Friday, 22nd September, 2017

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Friday, 22nd September, 2017

 

                                                     The House met at 0900 hours                                      

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

__________

 

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

 

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF DEMOCRACY

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform the House that the National Assembly of Zambia will join the rest of the world in commemorating this year’s International Day of Democracy under the theme, “In Defence of Democracy: the 20th Anniversary of IPU’s Universal Declaration on Democracy.”

 

In commemorating this day, the Inter Parliamentary Union (IPU) Zambia National Group will hold a week-long media campaign from Monday, 25th to Friday, 29th September, 2017. The media campaign will consist of messages from various stakeholders on the subject, “What can the Nation of Zambia do to Defend or Uphold the Core Principles of Democracy” and will be aired on various broadcast media platforms.

 

In addition, a road show will be held at the Chongwe Parliamentary Constituency Office on Saturday, 30th September, 2017. The road show will be characterised by the dissemination of information on the functions and the work of the National Assembly and engaging members of the public on various issues, including sharing ways in which they can participate in Zambia’s democratic processes.

 

I thank you.

 

__________

 

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

 

The Chief Whip and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House (Mr Musukwa): Mr Speaker, I rise to give the House some idea of the business it will consider next week.

 

Sir, on Tuesday, 26th September, 2017, the Business of the House will begin with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will continue with the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address.

 

Mr Speaker, on Wednesday, 27th September, 2017, the Business of the House will start with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. The House will, then, continue with the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address.

 

Sir, on Thursday, 28th September, 2017, the Business of the House will commence with questions, if there will be any. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will debate a Motion to suspend the relevant Standing Orders to enable the House to sit in the afternoon on Friday, 29th September, 2017, and allow the hon. Minister of Finance to present the 2018 National Budget. Then, the House will conclude the debate on the Motion of Thanks to His Excellency the President’s Address.

 

 

Mr Speaker, on Friday, 29th September, 2017, as already indicated above, the hon. Minister of Finance will present the 2018 National Budget, starting at 1415 hours.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

__________

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

TARRING OF ROADS IN NDOLA DISTRICT TOWNSHIPS

 

22     Dr Chanda (Bwana Mkubwa) asked the Minister of Local Government when the tarring of roads in the following townships in Ndola District would commence:

 

  1. Mushili;

 

  1. Ndeke;

 

  1. Kavu;

 

  1. Kantolomba;

 

  1. Munkulungwe;

 

  1. Chichele;

 

  1. Itawa;

 

  1. Kaloko; and

 

  1. Mackenzie.

 

The Minister of Local Government (Mr Mwale): Mr Speaker, the tarring of roads in the following townships of Ndola District will commence as follows:

 

  1. Mushili Township, Chirundu and Dambo roads will be tarred under the 43-km Ndola Township Roads Project that is being worked on by Poly Technologies at the moment;

 

  1. Ndeke, Kavu, Kantolomba, Mukulungwe, Itawa and Kaloko will commence once the financing agreement between the Government and AVIC International is concluded, possibly by 2018. That falls under the Road Development Agency (RDA); and

 

  1. Chichele and Mackenzie have not been prioritised yet by the council due to limited funds.

 

I thank you, Sir.

CONVERSION OF COMMUNITY SCHOOLS TO GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS IN CHITAMBO CONSTITUENCY

 

24. Mr Mutale (Chitambo) asked the Minister of General Education:

  1. Lunsambwa;

 

  1. Mpempa;

 

  1. Mangala;

 

  1. Musangashi;

 

  1. Chititima;

 

  1. Kalungu; and

 

  1. Kaoma.

 

The Minister of General Education (Dr Wanchinga): Mr Speaker, the House will recall that two days ago, I had a similar question about degazetting of schools and I did emphasise the importance that the Ministry of General Education attaches to it. This opens the door for the establishment of structures in all schools. This move will enable schools to employ various kinds of personnel who will be able to provide services to the schools.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that Lunsambwa, Mpempa, Mangala, Musangashi, Chititima, Kalungu and Kaoma Primary schools in Chitambo Parliamentary Constituency are among the 1,700 schools which are expected to be gazetted in 2017. This issue will be taken care of before the end of the year.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mutale: Mr Speaker, I know the hon. Minister has said that these schools will be degazetted this year. Could he kindly give me the specific time frame within which these schools will be converted to Government so that when I go back to my constituency, I can tell people, especially teachers at Government schools, when to expect the development. I am saying so because these schools have been there for quite some time now.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I was expecting the hon. Member to show gratitude since I have stated that we will degazette these schools this year. He has said that these schools have been there for a long time and that is why I have given him a reasonable time frame. These schools will be degazetted by the end of the year. It is a process.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Member in order to question the way I pronounce my words?

 

Hon. UPND Members laughed.

 

Mr Speaker: I do not think anybody has questioned you.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I would like to assure my colleague that the ministry will expedite this process and that, by the end of the year, we should be able to have this process completed.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: In short, you are not able to indicate the month. Is that your position?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, it is difficult to give the exact date and month. This is a legal process which we have to ….

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Continue, hon. Minister.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I am assuring the hon. Member that this process will be completed before the end of the year, which is two months away. The hon. Member should rest assured that this will be done.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, there is a Government policy which states that schools be spaced within the radius of 5 km. Due to a lack of funds in this Government, this policy has failed to work. How is the degazetting process done such that it cannot be speeded up, as required by our colleague from Chitambo Parliamentary Constituency?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, the process is very simple. If a school is built by the community, it has to be registered with the Ministry of General Education and there are steps which are supposed to be taken. Once that is done, it is recognised, the starting point is the sending of teachers. The ministry sends teachers to those community schools which are on Government payroll. Eventually, the teachers will be included on the list of schools that are gazetted for that particular area. It is a very simple process.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mutale: Mr Speaker, from the time that the hon. Minister made the pronouncement that all community schools had been taken over by the Government, it has become common practice for all those teachers who were offering services at these primary schools to stop teaching and await services from the ministry. Now that the hon. Minister has indicated to me that he will upgrade these schools by December, 2017, what are the immediate interventions that will be put in place to allow the pupils to benefit from the services from the ministry as of now?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, when a school is recognised by the Ministry of General Education, like I said, teachers are sent to the school. When a community comes up with the initiative to build a school, usually we have untrained teachers to assist. We are not looking down upon their services. They do a commendable job to provide these services in the interim.

 

Sir, once the school becomes an integral part of the primary educational system, teachers are sent there. This year, about 2,000 teachers will be recruited. It is my hope to send some teachers to those community schools which my colleague has talked about. Given the fact that the number of teachers who will be recruited this year and, maybe, even the years to come, may not be adequate for all the community schools, I would encourage the community to continue engaging, on an interim basis, teachers who are reasonably qualified to teach in community schools. That is the immediate interim measure which can be adopted.

 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, the Governments need to commit to pronouncements it makes. We only have one Government in this country and it must serve …

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Miyutu: … its citizens. The hon. Minister knows that there is a great need for schools in rural areas. So, when communities come up with schools, it is a sign that they are in need of education. The Government must, therefore, add value to these institutions. However, it just sits and relaxes.

 

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has not stated the actual month or period when the community schools in question will be fully converted. Although this is not my question, a community school which has already been registered is having problems being converted into a Government institution. Where does the problem lie? Is it in the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), the school administration or where along the line is the lapse which has delayed the conversion of the schools into becoming part of the Government school system?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I do not really see the problem here. When a community comes up with an initiative to build a community school, usually, untrained teachers help out and the Government slowly begins to take over such a school by deploying trained teachers. Additionally, the Government gives grants to such community schools to assist in their administration.

 

Mr Speaker, when I took over the ministry, I found that the legal frame work was the bottleneck to the gazzetting of schools. Attempts made to change the 2011 Act delayed the process. So, we decided to continue to gazette the schools using the 2011 Act. This issue has been resolved and, if there any community schools that have been taken over by the Government, but still remain ungazzetted, it is just a matter of reminding the ministry. The ministry already has the information and has been compiling it on an annual basis to ensure that every community school is gazzetted and that all the facilities that are supposed to be extended to those schools are put in place. I do not see any challenge here. It is a very simple process.

Sir, we must also recognise that we are moving from a situation where community schools were not an integral part of the educational system. Just as early childhood education was an issue for the local government, community schools were an issue generally of communities. Now the ministry is doing its best to ensure that the two components are integrated into the formal educational system. It is an evolving process and I would just ask my colleagues to understand that the ministry is doing its best to ensure that these issues are resolved.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has some good news regarding the gazzetting of about 1700 schools before the fall of this year. If it is not too much of a request, is it feasible for him to give us a schedule, province by province, of the schools that are expected to be gazzetted before the fall of this year?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, this would be useful information to provide to the House. I do not have the information right now, but can bring it to the House at a later stage. Let me just hasten to mention that the gazzetting of community schools and converting them into formal primary schools under the formal education system, superintended over by the Ministry of General Education, is not a haphazard issue. In some cases, some of these community schools could have formerly been a chicken house. There are certain standards that the Ministry of General Education would like to see in these community schools that have to be taken over by the Government. The list which will be produced to the House will be one of community schools which have been approved and meet the standards of reasonable schools.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Dr Kambwili (Roan): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister is my elder brother in whom I am well pleased.

 

Sir, it is common knowledge that the pass rate at Grade 7 for community schools is better than that in formal Government schools, yet they are manned by untrained teachers to the extent, sometimes, that even the head teachers are untrained. Is the Government planning to employ unqualified teachers in all schools to improve examination results?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, here is an answer from his elder brother in whom he claims to be well pleased.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, the policy of the Government is to employ many teachers at community, primary and secondary level and will remain so. However, the hon. Member for Roan has raised an interesting point that sometimes, we see better performance in community schools as compared to those in formal schools where we, apparently, have trained teachers. It is because community schools usually tend to operate along the lines of private schools in the sense that there is very strong rapport between the community that owns the school and the teachers, who are paid by the community in most cases. So, there is a desire to perform for fear of being kicked out of the school if the children do not perform well. We see this trend in private schools as well. In most cases, private and church grant-aided schools tend to have better performance because of the level of discipline involved and other factors which relate to management in the schools which positively impact on the performance of our children. It is an interesting observation which is worth looking at.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Dr Chibanda (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what rationale or perimeters the ministry considers when converting a community school into a Government school.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I think for the exact criteria which are used to determine the conversion of these schools, I would like to bring this information to the House later together with the distribution of those schools which will be gazetted province by province.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Chiyalika (Lufubu): Mr Speaker is the hon. Minister able to confirm whether he will send teachers to the schools that were mentioned by the hon. Member for Chitambo.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, like I said, we will recruit about 2,000 this year, budget allowing. I can only hope that we will be able to send some teachers to those schools in Chitambo.

 

Sir, we will do our best to send a few teachers to the mentioned schools.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Fungulwe (Lufwanyama): Mr Speaker, I appreciate that the hon. Minister will speed up the process of gazetting community schools countrywide. I hope he will stick to his word. Is he aware that there are many schools that are already gazetted, but have no establishment? I am aware that if the school has no establishment, the teachers there cannot be put on the correct salary scales. Is the hon. Minister likely to give establishments to the schools which are already gazetted?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I think the House will recall that a few minutes ago, I made a statement that the ministry attaches great importance to the gazetting of schools because it opens the window to the creation of establishments in those schools so that staff can be employed in various categories, like head teacher, deputy head teacher, head of department, senior teacher and office orderly, among others. Certainly, we hope that all the schools that have been and will be gazetted will receive the establishment.

 

Sir, early this year, we gazetted 2,800 schools and we had to engage the Ministry of Finance for treasury authority so that people can be put on the payroll. So far, 1 400 schools have been given the establishment. We hope that even those schools which are going to be gazatted later will receive their establishment.

