public media institutions in Zambia. They assured the nation that immediately they came to office, that would be one of the issues that they would look at. This is because according to the PF, they realised that during the reign of the MMD, the three public media institutions were abused but, alas, in their usual fashion, our colleagues in the PF have somersaulted and have decided to ignore the fundamental pronouncement they made to the nation.
Mr Speaker, I will start with the ZNBC. I recall that when the PF and us were in the Opposition, we were very consistent in ensuring that a board of directors for the ZNBC was appointed. Today, the PF Government have decided to ignore their pleas and assurances to the nation. They have done that because they have realised that by not having a board of directors, they will be able to abuse the ZNBC …
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear.
Mr Mwiimbu: … without any censorship from anyone. As far as I am concerned, the PF have no interest in ensuring that the board of directors is appointed. This is because they want to control the ZNBC.
Mr Speaker, the ZNBC is supposed to be a public broadcaster, representing the interest of every Zambian in this country. Unfortunately, the complaints that were obtaining when the PF and us were in the Opposition are still obtaining. If anything, they are getting worse.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Kapaya: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: Order!
A point of order is raised.
Mr Kapaya: Mr Speaker, I am at pains to raise this point of order.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Kapaya: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central in order to insinuate that the PF Government is controlling the ZNBC when, in fact, the members of the Executive are the ones complaining that the ZNBC is not covering them.
I need your serious ruling, Sir.
Mr Livune: Where is the board?
Hon. Opposition Members: Where is the board?
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Member for Katombola, you are very distinct. In that regard, as distinct as your apparel?
Laughter
Mr Speaker: Order!
My ruling is that the right will be given an opportunity to respond at an appropriate juncture.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: Order!
This is a debate and I do not think that I should be censuring views in that sense. You may continue, Hon. Mwiimbu.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, if there are any complaints emanating from our colleagues on your right, those complaints are compliments to the ZNBC. They are not complaints.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I was saying that it is incumbent upon our colleagues to ensure that the assurances they have been giving to the people of Zambia are honoured. As a result of the lack of confidence by Zambians in the ZNBC, its profitability has gone down. According to your Committee’s report, the ZNBC lamented that it is not making any profit because the people are not advertising on it. Even the Television Levy payments are at 20 per cent. The profitability and the issue of television licences not being honoured by Zambians is as a result of lack of confidence in the ZNBC. If the ZNBC was acting in accordance with the wishes of the people, we would have seen it ascend to profitability. Unfortunately, that is not the case. As a result of the lack of confidence in the ZNBC, a number of Zambians do not watch ZNBC Television anymore.
Mr Speaker, three weeks ago, the ZNBC was cited by the ECZ because of its biasness during elections. It has been treating the PF as the only party participating in the electoral process.
Hon. Government Members: Question!
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, that is a fact, unless you are disputing what the ECZ has indicated. The Director General for the ZNBC appeared on television, admitting and apologising to the nation for the omissions that had occurred.
Mr Mulenga: So you watch ZNBC Television.
Hon. Opposition Member: Lisholi
Mr Speaker: Order!
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, it is a nice thing to be independent, but it is a bad thing to be independent of wisdom.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Nkombo: Iyo ndaiyanda.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I would like to implore and impress on His Honour the Vice-President who is the leader of Government Business in the House, to honour the assurances that are made to this nation. Let them ensure that the ZNBC Board is appointed so that the confidence that has been lost is restored. The ZNBC is supposed to be a broadcaster for everyone.
Mr Speaker, the other issue, which I would like to comment on, relates to the Greater Livingstone Tourism Area Action Plan. I am not against the movement of the provincial capital from Livingstone to Choma. However, I would like to remind my colleagues on your right that that decision alone has destroyed Livingstone.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwiimbu: If you go to Livingstone today, you will find that the former Provincial Office where my …
Mr Nkombo: Our grandfather!
