Friday, 23^rd February, 2018

 

The House met at 0900 hours

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

_________

 

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

 

The Vice-President (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, I rise to give the House an indication of the Business it will consider next week.

 

Sir, on Tuesday, 27^th February, 2018, 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.

 

Mr Speaker, on Wednesday, 28^th February, 2018, the Business will start with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will consider Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. The House will then consider the Second Reading Stage of the following Bills:

 

(i)         The Public Finance Management Bill, N.A. B No. 17 of 2017; and

 

(ii)        The National Health Insurance Bill, N.A.B No. 22 of 2017.

 

After that, the House will deal with Presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any.

 

Sir, Thursday, 1^st March, 2018, the Business of the House will commence with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by Presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any.

 

Mr Speaker, on Friday, 2^nd March, 2018, the Business of the House will start with the Vice-President’s Question Time. This will be followed by Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. The House will then deal with the Presentation of Government Bills if there will be any.

 

 I thank you, Sir.

 

__________

 

HER HONOUR THE VICE-PRESIDENTS’S QUESTION TIME

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, I am very grateful for this opportunity. I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President on an issue to do with agriculture, which is a time bound activity. If preparations are not done within time, the results that come are always not commensurate with what people expect. Her Honour the Vice-President what are the 2018/2019 farming season preparations? Have they commenced yet?

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the Government is taking measures to ensure that the situation that happened in the agricultural sector in the last season is not repeated. Therefore, the Government is putting measures in place, which includes preparing adequate resources for agricultural inputs to be delivered earlier in the year than what transpired last year.

 

 I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Nanjuwa (Mumbwa): Mr Speaker, my concern is on the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). I realised that in 2015 and 2016 the CDF was not released. In 2017, many constituencies received 50 per cent of the CDF. I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President if the Government is really concerned with the issues of the CDF. Having in mind that it is the only fund citizens are able to decide on the use.

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am aware that in 2017 a number of constituencies did not receive their CDF allocation. Hence, the Government has an obligation to ensure that the remaining constituencies that did not access the CDF do so in the course of the year and, hopefully, the allocation for 2018.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mutelo (Mitete): Mr Speaker, where it is itching, we will continue to scratch. When it is rainy season, like now, the Katunda/Lukulu/Watopa Road is in a bad state. This year, 2018, will the Government not have mercy on the people of Lukulu, Mitete, Kabompo and Zambezi over this road? Luka mihupulela kakai ima?

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: What do you mean hon. Member?

 

Mr Mutelo’s microphone went off.

 

Mr Mutelo: Meaning …

 

Mr Speaker: You are not on record.

 

The microphone came back on.

 

Mr Speaker: You are now on record.

 

Mr Mutelo: ... how are we going to remember you, as the Leader of the Government Business and the first female Vice-President from the Western Province?

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the first female Vice-President of Zambia is a Vice-President for the whole of Zambia ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: … and not necessarily for one province. However, I do understand the frustration of the hon. Member of Parliament for Mitete. The road he is referring to has been on the cards for a long time. However, the Government has not been able to attend to it. I still can assure the hon. Member that the Government is aware of the deplorable state in which, this road is in. The Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development will be engaged to see what can be done in the immediate and long term basis.

 

 I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mukumbuta (Senanga): Mr Speaker, considering the confirmation that the ballot papers for the 2021 General Elections will be printed within the boundaries of this country. I would like to find out, which other electoral reforms will the Zambian people be expecting so as to enhance democracy in the country?

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the printing of ballot papers in Zambia has been confirmed by His Excellency the President. It is high time we trusted our own institutions. It is very important for all of us as critical stakeholders to ensure that the printing press does a good job. Especially, that it is being revamped now with all the necessary security features that are needed for an exercise of this type. As for the reforms that need to be made to enhance democracy in Zambia, the Minister of Justice will come to the House to bring some intended amendments to the National Constitution. This will ensure that the current laws that we have to enhance democracy are revitalised and enhanced.