 

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Kintu (Solwezi East): Mr Speaker, my question is similar to the one that has already been asked. The hon. Minister recently gazatted certain basic schools into secondary schools. I want to find out when construction of infrastructure to match secondary school standards will start in those schools.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I think the hon. Member has touched a subject which is very dear to my heart. Yesterday, I went to the hon. Minister of Finance to engage him on the need to provide facilities which are required in these schools we are gazatting and those that have been upgraded into secondary schools…

 

Mr Speaker: Order, on the right.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, we have realised that we require facilities for these schools to function effectively. So, we hope that if we get the kind of resources we are asking for, we should be able to provide those facilities in the schools we are building, upgrading and those we are integrating from the community into primary schools.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

TARRING OF THE LUSAKA/MONGU/NANGOMA MISSION HOSPITAL ROAD

 

25. Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

(a)        whether the Government had any plans to tar the road from the Lusaka/Mongu Road turn off to Nangoma Mission Hospital in Mumbwa District;

 

(b)        if so, when the plans would be implemented; and

 

(c)        if there were no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Chitotela): Mr Speaker, there are no immediate plans to upgrade to bituminous standard the Lusaka to Mongu turn-off to Nangoma Mission Hospital in Mumbwa District.

 

Sir part (b) of the question is not applicable.

 

Mr Speaker, there are no immediate plans to upgrade the road because of budgetary ceiling constraints.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, since the Government is planning to do a road from Corner Bar to the Chief’s Palace, can they not do the same road I am talking about at the same time with the one that goes to the palace? This is because the road I am asking about is in a very bad state. At the same time, for the PF Government to known in Nangoma, they must do something for the people.

 

Laughter

 

Mr A. B. Malama: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker just last year, this Government awarded a contract to do about 245 kilometres of roads in Nangoma and part of Mumbwa. The priority of selecting the roads was left to the responsibility of the local authority. I believe the hon. Member of Parliament is a key stakeholder in the local authority. If the local authority felt this road was very important, they could have included it in the contract that we signed in January this year.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Kafue.

 

Ms Chonya hesitated to rise and speak.

 

Mr Speaker: Or did you just leave your microphone on?

 

Ms Chonya: Mr Speaker, I had switched it on for the hon. Minister of General Education.

 

Mr Speaker: Please, switch it off after the event.

 

Mr Mutale (Chitambo): Mr Speaker, the road in question is a very important road in Central Province and to the people of Nangoma because it goes to the hospital. I have been to that road and it is really in a bad state. Is there any plan to just make some improvements on this road? The answer that the hon. Minister has given that the hon. Member should have made consideration to put it on the list of the roads to be repaired worries me. I am sure there are conflicting issues happening with the local authority. As hon. Members of Parliament, we normally submit these roads to the councils. I would also like to know where the gaps are. You will find that we submit these roads but at council level they do something else. May I know if you have any plans of even grading this road because it is quite in a bad state?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, it is possible for this Government to do spot improvements on the road andnot to upgrade it to bituminous standard. This is because as I stated, in January,we signed for the construction of over 245 km of roads in that part of Zambia. The two hon. Members of Parliament are aware and we have been engaging them outside Parliament. However, if they feel this road is very critical for it to be upgraded to bituminous standard and since they are key stakeholders, they can sit down with Her Royal Highness Shakumbila and can decide whether that can be done. However, this Government will consider it for spot improvements to ease the movements of those people who go to the hospital.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, in the past under the Movement for Multi-party for Democracy(MMD)Government,there were periodic reports of infrastructure development plans in the ministries of health, education and indeed the one in charge of roads. Since the hon. Minister said that there are no immediate plans to work on the road in Nangoma because of budgetary constraints and we also know that there are instances where they have budgeted for a road project, financed part of it as is the case on the Mazabuka Township Roads and he made reference to the hon. Minister of Local Government regarding that, when will they harmonise their works so that the left hand knows what the right one is doing and can come up with a summary of a workable infrastructure development programme for roads so that we do not ask these questions and could just see where they have succeeded or failed? This is because currently, all we see is failure.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, depending on which side of the coin you are, you can see positivity or failure. Even when something is blue, other people see it as green. So, I cannot tell you to see success if you have chosen to see failure. Each year, we produce the infrastructure annual work plan and that is the more reason His Excellency the President amalgamated all the infrastructure programmes in one ministry so that we can have a consolidated infrastructure report being done because previously, other ministries would undertakeinfrastructure programmes and that became a bit of a challenge in terms of monitoring and supervision.

 

Sir, as regards the annual report, the Road Development Agency (RDA) produces it.If this year’s report has not been circulated, it is undergoing scrutiny so that once it is circulated to all the hon. Members of Parliament it would be that accepted by the Government and should give the status of what we have done and intend to do. Basically, the commoners out there give credit to the PF Government in terms of infrastructure development. Everybody is able to see that the way Zambia looked ten years ago is not the same as it is today because it has drastically improved in terms of infrastructure development.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, just like the hon. Member of Parliament for Nangoma has lamented, I have noted that the Central Province has not benefitted much from the infrastructure programmes in the road sector. I am not saying that some of the roads should be upgraded to bituminous standard, but they can even be graded. The local authorities say that the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure is in charge of the township roads, but they also say that it is the Ministry of Local Government that is charge. Therefore, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whose responsibility it is to work on the roads because this actually affects the movement of our people in these places and when is he going to launch the road projects in the Central Province like he did on the Copperbelt?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, if the hon. Member for Kabwe Central was in Kabwe five or seven years ago, he can see that there is drastic improvement though not to the level that everybody would be happy in terms of road infrastructure in Kabwe. I have driven through Kabwe and I have seen a bit of change and we will endeavour to make sure that the projects that we embarked upon are completed. Asphalt Roads Zambia (ARZ) Ltd is upgrading township roads in Kabwe and I just stated that this year in January, the Government signed a contract for up to 245 km roads in Nangoma to be upgraded to bituminous standard including bridges. Township roads in Kapiri Mposhi are also being upgraded to bituminous standard and this is in the Central Province.

 

Sir, let me also talk about the road works inMkushi.Although progress has been slow, we are upgrading about 10 km roads in Mkushi. Early this year, this Government signed a contract worth over K4 billion for the construction of PiccadillyRoad and it will cover four districts starting from Kabwe through Kapiri Mposhi, Lwano and Mkushi District. So, I would be surprised to hear that the Central Province has not fully benefitted from the road projects. Our desire is unlimited, but we must be able to do something according to our resource envelope.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister advised the hon. Member for Nangoma toactually submit the name of the road so it can be worked on. However, between the hon. Members and the council authorities, who should actually make the submission? In some situations, when we submit, we are told that the submission was done in the second quarter of the year.Therefore, who should actually make the submission considering that hon. Members of Parliament no longer attend the council meetings.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, according to the Roads Act of 2002, the Road Development Agency (RDA) is in charge of all public roads, but for smooth implementation and since we are one Government, local authorities are appointed as road managers. We also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Defence to speed up the implementation of some feeder roads across Zambia.

 

Sir, as regards to who should submit, as Government, we have a governance system which starts at the local authority. Although the hon. Members of Parliament do not attend the council meetings, they should have a work relationship with the local authority.

 

Mr Speaker, I referred to the case of Hon. Boyd Hamusonde, the hardworking Member of Parliament for Nangoma, because we have just signed a contract for upgrade works on 245 kilometres of road in the area. 

 

It is therefore important that the hon. Member sits down with the local authority to see which road can be substituted with the road that goes to the hospital. Also, depending on their need, they can propose to do a variation so that they work on the most important road that was probably left out of the contract.

 

So, the local authority is supposed to submit the list of roads, after liaising with the hon. Member of Parliament.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF CHIEF’S PALACES IN MUFUMBWE DISTRICT

 

26. Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe) asked the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs:

 

  1. whether the Government had any plans to construct palaces for the following Chiefs in Mufumbwe District:

 

  1. Mushimo Mubambe; and
  2. Chizela;

 

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

 

  1. if there were no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (Mr Sichalwe): Mr Speaker, construction of palaces in the country is being implemented in phases based on the 288 recognised chiefdoms.

 

In Phase I, the Government is constructing three palaces per province. In North-Western Province, the palaces under construction include: Senior Chief Kalilele’s in Mushindamo District; Chief Kucheka’s in Zambezi District; and Chieftainess Ikeleng’i’s in Ikeleng’i District.

 

According to the ministry’s records, Chief Mushimo Mubambe is not recognised. Therefore, the Government has no plans to construct a palace in the chiefdom.  The construction of Chief Chizela’s palace will be implemented in the subsequent phases.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kamondo: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether or not he is sure that Chief Mushimo Mubambe is not recognised? If he is not sure, could he reconcile his statement?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, as I alluded to in my response, we have 288 chiefdoms. At the time of independence, 285 chiefdoms were handed over to the Zambian Government.

 

Subsequently, Chieftainess Lambwe Chomba was appointed by the late President FTJ Chiluba while the late Mr Michael Chilufya Sata appointed Chiefs Chelwe and Chimbuka, bringing the number to 288. I am confirming that amongst the 288 chiefdoms, we do not have the said chief.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Mwembeshi, you may ask your question.

 

Mr Jamba: Mr Speaker, my question was on the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I am following the list on the panel. So please, mind your microphones. If you have no intention of using it, switch it off.

The list I have includes hon. Members for Kabompo, Manyinga, Zambezi West, Ikeleng’i, Mufulira and Mazabuka Central. I only hope that these hon. Members that I have mentioned intend to ask questions. If for any reason, you do not intend to, please check your microphone.

 

Hon. Member for Kabompo, you may ask your question.

 

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo) Mr Speaker, the information by the hon. Minister is really shocking. All along I have been thinking that this Chief is definitely gazetted and recognised by the Government. We will be making a mission to see the hon. Minister so that this man is recognised.

 

Nevertheless, there are three chiefs whose palaces are supposed to be constructed in the North-Western Province. One of the chiefs whose palace is supposed to be constructed is Chief Kucheka. Chief Kucheka was amongst the first on the list of appointments by the late President Sata, who emphasised that his palace be constructed quickly.

 

I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what has stalled the construction of this palace because it is now almost six years. Why do we keep announcing projects which we cannot do? What is the progress on this palace?

 

Mr Speaker: Which chief?

 

Mr Lufuma: Chief Kucheka, Sir. The hon. Minister mentioned him in his reply. I would like to find out the status of implementation of that project.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, in as much as I welcome the hon. Member to my office to bring to our attention the recognition of Chief Mushimo Mubambe, I wish to also request him to peruse through the new Constitution, in whose enactment he participated, with particular emphasis to Article 165(2)(a), which disallows Parliament from enacting legislation to confer on a person or authority the right to recognise or withdraw the recognition of a chief. So, in as much as he will be most welcome to my office, we really do not have much muscle to recognise the said chief.

 

With regard to the bonus question on Chief Kucheka, what I have is that the said chief’s palace is being considered. The project is at costing level to consider full contract. You may be aware that most of these palaces are standing at different levels because initially it was the ministry’s intention to do a community-based contract to develop them.

 

However, the community has not been responsive in the construction of these palaces so we have opted to go into full contract, in liaison with the Ministry of Housing Infrastructure Development, which has the expertise. 

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Kamondo: Mr Speaker, the people of Mufumbwe are listening. Tomorrow, we are holding the Makundu Traditional Ceremony for Chief Mushima Mubambe. Just to correct the hon. Minister, it is not Mushimo but Mushima Mubambe. The permanent secretary for the North-Western Province will be officiating at this ceremony. What message do you have for me to deliver to the people of Mufumbwe?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, as I had alluded to Article 165, these chiefdoms will exist in accordance with the cultures, customs and traditions to which they apply. So, in that area, if they have recognised the chief in question to be a chief, he will be considered as a chief amongst themselves as they live with the traditional authority.