Mr Mwiimbu: … – grandfather, I am being reminded, was operating from, you will find that it is now occupied by the Zambia Police. They are using it as a dwelling place.
Mr Muntanga: Mobakala?
Mr Livune: Mwa boona!
Mr Mwiimbu: The offices that were built at a high cost are now moribund. Most of the provincial offices have been moved from Livingstone to Choma and the offices are vacant. A lot of people who were working in Livingstone have moved.
Sir, as a result of that decision, the rentals for accommodation and commercial structures in Livingstone have plummeted. For the benefit of Hon. Munkombwe, who is the Provincial Minister, …
Mr Speaker: Order!
Hon. Member for Monze Central, there is no need to debate Hon. Munkombwe. You can talk about the relocation of the headquarters and so on and so forth, but you cannot bring Hon. Munkombwe into the debate in that fashion.
Please, continue.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I thank you for your guidance.
Sir, I would like to bring to the attention of whoever is the hon. Minister for Southern Province …
Laughter
Mr Mwiimbu: … that Fallsway Park, which is supposed to be a mini shopping mall in Livingstone, has closed. As a result of the movement of the capital from Livingstone to Choma, there is no business in Livingstone.
Interruptions
Mr Mwiimbu: It is a fact.
Mr Nkombo interjected.
Mr Kampyongo: Who moved it!
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I know that one hon. Member who is Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Home Affairs has never been to Livingstone.
Mr Livune: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwiimbu: Sir, the situation in Livingstone needs the attention of the Government. I would like to appeal to the Government to ensure that Livingstone is discriminated positively, and that certain industrial activities are taken there.
Mr Lubinda: On a point of order, Sir.
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, I apologise to Hon. Mwiimbu and to the House for raising this point of order. However, I seek your ruling as to whether my good friend who is supposed to be debating the Motion, which is the Report of the Auditor-General on the Accounts of Parastatal Bodies for the Year ended 31st December, 2011, is in order to be totally irrelevant to the report and keep talking about Livingstone which is not mentioned in the report and the administration of the province which is not subject of the matter that is for discussion on the Floor. Is he in order not to stick to the rules of debate and engagement which require that we debate matters that are relevant to the Motion?
I seek your ruling, Sir.
Mr Speaker: My ruling is that I must confess that I have been very anxious and waiting to see the nexus between the debate by the hon. Member and indeed, the report. Perhaps, my well of patience is very deep. So, it took time for me to arrest the debate. However, hon. Member for Monze Central, please, bear that in mind in case you are, indeed, as suspected by the hon. Member for Kabwata, off the mark. Relevance is key.
Please, continue.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I am always relevant. I would like to appeal to the House to look at page 105 of the report, headlined, ‘The Greater Livingstone Tourism Area Action Plan’.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker that is the issue I am debating. I know that my colleague is very unsettled in this House. Can you settle down?
Laughter
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I was bringing out issues that are related to the Greater Livingstone Action Plan, and I was appealing to the Government to take action pertaining to the same.
Mr Livune: Well done!
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, the other issue which I would like to bring to your attention relates to the Rural Electrification Authority (REA).
Sir, at one time, all of us were accorded the opportunity to see a master plan pertaining to rural electrification. To date, nothing much has been done about that plan. I am aware that not even in Mahopo has this electricity plan been carried out.
Laughter
Mr Speaker: Order on the left!
Mr Mwiimbu: As a result of lack of electricity in Mahopo, the people are now being resettled in Luapula and North-Western provinces. This is unfortunate. We need REA to do something about the people of Mahopo as per programme that was submitted before this House.
Mr Speaker, I would like to urge the hon. Minister responsible, as he responds to the issues of REA, to assure us that the Rural Electrification Programme is not discriminatory and that …
Mr Evans: On a point of order, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.
Mr Evans: Mr Speaker, is it in order for the hon. Member of Parliament for Monze Central to mislead this House or nation by giving false information about Fallsway Park Shopping Mall being closed due to the movement of the provincial capital to Choma …
Interruptions
Mr Evans: … when …
Interruptions
Mr Speaker: Order, order!