 

  I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Simfukwe (Mbala): Mr Speaker, on behalf of small business men and women who transport fertiliser under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and maize under the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). I would like to find out when the arrears for the transportation that they have done for the FRA and FISP will be reduced. These business men are aware that the Government has been making an effort to pay off these arrears. However, they have remained outstanding for many months, particularly, in Mbala of the Northern Province. What plans has the Government put in place to clear these outstanding payments?

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to dismantle arrears in our economy. The transporters are a very critical stakeholder in the farming industry and the agricultural value chain. I am aware that the Government, through the FRA owes K172 million to the transporters. Hence, the dismantling of arrears including payment to transporters has been put in the 2018 Budget for the various sectors, especially, in the agricultural sector. This is work in progress. The farmers in Mbala and other parts of Zambia should be assured by hon. Members of Parliament that the Government will honour its obligation.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Mwashingwele (Katuba): Mr Speaker, we all know that a school is a place where all the children of the United Party for National Development (UPND), Patriotic Front (PF), Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) and all other parties meet. Is the Permanent Secretary (PS) of the Central Province in order to distribute exercise books that have a portrait of the Republican President, who is the President of the party, inciting and indoctrinating our children? I would want a fair comment from Her Honour the Vice-President.

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu is indeed the President for the PF and the Republic of Zambia.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: Sir, Mr Lungu’s portrait is hung in our offices. Why do we not object? Mr Lungu’s face is displayed everywhere in the Government institutions. Therefore, it really defeats me to hear a Member of Parliament complaining about a portrait of the Republican President on the exercise book. These are Government schools and there is no reason why a portrait of their President should not be seen on the books the pupils use. The distribution of exercise books with portraits of the President in schools will be done continuously.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I would like Her Honour the Vice-President to be categorical in answering my question. In the last Meeting, I moved a Motion to urge this Government led by Mr Lungu, as referred to by Her Honour the Vice-President, …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Yes, that is what she said.

 

Mr Nkombo: … to stop discriminating civil servants on account of perception of belonging to political parties other than their own or based on ethnicity. That Motion was short down. In the most recent, five members of the Zambia Correctional Services (ZCS) in Kamfinsa were retired on national interest. All of these officers come from the Western and Southern provinces. Unprecedented numbers of 106 teachers from Kabulonga Secondary School have been transferred on perception that their party got a trivial vote in the last election. Furthermore, this Government, led by Mr Lungu, has fired all lecturers at Kwame Nkrumah University. Does this Government not harbour any amount of social shame to carry on like this? Bear in mind, wherever these people might go, they will do exactly what the Government is preventing them from doing.

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I do not have the statistics at my finger tips based on the number of civil servants who were being transferred due to their tribe. All I know is that they are transferred according to the criteria in the Government service. When these civil servants are begin transferred, nowhere does it state in their transfer letters that they have been transferred because they come from a certain province, tribe or political party. For all I know, they do not belong to political parties.

 

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

 

The Vice-President: How then, can we determine whether a civil servant at Kwame Nkrumah University or in the correctional service is a member of a political party?

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: Perhaps, the hon. Member has cartels he might know of and a list of his membership in the Civil Service that he thinks are being victimised. As far as I know, the Public Service does not transfer civil servants based on where they come from.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Siwanzi (Nakonde): Mr Speaker, there is an increase in the evacuation of patients with medical conditions that cannot be treated in Zambia. These evacuations come at a very high cost. Three days ago, my brother had a rapture of the aortal artery. We were told; he was supposed to be evacuated to South Africa at a cost of US$53,000. I thank the company he works for, Cargo Management and Logistics Ltd (CML), for paying this bill. Her Honour the Vice- President when is the Government going to acquire the medical equipments necessary to treat such cases in Zambia? In places like Nakonde, before such cases are even diagnosed, people die and others are suspected of witchcraft.