 

Sir, what I am saying is that the Government has not recognised the said chief. Otherwise, there are 288 recognised chiefs. The Government will, therefore, officiate at a recognised ceremony.

 

 I thank you, Sir.

 

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lihefu (Manyinga): Mr Speaker, the issue of the chief’s houses in North Western Province is a big problem. Apart from the Mufumbwe chiefs, the house of Senior Chief Sikufele of Manyinga and Kabompo districts is in a bad state. Are there any plans by the Government to consider constructing Senior Chief Sikufele’s house?

 

 Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, I said that the Government is constructing the chief’s palaces based on the 288 recognised chiefs and this has been phased. It is not possible that the Government can construct 288 palaces at once. This is the more reason we have phased them. We are constructing three palaces per province in the first phase. The third palace maybe considered in the subsequent phases to come.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Ms Kucheka rose.

 

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kucheka (Zambezi West): Mr Speaker, first of all, I would like to say how are you?

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: I am not well …

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: … because you are asking the wrong question. Please proceed with your question.

 

Laughter

 

Ms Kucheka: Sir, as a rider on what the hon. Member of Parliament for Kabompo has said about the palace of Chief Kucheka, I would like the hon. Minister to look straight into my eyes and tell me for sure, they are going to construct a palace for the chief.

 

Sir, the chief’s palace was gutted by …

 

 Mr Speaker: Order!

 

 Hon. Member, just ask a question. There is no need for narration at this junction.

 

 Ms Kucheka: Okay, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: We are also limited with time.

 

 Ms Kucheka: Sir, is the hon. Minister sure in his own words and, please, look at me.

 

 Laughter

 

 Ms Kucheka: Is the hon. Minister sure that the palace is now going to be constructed or maybe it is just another pronouncement.

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, I would gladly respond whilst looking directly into her eyes.

 

 Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam Princess, …

 

 Mr Speaker: Order!

 

 It is not even necessary.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, she requested for it.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Sichalwe: Sir, I can assure the hon. Member that the Government is construction the palace in question. To that effect, we have since requested for funds from the Ministry of Finance. For her own information, we budgeted K1,800,000 for the same palace. I am emphasising that we will certainly construct that place is because  it is in the first phase of the palaces. Therefore, we cannot move to the second phase of the construction of palaces before we have completed the first phase. Since we want to move on and complete all the palaces, we will certainly complete the first phase, where Chief Kucheka’s Palace is appearing.

 

 Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Princess Kucheka: Hear, hear!

 

 Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, we have been dealing with this issue for some years now. It is on record that money was made available. I would like to find out from him how long it takes to construct a house and what is the budget for the palaces? I am asking this question in regard to Chief Ikeleng’i because his house is still on the foundation. Does the ministry even have any intention to go and inspect it?

 

 Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, Let me give a bonus answer to the hon. Member. This palace was budgeted for K1.6 million.  Indeed, the funds the hon. Member is claiming to have been made available ware released to the provincial administration. If my memory serves me right, I came to this House and said that there was some mismatch in the usage of these funds, but we have since recovered the funds and reallocated them to the intended projects.  As per my records, the palace in question is at box level.

 

Sir, I had mentioned that initially, the ministry wanted to involve the community to be part of the construction of these palaces because they wanted to them to have a sense of ownership. Unfortunately, the community has not been responsive. Maybe, they feel that the beneficiaries are just the royal family and because of that, there has been delay in the construction. This is the more reason we are moving away from the community-based contract to the full contract. Therefore, we are considering completing the hon. Member’s chief’s palace.

 

 I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Chibanda (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, basically, my question will be a rider or a double sword on Hon. Muchima’s question.

 

Sir, as a member of the Local Government Committee, we visited Chieftainess Ikeleng’i’s Palace in Ikeleng’i and found that he house was at box level and was abandoned by the contractors.  Is the hon. Minister telling the House that the palaces his ministry is building are under the new project, especially for Cheiftainess Ikeleng’i. If so, is it going to consider completing the house, which has been abandoned at box level? Confirm, hon. Minister.

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, I mentioned that the ministry is constructing three palaces per province under phase one and Chief Ikeleng’i’ s Palace is one of them. We have written to the provincial administration to give us the Bill of Quantity (BOQ) to enable us complete the various palaces from levels that they are standing and I can confirm that we received the BOQ in that regard. We have since requested the Ministry of Finance to fund us the request to enable us complete these palaces from the levels that they are standing at.

 

Sir, I am not aware that the palace was abandoned. What I know is it stalled because of lack of funds. These are the funds that we are waiting for from the ministry of Finance.

 

 I thank you, Sir.     

 

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Sir, thank you for this opportunity. I am very concerned with the manner in which the hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs is progressing, especially on the issue of Chief Mushimo. I would like to say that we have known from the past that it has been the position of the Patriotic Front (PF) not to accept that the issue of chiefs is an exclusive family or clan affair. We learnt from the bitter experience on the recognition of Paramount Chief Manga Chitimukulu, whereby the PF Government soiled itself and eventually came to realise that this is indeed a clan and family affair.

 

Now, the hon. Minister may be aware or not that Chief Mushimo is on government payroll, has got a retainer and, as a matter of fact, has got a representative in the council in Mufumbwe. The hon. Minister may want to get help from the hon. Minister of the province, who is sitting here, and the hon. Minister of Local Government, who is probably there, I cannot see because of the camera.

 

Therefore, would it not be prudent for our colleagues to go back to the basics and agree that the issue of recognition and not appointment, like the hon. Minister mentioned in the case of the late President Sata appointing some chief and late President F. T. J. Chiluba appointing two chiefs, that the issue of recognition is exclusively a family affair. More substantively, however, can he please answer me whether he knows that this chief is on a salary, has a retainer …

 

Mr Sing’ombe: And a government vehicle.

 

Mr Nkombo: Now I am told he has a government vehicle. Please, help me to understand and also confirm whether the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the province, Mr Ephraim Matteo, will be representing the Government at the function tomorrow or not.

 

Mr Mutale: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Hon. Members: On whom?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, when I welcomed Hon. Lufuma to my office, it was in a view to get more information from the other side. However, what I am saying is that from where I sit, this is the position I have given.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, there are specific issues which were raised. The hon. Member wanted to establish whether or not you were aware i. e. that this particular chief is on payroll, has a retainer and possibly a vehicle allocated to him by the Government.

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, I am not aware, but we will look into the matter.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kambwili (Roan): Mr Speaker, the programme for the construction of chief’s palaces started in 2012. How many houses have been completed so far?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, I cannot give the exact number now and would have to come back with the figure.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mulusa (Solwezi Central): Mr Speaker, I am very shocked today to learn that Chief Mushimo Mubambe is not recognised by this Government. It is not the first Government to take such a position. This also happened during the time of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Government. As far as I am concerned, Chief Mubambe is a recognised chief. It is very unfortunate that the people of Mufumbwe are shocked to learn from the hon. Minister that their Chief Mushimo is not recognised. I want to find out from the hon. Minister whether he knows that we have Chief Chizela in Mufumbwe and Chief Munyambala that are not recognised and then we have Chief Mushimo Mubambe who is recognised. Is the hon. Minister aware that we have those chiefs?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, I am aware that they are there as chiefs.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, in 2013 or there about, K650,000 was allocated for the construction of a palace for Chief Kucheka, but today the hon. Minister is saying the project is at costing level. What happened to the K650,000 which was allocated and a full contract was given?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, I said K1,800,000 was budgeted for Chief Kucheka and the palace project was at costing level for consideration for a full contract.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

_____________

 

MOTION

 

MOTION OF THANKS

 

(Debated resumed)

 

Mr Kalobo (Wusakile): Mr Speaker, when the proceedings were interrupted yesterday due to time, I was just finishing commending His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu and the Patriotic Front (PF) Government for the implementation of the Seventh National Development Plan (7thNDP).

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kalobo: Mr Speaker, there are so many successes that stood out in the President’s speech. Before I proceed, let me again commend the PF Government. In the past, water has been a problem in Wusakile Constituency. However, this Government has sourced for funds, US$210 million, to work on the water and sewerage system which will cater for Kitwe and Kalulushi.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kalobo: Mr Speaker, by adopting a multi-sectoral approach to accelerate development, the 7thNDP has prioritised policy coherence by taking on board priority issues such as the Vision 2030, African Union’s (AU) Agenda 2063 and United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This is a working Government. I want to describe this speech as a walking the talk speech.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Kalobo: Mr Speaker, I agree with the President that peace is a precondition for development. Peace and security is indeed, a precondition for development. As a developing nation, we cannot afford to be a failed state. Even the newest country, South Sudan, which is blessed with oil, has failed to sell its oil due to civil war. As a Christian nation, we should avoid the blood of Cain on our hands by all costs. We are expected to be our brother’s keeper. Currently, we are hosting thousands of refugees from our neighbouring countries which are experiencing civil strife.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to point out another success story, which is modernisation of the railways in the country. Zambia still runs a monolithic type of economy of exporting copper. Modernising railways will create jobs and save our roads. It is common knowledge that construction of railways is a labour-intensive sector, which can create jobs.

 

Sir, I am an hon. Member of Parliament coming from a constituency where one half is peri-urban, involved in the agriculture sector and the other half is urban, involved in mining. Agriculture is progressing well. It is creating jobs, addressing rural poverty and improving household income in rural areas. However, we have a challenge of expensive fertiliser in this sector. How do we cure this challenge? I call for the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to recapitalise the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) so that our farmers can benefit from cheap fertiliser. The farmers in Wusakile want cheap fertiliser. They are also crying to have a good market for their maize.

 

Mr Speaker, the introduction of road toll fees is another success story. This is a good initiative for local revenue collection. In order to create more jobs, we should ensure that local contractors are given specific sectors of our roads to maintain.

 

Sir, there is no value addition happening in the mining sector. The mining sector has continued to receive a lion’s share of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Yet, it has continued to kill jobs. There is little diversification in the mining sector hence, no job creation. Despite the price of copper rebounding to US$7,000 per metric tonne, we have failed to collect the right taxes from the mines to address our development needs. We should allow the Metal Fabricators of Zambia PLC (ZAMEFA) to use more of our copper so that they can add value to it and create jobs. Mining is a long term investment which requires stable jobs. Konkola Copper Mines PLC (KCM) is trying to outsource some of their operations to kill jobs. Globally, outsourcing is killing quality jobs, replacing them with casual ones. All outsourced jobs should attract wages and conditions of service not less favourable than those obtaining in the parent company, and this should be enshrined in the labour code to be revised. I repeat, outsourced jobs should attract wages and conditions of service not less favourable than those obtaining in the parent company, and this should be enshrined in the labour code to be revised. Very recently, we saw His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, on the Copperbelt, when a certain mining company was trying to resist paying the cost-reflective tariffs on electricity. The move by His Excellency, the President, was in the spirit of fighting corporate greed. I call upon the trade unions, the President and the Patriotic Front (PF) Government to stand up and fight corporate greed in the mining sector. Again, very recently, the hon. Minister of Mines and Minerals Development was on the Copperbelt when KCM was trying to push its agenda of outsourcing certain jobs. He was there to stop them. This is commendable on the part of the PF Government.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kalobo: This is how we can create a smart Zambia ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kalobo: ... and a prosperous middle income country.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kalobo: Mr Speaker, it has been my tradition to debate under ten minutes so, I will end here.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to add my voice, on behalf of the people of Kaputa, to this important Motion on the President’s Address on the Official Opening of the Second Session of the Twelfth National Assembly by His Excellency, the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I perused the speech and compared it with the other speeches the President has given to the House in the past. I found that this speech is well-articulated and very consistent with his pronouncements in the previous speeches. Therefore, I see no reason why this speech should be pulled down by some people saying that it contains issues that are dead. I do not agree with that.