Mr Evans: … the shop was actually closed before the provincial capital was moved to Choma.
I seek your serious ruling, Sir.
Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!
Laughter
Mr Speaker: Order!
Anyway, that point of order is simply not procedural. We had our orientation sometime back, at the beginning of the session.
May the hon. Member for Monze Central continue, please.
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Parliament of Zambia most sincerely for allowing the Parliamentary Radio Station to reach Livingstone. The people of Livingstone have heard that particular point of order.
Laughter
Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I was making a plea on behalf of all us who have constituencies that we need a report from the hon. Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development to assure us that the good programme of electrification that was funded by the Japanese International Co-operation Agency (JAICA) is implemented and reaches fruition. I have no doubt that all of us are anxious. We have all been waiting to see that our people benefit from this program.
Mr Speaker, I recall that two days ago, the hon. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and Environmental Protection lamented pertaining to desertification in this country. We can only arrest desertification if our people benefit from this good programme. There is no substitute to energy. We need this programme to be undertaken as soon as possible.
With those few remarks, I would like to thank you most sincerely for according me this opportunity debate.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me time to also debate the Motion on the Floor.
Sir, I would like to pay tribute to the mover and seconder of the Motion. I am in full support of the Motion. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Office of the Auditor-General that has exposed the debt that would have otherwise been swept under the carpet.
Mr Speaker, my debate will be centered on the FRA. Time and again, we have heard statements that have made some of us believe that all is well at the FRA. In the past, we have heard statements that have been defending the happenings at the FRA and we were made to believe that the major problem there was under funding.
However, going through your report, one tends to see that there is extravagance at that institution. I have picked three issues that I would like to discuss but, before I do that, let me talk about the agony that farmers go through when they are expecting to be paid by the FRA.
Mr Speaker, we heard that, during last year’s marketing season, the FRA was made to borrow money from the bank. This money came very expensively. Again, during yesterday’s session of Questions for Oral Answer, we heard that the FRA is negotiating with banks for loans to help them repair silos. This clearly shows that there is a deficit of funds at that institution. There is a major contrast between what hon. Ministers have told us about the FRA in this House and what is in your report
Sir, page 33 of your report highlights irregularities arising from inadequately-supported payments to the tune of more than K3 billion. The report reveals that the agency is relying on distribution registers which are singed by clients as proof of payments. There are no receipts to back up the payments. I know that even in the simplest of transactions concerning money, the best proof of payment is a receipt.
Sir, I was even left baffled to note that an institution of Government as big as the FRA has officers who rely on documents which are signed by outsiders with no proof of payments in terms of receipts. I do not understand how a qualified accountant can vouch that money has gone to the intended payee through a distribution register. This anomaly points squarely in the face of the policy makers and it is up to them to look at such issues and take appropriate action.
Mr Speaker, page 34 of your Committee’s report talks about unretired imprest to the tune of K1 billion. We see that documents which should have revealed whether this imprest was retired or not are heaped together with empty grain bags in a warehouse.
Hon. Opposition Member: Aah!
Mr Hamudulu: I find this irregularity unacceptable. There is no way a document can be heaped together with empty grain bags and other marketing requisites. This is a very serious irregularity that I think should be addressed as a matter of urgency.
Mr Speaker, the issue here is how long it takes for such documents at the FRA to remain current up until they are archived. This audit should have been expected by the managers at the FRA and they should have dug such documents out as opposed to living them strewn in a warehouse. I do not know if they have an archive there, if there are no boxes or safes, but this is also food for thought for the Executive.
Interruptions
Mr Speaker, the next issue that makes my heart bleed is that of excess stock losses on page 35 which was mentioned by the mover of the Motion. Excess stock losses to the tune of K1 trillion is unacceptable. I would rather this food was given to chickens to feed than letting it go to waste. Even the farmers themselves could have put such food to good use.