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the PF Government has done a lot to improve health services. It has come a long way in improving health services in its hospitals and health centres throughout the country. Hence, the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) has embarked on a robust programme where it is undertaking very complicated surgeries such as; the separation of the conjoined twins.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: This achievement could not have been realised if the Government did not support the health sector.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: the Government will continue investing in the health sector. It has committed itself to bringing health services to the Zambian people. This is being done by constructing district hospitals everywhere in the country. Therefore, the Government can pat itself on the back because it is doing its best. It has a long way to go, of course, but the process has commenced.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, when Her Honour the Vice-President was answering the question raised by the hon. Member for Katuba, she indicated that there is nothing wrong for the PF Government and Party to be distributing books to children in schools, bearing the portrait of the President. Is she not aware that the PS for the Central Province, Mr Chanda Kabwe, was distributing books bearing the logo of the PF in Shibuyunji and …

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … as he was doing this, he was urging the members of the public and parents to ensure that at the next elections, they vote for Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the presidential candidate for the PF Party.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Shame!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker:  Resume your seat, hon. Member for Monze Central.

 

Allow the hon. Member to complete his question.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I was saying that he was campaigning for Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu to be voted in the next general elections back in the office, as President.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, the rules and law of the country demands that a civil servant cannot be involved in politics and cannot be distributing campaign materials in the Government institutions.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Yes!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, has the PF Government's policy changed arising from what is currently happening?

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am not aware of the occasion that the hon. Member for Monze Central is referring to, were Mr Kabwe was distributing books in Shibuyunji. I can vouch that I am not aware that happened and that books were being distributed by a civil servant.

 

 I thank you, Sir.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Kufakwandi (Sesheke): Mr Speaker, some years ago in recognition of the sacrifices that the people of Sesheke made during the liberation of Namibia, …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order on the left!

 

Mr Kufakwandi: … the Government of the Republic of Namibia offered …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order on my immediate left!

 

Mr Kufakwandi: … to help them develop an agricultural project in the former Sichinga Forest Reserve. From that time, we are not aware of the position taken by the Government of Zambia on this project. Could Her Honour the Vice-President update us on the status of the offer of the Government of the Republic of Namibia?

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the Government is eager to develop Zambia. Any investment that comes from Zambia or outside is very welcome. However, the investment that was intended for Sesheke District by the Namibian investors has not been brought to our notice. Considering that we now know, we are going to make a follow up and see whether we can actualise this project.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, is Her Honour the Vice-President aware that the Bank of Zambia (BOZ) has reduced the reserve ratios and the monetary policy rates? If she is aware, the people of Lupososhi would like to find out the impact of this action by the BOZ on the economy and indeed as we go to prepare for the 2018/19 farming season.

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, indeed, the BOZ reduced the monetary policy rate to encourage commercial banks to lower their interest rates. We are also told that there is liquidity now in the market which is good for the economy. However, Mr Speaker, the business community can only be assisted if the interest rates are lowered further by the commercial banks. This will also help to support the sectors that are more productive and also help the small scale entrepreneurs to access money that can help them improve their business or start businesses. In this way, the economy of the country will thrive. Therefore, we will welcome the reduction in the monetary rates by the BOZ.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Chanda (Bwana Mkubwa): Mr Speaker, the recent cholera outbreak especially in Lusaka revealed how weak our councils are in terms of responding to issues and service delivery. Furthermore, we are aware that the Government has a very good National Decentralisation Policy. My question is: When does the Government intend to fully implement the National Decentralisation Policy so that the councils can improve service delivery at the district level?

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, indeed the National Decentralisation Policy is a very important policy for the Government of the PF and I can assure the hon. Member that the Government is still committed to decentralisation. However, decentralisation is a long process which cannot be done in a short period of time. There is need to build capacities at district and provincial levels for better service delivery to our people. This is where everything takes place and these are the areas where our people are found. Therefore, it is important that the decentralisation policy implementation is done in accordance with the capacities at the district centres. There should be availability of resources to ensure that the implementation is done properly at various levels of government operations.

 

 I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Sikazwe: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Fungulwe (Lufwanyama): Mr Speaker, the good people of Lufwanyama would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President concerning the e-voucher system. How can Her Honour the Vice-President describe this e-voucher system? Has it been a failure or a success? If it has been a failure, what are the Government’s future plans?