 

 

Mr Speaker, to start with, allow me, to dwell mostly on the theme that the President applied himself to as he addressed the nation. It says, “Moving towards a Prosperous Smart Zambia in Peace and Tranquility without Leaving Anyone Behind.” As I look at it, this theme contains a lot of things, words and vision. The President was trying to give to the nation the fact that, to be a prosperous Zambia, we must look from where we are coming from, and now can basically see that we are moving towards the realisation of a smart Zambia.

 

Those of us, who were there in the 1990s or towards the end of the 1980s, can imagine where we were and where we are now. Definitely, as a country, we have been moving towards to a prosperous Zambia.

 

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga: However, the President was not shy to point out that there have been challenges that we are still facing. He gave an example of what happened in 2015 and the early 2016, when we had the worst droughts. The downfall of the copper prices, the power generation went down, these were factors that affected the growth of our economy. However, he was also quick and mindful to indicate that even with these challenges affecting our country, the President and his team has been persistent and much focused to ensuring that this economy is brought to the fall. We can see this as we stand now.

 

Basically, we can see that the exchange rate has stabilised. We can also see that the power generation has come to its normal operation and we can also see that the agriculture production has also picked up. So, all these give us an indication and hope that we moving towards a prosperous smart Zambia.

 

However, to realise all these, Mr Speaker, we need peace and we need to act together as the President indicated. Most of us have also stood in this House in the past to point out that there is no winner and there will be a winner if there are conflicts in any society or grouping.

 

Mr Mwamba: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga: We all stand to be losers. Therefore, the call by the President to cherish and enhance the peace that we have enjoyed for the past fifty-three years plus, should be maintained. It is our duty as leaders to ensure that we remove all impediments that tend to remove us from the peace that we enjoyed.

 

In any case, Mr Speaker, if anybody is thinking that they can divide this country, I think they are wrong and it is a fallacy. This is because amongst ourselves, even as we sit here as leaders, a number of us have got grandchildren, nieces, parents that are of mixed blood. There is nobody who can say I belong to one sector or one section of the grouping.

 

Ms Mulenga: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga: We are all now intermixed.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga: Therefore, nobody will ever divide this country once again. Whether one wants to go sectorial and say that they are a grouping, there is no one more grouping anymore because we are all mixed now. So, therefore, we must embrace and move together as a team.

 

Ms Mulenga: hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga: It is also gratifying, Mr Speaker, to note the President also pointed out that if we have any differences, or issues that arise, that may be very difficult or challenging, the best thing we can do is to come to the table together as Zambians. Let us not use the outside platform to come and sit us together it will not do.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga: It will not do! The issues that are affecting us as Zambians must be resolved by us as Zambians.

 

At the end of it all, Mr Speaker, peace and tranquility is required for us to move the development of this country forward.

 

What are some of the developments that the President has indicated that as Zambians can cherish and look forward to? Let me talk about the infrastructure part of this country. Again, we do not need to close our eyes. Definitely, we have seen that we have moved from where we were. The infrastructure might not be where it is supposed to be, but definitely what is happening in this country is actually showing that we are developing and moving forward.

 

For those of us who were there not long ago, if they looked at how Lusaka was looking then, it now looks marvelous. If one drives into Kabwata, Matero and Lilanda one finds that the road infrastructure is perfectly in place.

 

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga: All these areas definitely were far behind but now they look very vibrant. If we look at the many road carriage ways, in the Western part of Zambia, I know my colleague from Kalabo definitely now boasts to be better than Kaputa because of the proper road network that has actually linked Kalabo to Mongu.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga: Previously, people were taking days to travel but now they just take a few minutes and they are there. How I wish that one day the people of Kaputa will be able to benefit from such a road network infrastructure. What the President wants is to develop Zambia without leaving anyone behind.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga: And so, if they have to take everybody along as we develop, the road infrastructure becomes very eminent and serious. This is because, once the country is opened up with a good road network infrastructure, those people given the road infrastructure in a particular area, will not depend on handouts. Instead, they will be viable and independent because they will produce their own food commodities and sell to the market. They will receive inputs in good time and they will do what they know best. So, we say bravo to the President for this consistency in ensuring that money is invested in the road infrastructure in order for us to improve.

 

Mr Speaker, we are also looking forward to seeing the Lusaka/Ndola Dual Carriage Way being constructed. We have hope because a pronouncement is not only a pronouncement but it is a policy matter which I know will be fulfilled. And so, we are looking forward to that day when this road will bring the development and the benefits that we want to see as Zambians.

 

Not only that road, Mr Speaker, we are also looking forward to when the Great South Road between Lusaka via Kafue into Mazabuka and Livingstone will be worked one. This road has become impassible especially the portion between Kafue and Mazabuka. It has become deplorable and is a death trap. So, we are looking forward that the Government does invest or put resources to that particular sector because that is the only way we can enhance trade and the goodness or value that comes with good road infrastructure as people move on these roads.

 

Mr Speaker, I also would want to comment on agriculture which is another area where we have seen much progress as the President indicated. As Zambia, we are trying to diversify the agriculture sector like any other sector. We are trying to diversify from a mono economy which is dependent solely on copper and go into agriculture, tourism, trade and other sectors. I noted that agriculture is one of the areas that the President focused on and consistently so. Personally, Mr Speaker, I would commend the President for being consistent and brave because there is so much pressure that sometimes bears on his office because of what happens in the agricultural sector.

 

On the issue regarding the e-voucher system, I wish to state that this system, Mr Speaker, is for the future of this country and for a period where we are now, a system that will liberate this particular sector, in terms of not only allocating, but also targeting small scale farmers whom we want to target. A lot of times we want to target people that may not even be farmers but this particular system does help …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1040 hours until 1100 hours.

 

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Mr Ng’onga: Madam Speaker, before the break, I was commending His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for being consistent and taking bold steps despite discouragement from people who want to remain with the old system of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). The President has embraced the e-Voucher system as we believe it is the future of the subsidisation of our small-scale farmers. Not only does it allow the proper targeting, but it also empowers the farmers to make informed choices when deciding what to do with the subsidies they are given. Apart from that, it empowers agro-dealers and pumps money into areas where the e-Voucher system is supported, thus enhancing the agricultural economies of those areas.

 

Madam Speaker, the earlier we as leaders in this House embrace this system, the earlier we can explain to our people the success we will record. The pilot project in thirty-nine districts and the eventual introduction to the entire country needs the support of all hon. Members. We know that the Government used to spend a lot of money transporting these materials throughout the country, but now the private sector are taking charge of transportation and making sure that these inputs are available to all the farmers.

 

Mr Lubinda: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’onga: Apart from that, farmers will have access to range of inputs as opposed to only maize.

 

Madam Speaker, another issue I would like to talk about is Government’s support to value addition programmes. We know that we need to add value to produce for the agricultural sector to develop. It was uplifting to hear the President indicate that there are programmes that the Government is supporting in line with value addition. These programmes include palm oil production in Luapula and cashew nut production in the western part of the country. This will also encourage the private sector to get involved in value addition and ensure that the low prices of maize that we talk about will be a thing of the past.

 

Madam Speaker, the reason that we complain about the low price of maize in this country is because the only thing that comes out of maize is mealie-meal. However, if more could be extracted from maize then low prices would be a thing of the past.

 

Madam Speaker, another issue in value addition is ensuring that the Government supports the private sector. I was in Livingstone not long ago and I found a private investor who is adding value to a number of agricultural produce. This investor is turning tomato into tomato sauce and oranges and mangoes into juice. If we can encourage the private sector by providing the necessary environment in areas where agricultural produce is grown, we will see that the agricultural sector will develop even further.

 

Madam Chairperson, before I conclude, allow me to touch on a matter of interest to the people of Kaputa. The President empathised that he wants the country to develop without leaving anybody behind by means of the social protection sector. We realise that there are sectors of society that are unprivileged and there is a programme that has been incorporated into the governance system to support them. We have seen a consistent increase in the amount of money put towards social protection programmes, which is commendable.

 

Madam Chairperson, the people of Kaputa have been beneficiaries of the social cash transfer scheme. I can testify that there are many families, especially female headed households and households headed by elderly people, who can send their children and grandchildren to school as a result of these programmes. These families are also able to afford better food and improve their nutrition intake because of this social cash transfer scheme. I urge the hon. Minister in charge to keep it up as these funds, when given in good time, help the people. The people in my constituency are very thankful to the President.

 

Madam Speaker, with these very few words ...

 

Mr Shabula rose.

 

Mr Lubinda: No!

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I cannot hear you.

 

Mr Shabula resumed his seat.

 

Mr Ng’onga: ... I support this particular speech by the President.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa (Sioma): Madam Speaker, thank you for according me an opportunity to debate the Presidential speech. Coming from a background in education and health and as a researcher ...

Mr Shabula rose.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member, do you wish to say something? You keep standing, but I cannot hear what you are saying.

 

Mr Shabula: On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Shabula: Madam Speaker, thank you for your patience.

 

My point of order is based on what the hon. Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs brought to this House.

 

Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister in order to remain silent instead of correcting the status of Chief Mushima Mubambe of Mufumbwe District, which was typed as Chief Mushimu Mubambe, who does not even exist in Mufumbwe? Is he going to inform the nation that in fact, Chief Mushima is gazetted, draws a salary from this Government, has a retainer and probably, drives a Pajero? The hon. Minister has assigned a Permanent Secretary (PS) for North Western Province to officiate at Makundu Ceremony of the Kaonde people of Chief Mushima in Mufumbwe District. Is the Minister, therefore, in order to remain silent on this issue?

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member has raised a point of order, wanting the hon. Minister to clarify whether or not, he is aware that in fact, Chief Mushima, who I now believe his correct name is Mushima and not Mushimo, has actually been drawing his allowance and other benefits from the Government.

 

Hon. Members, having listened to the answers that the hon. Minister was giving when Mr Speaker was in the Chair, my ruling is that the hon. Minister must come back next week and clarify this point and the position of the Government as to whether the name of the chief is Mushimu Mubambe or Mushima Mubambe. He should also clarify whether this chief is gazetted or not so that this matter can be put to rest. The hon. Minister will come back to this House on Wednesday, next week with a statement on this particular issue.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Sioma, continue.

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity that you have given me to debate the Presidential Speech. I must mention to the House that the speech by the President was timely, solid and clear.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, coming from a background of being a researcher and planner in education and health, I see light at the end of tunnel.

 

Madam Speaker, I must mention to this House that the Government is not silent but making steady progress in achieving a smart Zambia. As the President put it, I think it is very clear to all of us that each one of us has a role to play. Many times, we play blame games and this is not going to take this country anywhere. We need to work in unity.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, I want to mention a few things that the Government is doing. Under the Ministry of Transport and Communication, I must commend the Government for having installed a communication tower in Sitoti, in my constituency. This communication tower is now functional.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: They have also installed another communication tower in Mutomena Ward. In a week or so, that communication tower will be operational and my people will be able to use phones. In future, we will be lobbying for another communication tower for the people of Sinjembela who have been cut off? I have faith that the Government is going to erect another communication tower in Sinjembela.

 

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa:  Madam Speaker, I want to thank the Government for having given us a banana boat to address the challenge which was in Sitoti.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, I know that some people would not want to admit that the Government is doing something. The Government is actually working. The Government is about all the hon. Members of Parliament in this House.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, in trying to improve the broadcasting services in the country, the Government has talked about the thirty-six transmitters. It is my hope that the people of Sioma will benefit as it is strategically put in the speech that every village and town in the country will benefit. The people of Sioma will also have access to the village television that has been procured by the Government. These village televisions are yet to be distributed to the rightful places. I believe and pray that the programmes that run in urban areas that people are able to access through television will also be accessible by the people of Sioma. This way, the issue of ending child marriages will be addressed even in my area.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, let me also talk about education. As a person who is coming from that background, I must say that I am impressed with the establishment of the Centre of Excellence at the Copperbelt University (CBU) and the University of Zambia (UNZA). 