Sir, among the issues that caused this loss is that of inadequate storage facilities. Just yesterday, a question was posed on how far the Government had gone in terms of rehabilitation of silos and the answer that we got seemingly indicated that we are sufficient in terms of storage facilities, but the report is indicating that grain worth over K1 trillion has gone to waste simply because we do not have enough storage facilities.
Mr Speaker, would it not be prudent for us to just pay the farmers for the crops that they had sold and then left the grain in their custody for them to later on feed on because they are Zambians as opposed to letting it go to waste. That is more food for thought.
Mr Speaker, apart from inadequate storage space, your report also indicates that some of the food would have been saved if it had been transported to safe storage areas but, again, we see that it did not happen probably because of lack of transport. Why buy the grain if you cannot manage it?
Mr Speaker, these few irregularities that I have enumerated make me wonder what goes on at the FRA because these are supposed to be the basic norms that should obtain at such an institution. Why should our grain that we have laboured so much to produce go to waste and we do not get the payment for our sweat in good time? Now, there is looming hunger. I do not remember very well if it was this week or last week when His Honour the Vice-President gave us a list of districts that are being considered for relief food. Why should we have such situations when we have so much food going to waste? How prudent are we in managing our resources that we labour so much to acquire?
Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to urge the Government to appraise the people that we have employed at that institution side by side with the money that we are pumping in there. Are we really getting the correct returns for our investment from the FRA? Let us look at that critically.
I thank you, Sir.
Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!
The Minister of Finance (Mr Chikwanda): Mr Speaker, one of the functions of the House is that it is a very useful decomposition chamber and it allows hon. Members to get a lot of things out of their chests. It is their legitimate right. Let us just note that this report relates to the period between 2009 and 2011. In the process, a lot of water has gone under the bridge.
Mr Nkombo: Where there is fish.
Mr Chikwanda: Mr Speaker, for instance, with regard to the topical issue of the ZNBC, the board is in the offing, but it cannot be made public now because, as required by law, we have to bring it to Parliament for ratification. The Government will take note of what is in the report. In some cases, the status of a number of Government-owned companies leaves much to be desired. In other cases, these companies have just become law unto themselves. So, the Government is implementing a series of measures to rationalise and where some of these companies are found to be dysfunctional even where, with the most tremendous efforts, you cannot institute bankability in these outfits, we will discard them.
Mr Speaker, the Government assures the House that we will critically look at the findings of the Public Accounts Committee and this is not the end of the process. We shall tap the wisdom of your Committee and the Members of the House. I just want to make a little friendly admonition to a number of us who succumb to the temptation of wanting to be perpetual mega stars. There is an implicit risk in that. Stardom is naturally ephemeral. If people want to be stars eternally, there is a risk of them becoming stars without a show and, in the process, they find that both the audience and the cast have dissipated. Therefore, when we have a good policy, let us debate with some orderliness, propriety and with honesty of intent and not just perpetually playing to the gallery. We, at this side of the House, support the Motion.
I thank you, Mr Speaker.
Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, I want to thank all the hon. Members who have debated, including Hon. Mwiimbu, Hon. Hamudulu and the hon. Minister of Finance for supporting the Motion. I think what the nation will be waiting for is the action that will be taken following the recommendations.
Mr Lubinda: Including the seconder.
Mr Mwale: Yes, I also thank the seconder.
Laughter
Mr Mwale: He is part of the team and we are together. We will be waiting to see how the recommendations in this report will be implemented. That is when people will begin to see the seriousness of this Government on trying to curb the abuse of resources. I, therefore, beg that the report be adopted.
Mr Speaker, I thank you.
Question put and agreed to.
ADJOURNMENT SINE DIE
The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do adjourn sine die.
Question put and agreed to.
__________
The House adjourned accordingly at 1527 hours on Friday, 19th July, 2013, sine die.