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the e-voucher system has been a success.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Awe!

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: One million farmers were targeted to benefit from the e-voucher programme. Out of the one million farmers, over 700,000 have benefited.

 

Mr Sikazwe: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: Quite a number of farmers have deposited their K400 for further inclusion in the programme. We have said several times in this august House that this was the first time this programme was rolled on a wide scale. Definitely, there had to be some hiccups and obstacles here and there in the implementation of the programme.

 

However, I can assure the House that this programme will continue and we will just ensure that we correct the processes that went wrong in this past farming season. Mr Speaker, I can claim that the e-voucher system is good and it is going to help Zambian farmers as we roll it out throughout the country.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Zimba (Chasefu): Mr Speaker, it has become a common practice in the Civil Service for civil servants to actively participate in active politics, thereby hampering government efforts to implement its policies and development. May I find out what the Government is doing to arrest this trend?

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, for all I know, there are no party cadres in the Civil Service, if I may put it that way. Therefore, we do not expect civil servants to participate in politics because their job is to serve the government of the day. Any government that will come in place in this country, the Civil Service is liable to serving that system until they retire from the Civil Service.

 

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lihefu (Manyinga): Mr Speaker, historically, in the North-Western Province, three languages are taught in schools and these are; Kaonde, Luvale and Lunda. However, yesterday, the PS in the Ministry of General Education announced …

 

Mr Chiyalika: PS what?

 

Mr Lihefu: Education.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Lihefu: … two languages will be scrapped off. This means that they will only be one language used in schools in this province. The people of the North-Western Province are asking from Her Honour the Vice-President as their mother. What is the position of the Government and which language are they going to be using in schools?

 

Interruptions

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, what I know is that the North-Western Province is the only province in the country that uses more than one language. The Government is yet to change that policy. If the Government had to change that policy, the people of the North-Western Province have to be engaged to deliberate on it. They will tell the Government, whether the policy is the thinking for the whole province.

 

However, Sir, this issue of languages in our provinces or communities sometimes can divide or unit us. We need to communicate as Zambians in whichever language we understand …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order! Both on the left and right!

 

The Vice-President: Sir, unfortunately the divisions we have seen in the North-Western Province, especially, among the chiefs do not bring unity in the country and the province in particular. We look forward to a consolidation of languages in that province. Maybe, that will help the people in the province to work together. Nevertheless, the policy of the Government still stands, the three languages will be operational.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Siwale (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, we have being experiencing floods of late. The people of Mafinga have not been exceptional. I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President if the Government is willing to render support to the flood victims because the bridges have been washed away and a number of school roofs have been blown away due to the heavy rain. I would like to find out if the Government is willing to assist the people of Mafinga.

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the Government’s duty is to attend to the needs of its people. Therefore, the people of Mafinga will not be left out. However, the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unity (DMMU) at the moment is still carrying out an assessment of the blown away roofs as well as washed away bridges throughout the country to see where resources can be directed as emergency areas. This is an ongoing exercise that it will be carried out in accordance with the resources that will be made available to the DMMU and the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Musonda (Kamfinsa): Mr Speaker, during the 2018 Budget presentation by the then hon. Minister of Finance to Parliament for 2018. He indicated that he wanted to enhance value for money purchases. Further, he intended to make hon. Members of Parliament to fully participate in the Budget making process. I would like to find out from Her Honor the Vice-President when the Government is going to bring the Zambia Public Procurement (Amendment) (ZPPA) Bills and the Budget and Planning (Amendment) Bill considering that this is a very short Session of Parliament.

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the ZPPA Bill is currently being worked on by the Drafting Section at the Ministry of Justice. We realise how important the Bill is. The Government is in a hurry to enact it so that we can conduct our work in accordance with the demand of the Bill. I would like to assure the hon. Member for Kamfinsa that if the Bill does not come to the House during this sitting, it will be tabled during the next sitting.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mrs Mwansa (Nyimba): Mr Speaker, the people of Nyimba would like to find out from the Government when Nyimba Prison Farm will be removed from the Central Business District (CBD) to pave way for the new expansion of Nyimba Township.