 

Mr Speaker, we all know that the problems that are currently in the country were not created by His Excellency the President.

 

Interruptions

 

Ms Subulwa: They were just inherited. We therefore, need to find solutions to them as the people of Zambia.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, if we are concerned citizens of Zambia, we will definitely find solutions to these problems. By creating these Centres of Excellence, our professors who have currently stopped reading will start reading and they will be able to provide solutions to our problems. These Centres of Excellence will enable these professors at the universities to start engaging themselves in research. Our students in the universities in Zambia will also be engaged in research. The hon. Minister of Higher Education should challenge these professors and the students in the universities to provide us with solutions to the problems that we are talking about as politicians. In this House, we are just politicians but out there, we have technocrats who are professors. What are they doing? At UNZA, we had a lecturer who is now late, may his soul rest in peace, who cited an example of a project that was done by a local person at UNZA and the other done by a South African. That professor said that there was a problem with Zambians. Now, instead of blaming each other, we should be able to find solutions to the problems.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, as an educationist, I am so happy that those two universities are going to be Centres of Excellence. I am sure our professors will start reading so that they provide us with answers to the problems that we have as a nation. For a country to developed, it has to invest in research. Unless we change certain attitudes, we will not get anywhere as a country. Each one of us here has a responsibility. The universities have their own responsibilities. Currently, our students just go to school, study and pass their examinations. They do not even know what to do next when they are done with their programmes. The professors should be utilised to the fullest instead of just sitting.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, when all these issues are put into consideration, we will be able to say that we are heading somewhere. The so-called smart Zambia that the President talked about will be achieved if solutions are provided by the smart students in the universities.

Ms Subulwa: For how long are we going to blame each other? We should change. We should have the right attitudes.

 

Mr Mwale: Hanjika!

 

Ms Subulwa: I commend the President because he has brought a sketch map for us. So, what are we going to do?

 

Madam Speaker, how are we going achieve the transfer of information communication Technology (ICT) into Sioma, Sinjembela, Vihehe and Mwazi? The Government has to provide an enabling environment for our people. We need to bridge the gap between rural and urban areas.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: We need to provide education structures. For example, what is the role of the hon. Minister of Education in the provision of ICT? It needs to provide our people with rightful structures and computers.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: The hon. Minister of energy needs to ensure that our schools are electrified …

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: … so that we achieve these things. The President can only provide a sketch map. The question is, what are the hon. Ministers doing?

 

Madam Speaker, as a young female politician and the only female hon. Member of Parliament from Western Province, I will not sit back but ensure that things are achieved.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, let me come to the issue of health.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Order in the House hon. Members!  Let us listen to the female politician.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Continue hon. Member.

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, I would like to address the issue of health. I would like to commend the President, His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for making the bold decision to ensure routine HIV test and treat.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Kapata: Bwekeshapo.

 

Ms Subulwa: For a long time, only mothers were subjected to HIV testing. When we are pregnant, we are told to test and know our status so that if we are found positive, we are treated. We are given treatment to prevent our babies from getting infected. However, what do our men do? They sit back and wait for the results at home. This time, it is all of us to be tested and treated. We all must know our statuses.

 

Interruptions

 

Ms Subulwa: As far as I am concerned, it is a welcome decision. I have talked to my people in Sioma and they have also welcomed the idea. I want to challenge the hon. Minister of Health to clarify to this House and the nation the issue of the condom free safe sex. It is called post exposure. There is a drug that is administered to prevent one from getting infected after exposure to risk. This drug is given to discondent couples. I feel that if, as a country, we can go for this routine HIV test and treat, then we can also go an extra mile and give this drug to the people if it can really prevent infection. If one anticipates that one will be exposed in three or seven days’ time, they should be provided with Truvada from health centres.

 

Ms Subulwa: We also have prep that is given to people that are exposed. This should also not be restricted to health workers and people who are raped, but given even to those who get exposed accidentally. You know what happens in these issues.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ngulube: Ema accidents aya!

 

Laughter

 

Ms Subulwa: These are the issues that the hon. Minister of Health should address seriously and bring them to the House.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order on both sides of the House!

 

Continue hon. Member.

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, allow me to quote page 3, paragraph 6 of the President’s speech:

 

“The theme of my address to this august House is ‘Moving Towards a Prosperous, Smart Zambia in Peace and Tranquility without Leaving Anyone Behind.’”

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: This does not need the specific mention of Sioma. Already, the statement gives me the energy to go and visit the hon. Ministers in the Front Bench and lobby. You just need to show them that there is no leaving anyone behind and Sioma is included.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, I would also like to lobby for my people of Sioma the same township roads that we see around Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces. All I am asking for in Sioma is 120 km of road from Nangweshi to Sinjembela. The people of Sinjembela have been neglected for years.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: I have faith and confidence in the able leadership of Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chabi: Question!

 

Ms Subulwa: I know that this can be done.

 

Interruptions

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, we have been requesting for the 110 road which is less than 60 km from Sioma to Kalongola. I know that it can be done. We have been crying in Western Province. As a female parliamentarian from Western Province, I also represent women from Western Province.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: I want to mention that the Livingston Sesheke Road needs to be worked on.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: We cannot be spending eight hours between Livingston and Sesheke. The Nakatindi Road has to be worked on.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Now you are talking!

 

Ms Subulwa: The President has said that there is no leaving anyone behind. You need to put //// to it.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mbangweta: Now you are talking!

 

Ms Subulwa: The Mongu Lusaka Road …

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, the President talked about markets. How are we going to have access to markets if we have bad roads?

 

Hon. UPND Member: Tell them!

 

Ms Subulwa: We need to work on those roads.

Interruptions

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, I want to mention to this house that I see a light at the end of the tunnel for all these things.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: Achieving a smart Zambia is a possibility. If there is anyone who is sitting in this House and still thinking that achieving a smart Zambia is not possible, then they should get home.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: I want to mention that Sioma has started seeing certain things. The  Constituency Development Fund (CDF) yangena.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Sioma what is yangena?

 

Laughter

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, yangena means that we have received the CDF.

 

Laughter

 

Ms Kucheka: Madam Speaker is the hon. Member on the Floor in order…

 

Hon. PF Members: Yes.

 

Ms Kucheka: … to say yangena

 

Laughter

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Which Member?

 

Ms Kucheka: … and to also explain it the word wrongly…

 

Laughter

 

Ms Kucheka: …because yangena means it has entered.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Imakando: How?

 

Ms Kucheka: I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Laughter

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order, hon. Members.

 

The hon. Member for Sioma has ably explained the meaning of yangena

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: … in the context of development having gone to Sioma.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Sioma will continue with her debate.

 

Ms Subulwa: Madam Speaker, I was hoping the hon. Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development will be around so that the Government can consider the Matebele Bridge as well.

 

Madam Speaker, on issues of unity, I must mention here that I was impressed with his Excellency for shaking hands with the Members of the Opposition including myself.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: That was a good gesture. My hope and prayer is that we will all take note that the President is willing to work with all of us. We need to support him for us to achieve a smart Zambia. If our intentions are clear and pure, of being selfless and wanting to work for the people of Zambia, then we will put everything aside and focus on the development of this country…

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: …by bettering the lives of the Zambians…

 

Mr A. B. Malama: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: … including the life of that poor girl and boy in Sioma and other rural areas.

 

Madam Speaker, having said that, I would like to say, yesa itumeli kwa tuka totuinyani, ana ku itumela kuze tuna. Ushitasha patunono … If I am correct, those Bembas will finish the saying for me. What it means is that we need to appreciate …

 

Mr A. B. Malama: Eha!

 

Ms Subulwa: … the little things that are done and acknowledge that the Government is making steady progress in achieving a smart Zambia.

 

Mr Chabi: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Subulwa: So, let us work in oneness and in love and forget all those other things.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu (Mbabala): Madam Speaker, I am very grateful for the opportunity to debate.

 

I am several years older than when I first came here in 2011. I have heard speeches here from Presidents. I have had a look at what was delivered by the President on the Ceremonial Official Opening of the Second Session of the Twelfth National Assembly. At my age I have no reason why I must not say the truth all the time. I am working very hard to go to heaven.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Lubinda: Question!

 

Mr Belemu: Yes, it is true. I have not been sinning as you do, lately.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Belemu: Madam Speaker, when I look at this speech in totality, I think that there is a missed opportunity here. This occasion should have been used, I think, to trigger a fresh start in this country, considering the situations that we find ourselves in. Let us not mislead ourselves into believing that we are in the ordinary and regular days as before. This country, today, has a lot of challenges that are unique and strange to us with this level of leadership.

 

For the purposes of illustration, Madam Speaker, this is a country that once helped others to gain their independence and freedoms. As we sit today, this is a country that is being helped to even speak to itself and free its own citizens. That is irregular for a country that has been independent for this long. This is a country that once boasted of being one of the pioneers of multi-partism at least in the sub continent. As we speak today, our multi-partism is under threat.

 

Hon. PF Members: How?

 

Mr Belemu: Madam, it is under threatened by those that are in the ruling party who think that this country must revert back to one party state by refusing to uphold the very basic tenets of democracy and multi-partism such as allowing people to freely assemble and associate themselves with whoever they wish to associate.

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Belemu: Madam Speaker, It is not a secret that people that were considered to have a different view to the ruling party in the public sector, have been removed or retired or whatever term may be used but the bottom line is that they have been removed from the public sector.

 

Mr A. B. Malama: They are politicians.

 

Mr Sikazwe: When?

 

Mr Belemu: Madam Speaker, people that are considered to have a different view other than that of the ruling party have been brutalised, injured and maimed in this country. Just yesterday Muvi TV was showing us the atrocities just here in Chilanga where all those that seemed to hold contrary views are being brutalised. This is not an ordinary time for anyone who has a conscious. I think we should have used this occasion to reflect and retrigger issues and policies that can reset this country on a positive path as opposed to burying our heads in the sand.

 

Madam Speaker, this country once boasted of surpluses, as we speak today, we are going round begging. That is strange. This country is highly endowed with natural resources. As we sit today, countries that are less endowed are far much better than ourselves. So, this speech should have been used to really trigger positiveness as opposed to burying our head in the sand and continue believing that all is well. I must confess though, that unlike my colleague who is seeing light at the end of the tunnel, I have not been in that tunnel myself…

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: … to appreciate the light she is seeing because…

 

Mr Nkombo: He cannot even see the tunnel.

 

Mr Belemu: Even what she referred to as yangena, has not entered in my case. I do not have Constituency Development Fund (CDF) as I stand today.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sikazwe: Kuti yangena shani muli iwe?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr A. B. Malama: Yangena.

 

Ms Kapata: On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Sikazwe: Nomba kuti yaingila shani muli iwe?

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, please sit down.

 

Ms Kapata resumed her seat.

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, in order for us to conduct business in the House in an orderly matter, there must be mutual respect.

 

Mr Kufakwandi: Yes.

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Respect from both sides of the House. Without that, we will not conduct business in an orderly manner.

 

The hon. Member for Mbabala is trying to put a point across. We cannot drown him because we do not agree with what he is saying.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: The time will come for those who have not debated to debate and if need be answer to the issues that are being raised by those that are debating.

 

Hon. Members, as I have said there is need for mutual respect. Presiding Officers are your servants and you have to help them to manage the House.

 

With that said, I note that the Hon. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources wishes to raise a point of order.

 

You may go ahead.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata:Madam Speaker, is the hon. Member debating on the Floor in order to neutralise his colleague’s debate? He must have his own thoughts and cannot stand up and say what the other person said.

 

Interruptions

 

Ms Kapata:Is he, therefore, in order to …

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Kapata: … dilute the hon. Member for Sioma’s very good debate? I seek your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: My ruling is that the hon. Member is in order …

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: … insofar that he refers to development not taking place in his area as it is reportedly taking place in Sioma.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: You may continue, hon. Member for Mbabala.

 

Mr Belemu:Madam Speaker, I am grateful that ladies are fighting for me today.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Belemu: Madam, on page 3, paragraph 6, the President stated that:

 

“The theme of my address to this august House is ‘moving towards a prosperous smart Zambia in peace and tranquility without leaving anyone behind’.”

 

When I initially thought about this, my thinking was that there are people that the Patriotic Front (PF) has certainly left behind and need to be included. However, as I went deep in thought last night, I came to a conclusion that actually, the oppositeis the truth. The people of Zambia have deserted the PF…

 

Mr Ngulube: Question!

 

Mr Belemu: … and they need to catch up. They have left the broken down bus that the PF is using to take them to an unknown direction and I will illustrate this. The people of Zambia understand too well what they need. They aspire for freedom, rights, prosperity, to do well and want peace in their homes, streets and trading places. However, these aspirations have been threatened by the policies and actions of the ruling party, for example, the use of the ancient Public Order Act to suppress citizens. Surely, in this era, what would be the explanation behind political cadres brutalising and maiming citizens and in some cases even loss of life? I want to submit that in fact it is the PF that has been left behind and must catch up. The world is now moving towards more free societies, freedom and rights for their citizens as opposed to curtailing them and behaving like a cruel grandmother who at every turn wants to knock down her grandchild even over a simple meal.

 

Madam Speaker, shoddy contracts were a subject of question yesterday, for example, the one concerning the Lusaka/Ndola Carriageway, yet they are saying that they want to move this country into prosperity. How do theyexplain the issue of the fire tenders that costUS$42 million, yet they are saying that they want to carry everyone along into prosperity? The reason Zambians are condemning these contracts is because they know too well where they want to go.I must submit that the PF must catch up as opposed to thinking that they want to take the citizens along with them. As I said a few years ago on a similar theme, if what we are experiencing today is a glimpse of where the PF want to take this country, then it is better they leave us on this journey and go alone …

 

Mr Nkombo: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: … so that when we remain behind, we can rebuild this country properly …

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: … in a more constructive, genuine and democratic way that promotes individuals’rights and liberties. Why would you want to go with a group of people that are busy brutalising you and entering into shoddy contracts with very unexplainable amounts being expended?

 

Ms Lubezhi: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: Madam Speaker, let me submitfurther that the Zambian people understand too well what the price of maize should be considering the factors of production, prices of seed, fertiliser and other inputs. They know that a 50 kg bag of maize ought not to cost K60. So, to say that they want to lead people into prosperity without leaving anyone behind is being untruthful to the Zambian people. They said that those who do not want to sell their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA)can sell it on the international market at a better price. That is a very strange argument and you can only put up such an argument if you have never grown a single cob of maize in this economy. How does a farmer who would have harvested five 50 kg bags of maize sell them in South Africa or Brazil or wherever they think that international market exists?

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: Madam,there have been attempts to demonise those people who came to aid this country by way of giving us a platform to talk to one another such as the Commonwealth. That is indictment and an indication of the fact that we have failed to dialogue. The people who should have helped us to do that failed andwe are most grateful to them because they have seen sense in the need for the people of this country to talk for themselves.

 

Madam Speaker, on page 11, paragraph 33, the President stated that:

 

“It is worth noting the factors that adversely affected the growth rate in the recent past in order to inform our policies going forward. Copper prices declined, power generation capacity also declined due to poor rainfall. This negatively affected industrial production and provision of services. Agriculture production also dropped due to poor rainfall patterns.”

 

This is clear escapism and running away from responsibilities. You cannot blame everything on nature other than your own actions. Now, they are even blaming God for the failures of this country.

Madam Speaker, there are countries that have been in similar situations, with regard to rainfall patterns. They have excelled and continued to function. The Patriotic Front (PF) should have taken responsibility. In addition to all the natural causes, there is a part that PF played for us to be in this situation.

 

Madam Speaker, in case they are not aware, the maize price of K60 per 50 kg bag will affect production in the forthcoming season and, subsequently, the harvest next year. It is the very unreasonable borrowing that we have been talking about in this very august House that is affecting this economy.

 

Now, we are going round begging for money. We had the opportunity not to over borrow. We emphasised that our borrowing must be prudent and the money should go to areas that are of economic value. Now, you want to blame God for the problems that we are going through at the moment. You created these problems. God did not ask you to go and borrow. I doubt that it was him. I think that it was the other person.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Belemu: It is high time that the PF took responsibility concerning where this country is, politically and economically. This will be a very good starting point to discussing how to move out of this situation.

 

As long as the PF continue to run away from responsibility and instead blame everyone else, like a primary school bully who blames everyone, including the teachers, for failing exams, we are not going to achieve anything. These are serious times and we needed a correct perspective or direction on where this country ought to go.

 

Mr Ngulube: In conclusion!

 

Mr Belemu: It is not up to you to conclude.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Belemu: Madam Speaker, this speech has the same generalities as other past PF speeches. I thought that this time around, there would be honesty and preciseness.

 

For example, there is one sector which has been over-generalised. The President shied away from giving us exactly what is obtaining in the tourism sector and what can trigger it to become economically viable. He just talked about diversification.  What I think can be valuable at this stage is a policy direction asking for a review of the various fees and taxes in the sector so that it becomes competitive and brings returns to the country.

 

Madam Speaker, there has been generalization of Zambia diversifying the tourism product to, among others, medical tourism. I have never seen any medical tourism attraction around the country. Perhaps the ng’angas or traditional healers, but I would not know, because I have never been to see one.

 

If we are going to talk about formal clinics or hospitals, it is not possible because most of these structures are incomplete. Most of them are at slab level. Who wants to go and be treated or attended to by a slab? You are retiring doctors who are thirty-two years of age and you expect people to come for treatment.

 

Furthermore, I feel that there should have been policy guidance on infrastructure in the tourism sector which will grow the industry. However, all I see are the usual general terms such as ‘priority sector’ and so on. I think that it is high time that we confronted the truth as it stands. This speech has failed us as citizens. No matter how much we camouflage it, make it look good or make it sound like things are happening on the ground, the truth still stands. There is nothing that is going on in terms of development on the ground.

 

This is why a very basic thing like the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) cannot be disbursed to constituencies. Some constituencies have not had CDF for three years now. 

 

Ms Mwashingwele: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Belemu: Now, you want to make us believe that you do not want to leave anyone behind in your journey on a broken bus.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Belemu: Let the citizens of this country move on, on their own. They are better off without you, colleagues. Do not make them go on a journey that starts from nowhere and ends nowhere.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Belemu:  I would support something that is sincere and genuine because at my age, I want to die a very peaceful man.

 

Madam Speaker, I do not agree with this speech. This is my position. This is where the people of Mbabala and I stand. For three years now we have not received the CDF and you want to make us believe that everything in this country is rosy. We are still questioning even the US$42 million fire tenders. We use bushes to quench fires.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Lubezhi: Branches!

 

Mr Belemu: Branches, yes. Thank you very much for the correction of English. I went to an English school a long time ago. 

 

Madam Speaker, we need to do things that will seriously transform this country.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr C. M. Zulu (Luangeni): Madam Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to debate in support of the President’s Speech. I appreciate the opportunity.

 

Madam Speaker, the President came here and presented this speech. It is his vision for this country. It can be said that without vision, people perish. 

 

So, His Excellency gave us a vision and it is up to us to implement it. Of course, there may be challenges. When a plan is put in place, not everything goes smoothly. As we go on, we will make corrections. What is important for now is that we have a vision.

 

The challenge in this country is that those assigned to implement these visions, do not do their work. I am talking about civil servants in Government ministries. If we could only change our work attitude, everything will be fine. This country is very rich. We have all the resources that we need for a country to be rich but our attitudes bring it down.

 

Madam Speaker, I always say that there is very little difference in human beings. This little difference is what makes a huge difference. The little difference that I am talking about is attitude. The huge difference is whether one’s attitude is positive or negative. If our attitude is so negative, we will call an innocent speech a dead speech or all sorts of names.

 

The President means well for this country.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: There is no way that he can come here and present useless things. It does not work like that. Let us learn as leaders, Members of Parliament and as a country to unite. What are we doing in our constituencies to ensure that this country is united? People have come out strongly that this country is divided. Let us look at the root cause of these divisions and do something. What are we doing as Members of Parliament, church leaders, village headmen and traditional leaders to ensure that this country united?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: The challenge that we have as leaders is what we say. When we are here debating about division, I see school going children in the galleries, listening.  

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: What are we inculcating these children? What are they learning from us?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: What are they learning from us?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr C. M. Zulu:  Madam Speaker, it is not good to start saying this one is Tonga, this one is Lozi or the other one is Bemba. Those things are not necessary.

 

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: Madam Speaker, the former late female Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir said:

 

“What makes our country grow is the spirit of our people. We do not have the resources that will give us dollars, we do not have the minerals or the petroleum products to make us rich, but the spirit of our people makes our country grow.”

 

Madam, if people lose their spirit, not even the United States of America (USA) will save us. The question I would like to ask is what are we doing as hon. Members of Parliament to motivate our people in our various constituencies? We are encouraging unnecessary divisions. I believe and I have always said that as leaders, we hold cans. One can is full of petrol and the other can is full of water. So, when there fire, it is up me as a leader to either pour water to put off the fire or pour petrol so that the whole house is on fire.

 

Madam, for instance, when I consider the political violence, which has been happening in our country, I have never heard of any in my constituency and Eastern Province to be specific. We conduct elections and go about our businesses nicely, vote and that is it. We are all aware of the regions, which encourage violence in this country. Which are these areas?

 

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

 Mr C. M.  Zulu: Madam Speaker, your guest is as good as mine.

 

Madam, two weeks ago, I was in my constituency, …

 

Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Madam.

 

 Madam First Deputy Speaker:  A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for allowing me to raise this point of order.

 

Madam, I have been listening very closely to my brother and friend’s debate. I am in agreement with almost everything he was saying until he started to attempt to blame certain regions of our country, which he has not mentioned. He has also said the region, where he hails from has not recorded any spate of violence, which is a concern for all of us.

 

Madam, the court judgment, indicated that the Patriotic Front Party (PF) did not only beat up members of the MUVI Television, but urinated in their mouths and this happened in Vubwi Parliamentary Constituency. Is he therefore, in order to take that line of debate, which is very divisive whilst agreeing that there is violence allover in this country to single out a region, where he comes from as being free from this horrible spate of our nation. I seek your ruling on that matter.

 

Mr Ngulube rose.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker:  Order!

 

Can the hon. Member for Kabwe Central, please sit down. You cannot rise on a point of order on a point of order.

 

Laughter

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

The hon. Member for Mazabuka Central is requesting the Chair to decide whether the hon. Member for Luangeni is in order to state that the region he hails from has not experienced political violence. He has also made reference to a court judgment. Of course, the Chair has not cited that judgment, which in his own words has referred to a political party, called the Patriot Front (PF) and its members.

 

Hon. Members, the ruling of the Chair is that the hon. Member for Luangeni is in order because …

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: … he has discussed his area and yet, there are many other regions, which he has not discussed, but he has restricted himself to the region that he knows, which is Eastern Province. In that regard, the hon. Member for Luangeni is perfectly in order.