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would like to request the hon. Member to file up a question so that we get a comprehensive answer to it. I may give an answer, which may not be appropriate to the hon. Member.

 

Thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Bulaya (Mpongwe): Mr Speaker, we may face critical food shortages in this country due to the partial drought that we have experienced. I would like to thank and pay tribute to one son of the soil, the late President, Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa, for having completely done away with the Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs). I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice- President whether the Government has any intentions of importing GMOs in this country?

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, Zambia produced bumper harvest during the last two farming seasons. I know that perhaps during this season, there could be a reduction in the yields especially from the provinces that experienced excess drought. As for the importation of the GMOs maize or other products, I do not think this Government has any intentions of importing the GMOs and it stands by that regulation that was put in place some years back. The GMOs products should not be imported into Zambian.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo): Mr Speaker, my questions is aimed at testing the efficiency and the effectiveness of the Government pronouncements.

 

Sir, in 2012, the late Republican President, Mr Micheal Chilufya Sata announced on the Floor of this House that the Government was going to build three colleges of mathematics and sciences and these will be in; Katete, Nalolo and Kabompo. For both our interest Her Honour the Vice-President, I would like to find out when the Government is going to start the construction of the three colleges, owing to the fact that the financing was guaranteed. Kindly, give us an answer Madam Speaker.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Her Honour the Vice-President will supply the answer.

 

Laughter

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the financing of the three colleges of science and mathematics is supposed to be carried out through a loan from the Arab banks, it has taken time to negotiate and renegotiate. However, let me assure the hon. Member that perhaps, we will see the foundations being dug before the end of this year in the three areas, where the three colleges will be built. I would like him to assure his people that the colleges of mathematics and science will be constructed in Kabompo, Nalolo as well as Katete.

 

I thank you, Sir. 

 

  Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, the Government halted the formation of ward development committees in Kalabo. Therefore, how are the people going to present their issues without these committees?

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am not aware of the Government stopping the creation of ward development committees. These are committees that actually plan for the development of the wards and various areas at the grassroots levels. These committees are very important, especially in rural areas where development has been slow to take root. I am not very sure about the situation in Kalabo all I know is that the Government is encouraging developmental initiatives to start at the ward level.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

____________

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVESITY

 

160. Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central) asked the Minister of Higher Education:

 

1. why the Kwame Nkrumah University in Kabwe District was closed;

 

1. why Mulungushi University had been given the responsibility to manage Kwame Nkrumah University;

 

1. whether the Government had any plans to appoint a vice-chancellor for Kwame Nkrumah University;

 

1. when the conditions of service for the lecturers at Kwame Nkrumah University would be harmonised with those for other public universities; and

 

1. why contracts for all the lecturers at the Kwame Nkrumah University were terminated.

 

The Minister of Higher Education (Prof. Luo): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Kabwe Central for this question. My response is gonna put to rest the speculations and innuendoes that are going around concerning …

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, the word ‘gonna’ should be substituted.

 

Laughter

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, my response is going to stop the speculations and innuendoes that are going around the country concerning Kwame Nkrumah University.

 

Mr Speaker, Kwame Nkrumah University was scheduled to open on 15^th January, 2018. In line with the announcement by the Ministry of Health for all institutions of learning and public places to remain closed until clearance by the public health workers was granted. The institution was visited by the Kabwe Municipal Council public health directorate two days after some students had reported for lessons and, the university was directed not to reopen. This was conditional upon the institution meeting certain minimum sanitation requirements. The information was communicated to all students by the University Management.