 

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

You may continue.

 

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: Madam Speaker, I was saying that we have never experienced arson cases in Eastern Province.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: Madam, the problem we have in this country is that we do not even know our enemies, but instead, we want to be enemies amongst ourselves.

 

Madam Speaker, the enemy of this country is a foreigner who comes into this country, cuts our Mukula tree and exports it to China.  A few months ago, the Tanzania nationals were caught for engaging in illegal gold mining in Petauke District of Eastern Province. The one who buys traditional land from our traditional chiefs on the expense of our children is an enemy of this country. It is not us. Therefore, let us not waste time …

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

 Mr C. M. Zulu: … on useless things and arguments. We should focus on our …

 

 Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Can the hon. Member withdraw the word ‘useless.’

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: Madam Speaker, let us not waste time on undesirable things. We should concentrate on building our country and become a united force. There is a common saying, which says ‘united we stand and divided we fall.’ So, let us not divide our country on tribal lines or by looking at someone’s race. We should not divide our country by choosing, where someone comes from or regions. By so doing, we are not going to achieve anything. Instead, we are just going to continue being a poor country and make no progress.

 

Madam Speaker, we should not be afraid of adjusting to new things. There a number of new things that His Excellency the President mentioned in His Speech. Even when the House introduced the new system, there were arguments because we did not want the new system, but now since it is working, we have come to appreciate it. His Excellency the President talked about a lot of new things in the agriculture sector, mining, energy, new tariffs and other things. Therefore, let us follow what is there and see how they will work. If they fail, then, we will go back to the drawing board and polish them up because that is what His Excellency the President wants. It is as simple as that. So, let us not argue or differ over nothing.

 

Madam Speaker, when I was addressing my people in my constituency, I found that there were four Tonga teachers. I asked them to stand within a group of villagers and asked them whether there was any difference between the people from Eastern Province and those from Southern Province? As far as I am concerned, there is no difference because we are one and the same Zambians. If we continue with the spirit of oneness, this country will reach higher heights. That is the way to go.

 

 Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: Madam, it is not good to shoot down a well meaning programme when it is introduced for no apparent reason. When the Government wants to introduce new tariffs, some sections of society begin to say this and that and that people are suffering. When something new is introduced, you obviously expect some suffering, but we have to endure and thereafter, things tend to be okay. In the long run, the country makes progress. Like His Excellency the President said, it is up to us, hon. Members to unite and love one another. So, let us love one another.

 

Madam, the other day, I was in Dundumwe attending a funeral. I did not know that my young brother, Kelvin is married in Dundumwezi. I only knew that Hon. Sing’ombe is actually my uncle at the funeral.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: You can imagine how the inter marriages can unite us. As if that is not enough, my other young brother, Gerald is also married in Choma. So, where do we want to take this country? What about the products from these marriages? When I look at my nephew, whose mother is Tonga and the father is Ngoni, I tend to wonder about what is happening. Let us forget our tribal differences. We should unite as a country and love one another. Let us love His Excellency our President. When things are not going well, let us sit down together and see the way forward. 

 

Madam Speaker, you know me very well. I am a man of very few words.

 

 Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker, sorry, one last point …

 

Laughter

Mr C. M. Zulu: Madam Speaker, someone stood up in here and talked about the Bill of Rights. I remember a couple of months ago, the President introduced this Bill of Rights issue in here, but our colleagues from the other side went around the country to shoot it down and it did not work out. So who is to blame for that? As people in Government, we were ready to pass this Bill, but it was shot down unfortunately.

 

Mr Lubinda: By cadres!

 

Laughter

 

Mr C. M.  Zulu: Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’ambi (Chifubu): Madam Speaker, I want to begin by supporting and appreciating the speech that was presented before this House by His Excellency the President of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. He came up with a most inspiring speech that has brought hope to the people of Zambia.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’ambi: Madam Speaker, I stand here as an ambassador of hope for the people of Zambia in general and Chifubu Constituency in particular. The speech that was made in this House by the President was focused towards transforming this county to a point whereby in another ten years, Zambia shall be a hub of industrialisation and become a middle income country.

 

Madam Speaker, I want to begin by thanking the President for having come up with programmes that have benefitted the people of Chifubu Constituency. The first one is the K131,000 water project which is now 75 per cent complete. The people of Chifubu Constituency are saying thank you to the President and Patriotic Front (PF) Government.

 

Madam Speaker, Chifubu Constituency has also benefited from the Poly Technologies Road Project through the construction of a bridge connecting Chifubu and Mitengo. This is a bridge which people have been complaining about for many years. Therefore, they have told me to let the President know that they are very happy that this project is now coming to completion.

 

Madam Speaker, I also want to state that my constituency is in two parts. The major part, which is about 80 per cent, is urban and 15 per cent is peri-urban, which is a farming block. The majority of the people in my constituency depend on buying mealie-meal from the shops. Therefore, the reduction of the price of a bag of mealie-meal from K120 to K60 is something that the people of Chifubu feel is magic and can only be achieved by a President who is very focused, dedicated and cares for his people.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’ambi: Madam Speaker, as Chifubu Constituency, we feel that the one year in office of President Lungu has brought a lot of hope because even other challenging issues such as the sewerage system that was one of the major problems in the constituency is now under control and we are saying thank you.

 

Madam Speaker, one of the issues that I want to bring to the attention of this House and Zambian people in general is that President Lungu is going to remain in power until 2026, during which period all Zambians that are focused on transforming their lives will not be left behind.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’ambi: Madam Speaker, the President has set the tone, particularly on the macroeconomics of this country. The macroeconomic targets have been set bare and very clear. For instance, the Bank of Zambia (BoZ) recently reduced the commercial bank’s statutory reserve ratio by 1.5 per cent in order to allow more liquidity in the economy. These funds are going to be tapped into by entrepreneurs, who in this case are going to form businesses that are going to transform their lives.

 

The other thing that I want to comment on, Madam Speaker, are the issues that seem to be brought out by some hon. Members of the House as well as some members of society who do not seem to have appreciated the speech that was presented by the President. I must state that President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is a high thinker. He is a great thinker and his level of thinking is so high that some of our people have failed to assimilate the speech.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Ng’ambi: These are some people in this house and part of our society. I must state that failure to think to those levels does not mean that the President has moved from his earlier objectives. President Lungu is operating at 50,000 feet above sea level.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’ambi: What I am seeing is that those that are condemning him are somewhere around 10,000 feet above sea level. My experience in the corporate world tells me that the major point of difference among human beings is their level to reason or at what level they are thinking. President Lungu is a high thinker and we must accept that. That is why you see that most of our people, when they look at the issues he is presenting before this country, they are failing to assimilate and in the process, all they will do when they fail is to say that he is corrupt.

 

Dr Imakando: You have said it yourself.

 

Mr Ng’ambi: Madam Speaker, failure to assimilate something and deciding to quit the race is the reason why others are saying there is corruption in the PF Government. There is not and it is just their failure. This imaginary corruption, as they are calling it,  is basically anchored on their levels of thinking.

 

Madam Speaker, I must state that for the years that I have been in politics, I have seen bold decisions made under the leadership of His Excellency the President of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. In the past, it was difficult to implement the tollgate programme in this country for political reasons. President Lungu directed that this programme must be implemented. Today as we sit, the tollgates are becoming a cash basket for this country.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’ambi: This is going to change the road network in Monze, Dundumwezi, Isoka as well as Chifubu Constituency. When I am seated here and I hear many other issues that are brought out before this House. Some people are even discussing the Ndola/Lusaka Dual Carriage Way, which is a US$1.2 billion project. Others are coming to this House to discuss the fire tenders and saying that they were bought at an exorbitant price. Looking at the extent of their suspicion, one can even say that we should investigate these matters. I, however, want to tell them that those issues they are focusing and spending your twenty minutes on to debate before this House will not employ a young man in Monze or Isoka. These are sunk costs. What we may need to start focusing on much more are the issues that are going to transform the lives of people in our constituencies.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’ambi: If they are saying they have alternative solutions, I would have expected those that are debating the Lusaka/Ndola Dual Carriage Way to come up with engineering reports that can be compared to what the Government is doing so that this caring Government should sit down and begin to negotiate with the contractor. This is what we need. Alas, due to their failure, as I have already indicated, they cannot think that high.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Ng’ambi: They are just coming here to state that there is corruption in Government. This level of difference in the approach of issues is a clear indication that this is the more reason the PF has been winning elections because we are thinking at a higher level.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’ambi: I do not see any particular change in power as long as we do not seem to appreciate that the PF is providing leadership and it is focused towards transforming the lives of the Zambian people.

 

Madam Speaker, I was pleased when I heard the President say that he was going to invest in human capital. We cannot develop this country without adequate resource allocation to the development of our people. The President is moving from the idea of creating universities, to creating centres of excellence. That is very high thinking. The President is at 50,000 feet above sea level.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’ambi: Madam Speaker, look at the way the United States (US) Dollar has been managed. It has depreciated, from K12 to K8.9 per US$1. That is like magic. This is as a result of the very conscious and decisive measures that the Government has put in place.

 

Madam Speaker, the President indicated that there are two international airports being constructed.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’ambi: One is in Lusaka, costing US$360 million and the other one is in the Copperbelt, which will cost US$397 million. I heard someone debate that we should compare ourselves to Botswana. I say we are moving at 50,000 feet above sea level.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ngambi: He should remain where he is. The people of Zambia want development. I encourage that person to join us, we are open. We want to work with everyone, including him, because we know that he is also Zambian and yearning for development.

 

Madam Speaker, all these projects that the President outlined are going to transform lives. Employment will be created and many other business opportunities will be created for the Zambian people. The President is transforming Zambia. By 2026 when he leaves office, all of us will be millionaires. Somebody may think this is imaginary. The President is focussed. He touched on all the sectors of the economy that he is going to transform.

 

Madam Speaker, our able hon. Ministers will begin to bring Bills to this House and the President directed that these Bills must be completed within this session. This means that everyone in this House will participate in passing the Bills. I assure you that all of us will be at 50,000 feet above sea level.

 

Madam Speaker, I want to end by saying that the boldness that the President emphasised must extend to everyone. We must be bold and make very decisive decisions for this country to move forward.

 

Madam Speaker, it is gratifying that Zambia is being transformed. It is gratifying that the United States (US) Dollar is losing value while the Kwacha is appreciating. I expect that we will be able to import fertiliser at a much lower price. Our small scale farmers may then buy it at K50 per one 50 kg bag and their farming will be profitable. I expect prices of a lot of things to come down because of good management of the economy by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government. I am coming from the corporate world, and the corporate world wants to see proper management of our monetary policy. They want to see controlled inflation.

 

Madam Speaker, I stand for the people of Chifubu who told me that I should tell the President that they are very happy with what he is doing. However, there are still a few challenges in the constituency. The people of Chifubu want to keep going forward. They want a shopping mall. They also want the Copperbelt 400 (C400) road project to be implemented so that they can start moving on good roads.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ng’ambi: Madam Speaker, they also want the Government to consider building a mini-hospital because the population of the constituency has grown. These are the only issues the people of Chifubu have.

 

Madam Speaker, the President and all of us in the PF are moving Zambia forward. By 2026, when President Lungu leaves office, I think that the Zambian economy shall be transformed and the lives of Zambians shall have improved.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Musonda (Kamfinsa): Madam Speaker, thank you so much for according me this opportunity to add my word on the Motion under consideration, that is, the President’s Speech to this august House by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the “walk the talk man.”

 

Madam Speaker, indeed, a lot has been said about this speech and most of it has been positive and supportive. The reason for this is simple; the speech was not only inspiring, but reconciliatory in nature. It was reconciliatory in the sense that if you look at the theme of the speech – I will borrow a few words from the theme. His Excellency indicated to this august House that as we sit in this august House, we are one; we are one Zambia, one nation.  He further went on to say that the things that actually bind us as Zambians are much greater than those which seek to divide us. The President has demonstrated that he means well, and that he is “Mr walk the talk” by allowing the Commonwealth-brokered reconciliation talks to have happen in this country. Some of our colleagues have said we did not need somebody from outside to come and convince us to talk to each other. I have a slightly different view on that one. The President said that what binds us is stronger than what seeks to divide us. Let us look at the genesis of what resulted in this Commonwealth-brokered reconciliatory talks. Some of our fellow countrymen have gone out of this country to paint the country red, saying that there is hell on earth in Zambia and unimaginable tension.

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Withdraw the word “hell.”

 

Mr Musonda: They say that there is Armageddon and unimaginable tension in Zambia. This cry has been going on from the time the Patriotic Front (PF) won the 2016 election overwhelmingly and convincingly. 

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Musonda: Numbers do not lie. They do not.

 

Interruptions

 

Hon. Opposition Member: Which numbers?

 

Mr Musonda: The numbers of Members of Parliament for PF and those of the Opposition.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Musonda: Madam Speaker, numbers do not lie. Out of not having accepted the outcome, …

 

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Musonda: … our colleagues were very convinced that they were taking it hence there has been an imaginary tension in the country. Madam Speaker, I want to point out that we do not need to wait for imaginary tension for even two weeks before we see the practical results of such a tension.

 

As I am speaking now, we are receiving, in this country, refugees from Congo where the tension is real. For one year, we have been singing about tension. There are still no refugees coming in because what binds us is more than what seeks to divide us in this country.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Musonda: Madam Speaker, I want to make a timely and earnest appeal, even before these reconciliatory talks brokered by the Commonwealth are yet to start, to fellow Members of Parliament from both divides of the House through you to the country, and to the people that will be involved in this reconciliatory talks, that let us be objective. The Commonwealth felt it right to broker these talks because they were convinced by those who were painting the country red outside, that probably there was something going on in Zambia. They have come, and the President has demonstrated and agreed that we are going to go by their request and make an attempt to get everybody together.

 

I do not want this to be a story of the wolf boy. Those who have been painting the country red must remember the story of the wolf boy. We have been given an opportunity. We have been saying “wolf, wolf, wolf, wolf” and the Commonwealth came here and I am sure there was no wolf. If we do not take advantage of this opportunity and objectively go into these reconciliatory talks, next time the wolf comes in this country no one will come to us.

 

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Musonda: This is because we would have wasted their time. I am making an earnest appeal to my fellow Members of Parliament that they see objectivity in this.

 

Madam Speaker, there are issues about people going out labeling our country as a police state just because there have been skirmishes between cadres. The person who mentioned this said cadres and I am glad about that. However, the only mistake that was made was to attachment a political party to the cadres that these cadres come from PF.

 

We have seen videos circulating and seen very senior members of certain political parties taunting a policeman on duty.

 

Ms Mulenga: Hear, hear!

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Musonda: A policeman on duty for that matter with a firearm. If the police were excited, I do not know what could have happened on that particular night.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Musonda: Madam Speaker, let me emphasise on my appeal, let us be very objective with the Commonwealth talks in this country.

 

The President’s speech was inspiring because he has gone out of his way to invite all of us to start participating. I believe that is more so the reason we were elected as Members of Parliament.

 

Mrs Simukoko: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Musonda: We cannot spend five years of our stay in here just opposing for the sake of it.

 

Hon. Government Member: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Musonda: We need to actually participate. Let me elaborate. There is a very serious talk about the fire tenders and the price at which they were bought. The hon. Minister of Local Government, whose ministry are the end users of these fire tenders came to this House and made a ministerial statement. He was bold and candid enough to tell us in here as Members of Parliament, that this procurement went through a full procurement process under the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) and the technocrats were involved. He also told us that not even he can interfere with the ZPPA process.

 

The question is: Who created ZPPA? ZPPA was created by an Act of Parliament by ourselves in here.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Musonda: We should be worried when a minister tells us that he cannot even interfere with that process. Who is to blame? Let us take responsibility. Get back that ZPPA Act to this House and relook at it and see how we can better this monster which we created. Now, when we start looking at things subjectively, those ideas will just by pass us.

 

Mr Siwanzi: Hammer, hammer!

 

Mrs Simukoko: Punzisa!

 

Mr Musonda: The Minister further went on to say that at the time of budgeting, there was only a budget line that was provided when the budget was approved. That is food for thought for us who actually approve the budget. What can we do better to operationalise a budget line? We have got a big oversight role. It is wrong and unacceptable for people, when things go wrong, especially at a very late stage, even if the President is very clear about it, are the first ones to say, those with facts on the matter can they provide them to the police. If it were that, when the police eventually find out that indeed there was corruption, which corruption the President was very much against, what is the end result? Two or three people will be convicted and sent to jail. Will that compensate the country on what the K42 million could have benefitted it? The answer is no. If we are objective enough, we can pick these things up especially that we have an oversight role.

 

For instance, we have the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that can tackle such issues. If there is a budget line slotted in at the time when it is supposed to be funded, why not make a law or amend the ZPPA Act? Or amend the budget provisions saying when they are sure that they have got an estimate, they can bring it back to Parliament, unlike having to come and look at things when it is too late. The result is that because as Members of Parliament we have not been objective.

 

The President has set the tone as my brother said there, on how he wants to govern. Government has three arms. The Judiciary is by and large appointed by government. We are the only ones who are in government to represent the people that brought us here. We are picking out from the people on the fire tenders because we are worried that if we do not mention this, we might lose an election in 2021. It will be too late.

 

Fellow Members of Parliament let us come out and be objective. Time of elections are gone. Let us help the President of this country govern so that we can, within the mandate that was bestowed on the PF Government deliver development to the people of Zambia.

 

With these few words, Madam Speaker, I want to wholeheartedly support the speech by the President.

 

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mrs Simukoko: Very well spoken!

Mr S. Mulusa (Solwezi Central): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute on a couple of issues relating to the President’s speech.

 

Madam Speaker, every successful African government has made the fight against corruption a priority. I believe that the leadership in this country today lacks the muscle to fight corruption.

 

Madam Speaker, imagine a maize farmer in Solwezi Central puts a fence around his crops and buys German Shepherds to patrol the fence whilst keeping monkeys within the farm. I do not think that the farmer will be able to protect that maize. Despite having dogs around the farm, the monkeys will feast on the maize and the farmer will find nothing when he wants to take the maize to the Food Reserve Agency. This is what is happening in this country.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Chibanda: Who are you calling monkeys?

 

Mr S. Mulusa: Corruption is within us.

 

Madam Speaker, we have seen a few of our leaders, who may seem clean, get fired and start revealing the things that they were doing while in Government.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr S. Mulusa: We know that there is corruption. I expected the President to have said more about the fight against corruption in this Government. I expected the President to tell Ministers that corruption is what is causing poverty to ...

 

Ms Kapata: Unaona ka blouse pa picture?

 

Laughter

 

Mr S. Mulusa: ... prevail in this country.

 

Madam Speaker, as the hon. Member of Parliament representing Solwezi, the largest and most productive constituency ...

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ngulube: Eh ma boasting aya!

 

Mr S. Mulusa: Madam Speaker, the Government promised that they would create a certain number of jobs. We expected the President to mention how many jobs have been created and if not, what caused the failure to create these jobs. However, it is sad that the youth in this country have nothing to boast about when it comes to this Government.

 

Madam Speaker, just a fortnight ago, the hon. Minister of Youth and Sport was gladly presenting what appeared to me as nothing but a political gimmick. How can you provide vendors in the North-Western Province with only K400,000? That figure would have to be divided by twelve constituencies. In the meantime, even if we are given one of the fire trucks that were recently acquired at US$1 million, imagine how far that money could have gone in promoting ...

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: Madam Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. Was the hon. Member of Parliament for Solwezi Central in order to wear a blouse when getting a passport size photo?

 

Laughter

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! I am not sure if what the hon. Member for Solwezi Central is wearing in this picture is a blouse. What I think he is wearing is an attire that makes him look very fit.

 

Laughter

 

Mr S. Mulusa: Madam Speaker, I know my brother is too old to know what is good for young men like us.

 

Madam Speaker, today, we have a very high number of youth unemployed. Most of the youths are suffering from poverty because the Government has not prioritised this issue. The Government has not given political will to empower the youths. I expected a speech that was going to give hope to the young men of this country, a speech that would have promised them a better tomorrow.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also talk about diversification in agriculture. What are we doing to promote agriculture in the rural areas? Currently, the District Agriculture Coordinators (DACOs) have not been funded. If they were funded, it could have been in January or some time last year. Even if we are in this House talking about diversification and agriculture as key to development, there is no money in this country. As long as we do not fund DACOs to make sure that our extension officers are on the ground, we are dreaming because nothing is going to be achieved.

 

Madam Speaker, the issue of promoting farm mechanisation is another challenge. We therefore, request this Government to have a deliberate policy to ignore the procurement of fire fighting tracks so that that money can be diverted to procure tractors for farmers. This move can empower the farmers and they can also contribute to the economy of this country.

 

Madam Speaker, when the Patriotic Front (PF) took over the Government, they abolished the basic schools. Currently, in my constituency, we are having difficulties because a secondary school that we have has only ten classrooms. The other one has only four classrooms. There is no sufficient school infrastructure in my constituency. I am not against the issue of universities but I think for universities to function, we need to have sufficient secondary and primary schools in this country. In Solwezi Central, I know that Chikombe Basic School is earmarked for a secondary school.

Madam, we do not even know where that money was taken. I appreciate that the Parent’s Teachers’ Association at Chikombe has the initiative to build structures on its own. We want more secondary schools to be built because we have changed the way education is managed. I hope that the next Budget shall provide for more schools to be built in my constituency in particular and in North Western Province in General.

 

Madam Speaker, as you may know, Solwezi District is now a mining town. The hospital that we have was built in colonial days for not more than 10,000 people. However, today, we have more than 200,000 people just in Solwezi Central. In fact, they are more than that. Despite that, we still have an old hospital. Solwezi General Hospital is supposed to be a referral hospital for the whole province. I expect that in the next Budget, or in the years to come in my tenure, there will be change and a bigger hospital will be built in Solwezi and other clinics upgraded to manage the population that it is now holding.

 

Madam Speaker, under good governance, it is very difficult to walk and not be left behind because of what we experienced, especially in the last year. We saw a police service that was part of the Patriotic Front (PF) youth. We saw a police service participating in by-elections.

 

Mr Ngulube: Question!

 

Mr Mulusa: We saw a police service that could not allow the Opposition to assemble freely.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mulusa: It is very difficult my dear colleagues to agree that we shall walk together until these things change for the better for all of us. Otherwise, you will leave us and we shall be watching you because we know that there is a ditch where you are going.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mulusa: Madam Speaker, with these few words, I thank you.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Madam Speaker, I thank you for allowing me this opportunity to debate the President’s speech which provides the policy direction for the nation.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Ngulube: Ebaishiba aba!

 

Mr Muchima: The nation that we are referring to is Zambia and is comprised of all tribes, boys, girls and you mention it.

 

Madam Speaker, I will draw your attention to page 4, paragraph 125 of the President’s speech:

 

“I hope members of this august House can see that my current address is reporting significant progress for my previous addresses. Your Government is indeed working.”

 

Madam Speaker, I just wish to note that ‘for’ should read ‘from’. This is where I will start from.

 

Madam Speaker, I have a speech here which was delivered by his Excellency the President on 17th March, 2017. In this document here …

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order! 

 

(Debate adjourned)

__________

 

The House adjourned at 1255 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 26th September, 2017.

 

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