 

Mr Speaker, on 8^th February, 2018, the Kabwe Municipal Council Public Health inspectorate team visited the university for the second time to assess progress made on the preconditions for reopening. Despite observing that there was still more to be done, the inspectorate wrote to clear the university for reopening on 9^th February, 2018. However, as the University Management was preparing to reopen the university, lecturers decided to withdraw their services on account of unpaid overtime through excess load allowances. I must say that some of these allowances were not paid because they were believed to have been inflated and management had instituted an audit to authenticate the figures before payments could commence. Some of the claims were as high as K65, 000 accrued over a three week period in overtime. It should be noted that those claims that were within limits were in fact paid promptly.

 

Sir, to address these challenges, the Government through the Ministry of Higher Education, communicated to the university management on its intention to put in place its own establishment of academic and other staff as the current staff complement are still under the Ministry of General Education and are employed by the Teaching Service Commission (TSC). Further, some members of staff do not have the minimum qualifications to teach in a university, although they have the qualifications to teach in a college, which Kwame Nkrumah previously was. In this regard, a letter was sent to the university on 6^th February, 2018, three days before the lecturers decided to go on strike, instructing the university to advertise all the positions in the institution and recruit competent and qualified staff to facilitate effective service delivery.

 

Sir, in light of the above catalogue of events, it was decided that the institution should be kept closed until all the positions were filled under the Ministry of Higher Education. This exercise is expected to be completed by the end of April, 2018 and is not unique to Kwame Nkrumah University, but is also planned for implementation at Chalimbana and Mukuba Universities.

 

Mr Speaker, in addition, the Government has initiated a number of infrastructure development and rehabilitation works at the institution to bring it to the university standards. It is the Government’s intention to scale up these works while the institution is closed to ensure that improved facilities are in place for both the students and staff when the institution reopens.

 

Mr Speaker, as you might be aware, Kwame Nkrumah, Mukuba and Chalimbana Universities were initially colleges of education until a decree to upgrade them into universities was made by the late President Michael Chilufya Sata, may his soul rest in peace. From 2012, the three institutions have been striving to upgrade to the status of university through upgrading of lecturer qualifications as well as levels of qualification of programmes offered.

 

However, the management and staff complement remained the same and has been posing a challenge in the upgrading process. As a result, the Government through the Ministry of Higher Education, after consultations with key stakeholders, decided to attach these three upcoming universities to already established institutions to ensure that the transition was both well managed and done timely. It was realised that it was impossible to expect management with no university experience to oversee the transition of a college into a university.

 

This attachment was to be for a period of three years after which the three new universities would then operate independently. Chalimbana University was attached to the University of Zambia (UNZA), Mukuba University to the Copperbelt University (CBU), while Kwame Nkrumah University to Mulungushi University. This is mainly aimed at enhancing the operational efficiencies, management systems and programme development of the three institutions.

 

Mr Speaker, as stated earlier, the intervention to place Kwame Nkrumah University under Mulungushi University is for a three year period from 2017 to 2020, after which a vice-chancellor was to be appointed to run the university independently. However, Mulungushi University is already at the stage of recruitment, the ministry will put in place a search committee to commence the process of searching for a vice-chancellor as well as a deputy vice-chancellor for this institution. In the meantime, I expect Mulungushi University to also recruit principle staff that is a prerequisite for a university.

 

Mr Speaker, the Government has commenced the implementation of the new Financing Strategy for Public Universities that was approved by Cabinet in August, 2017. Under this strategy, all public universities conditions of service will be harmonised. However, Kwame Nkrumah University’s first step is to employ new staff for the university as the current entire complement of staff is under the Teaching Service Commission and was employed by the Ministry of General Education. Once this has been finalised, the university will be considered under the harmonisation process which has started with UNZA, the CBU and the MU.

 

Sir, as earlier stated, the Ministry of Higher Education has no contracts with any member of staff at Kwame Nkrumah University as the staff are employed by the Ministry of General Education under the Teaching Service Commission. The Ministry of Higher Education, through Kwame Nkrumah University has commenced the process of recruiting staff. All members of staff currently serving at the university with the requisite qualifications are free to apply for the positions that have been advertised. Should any of them be selected, they will be offered contracts under the Kwame Nkrumah University Council. If they accept the contract offers, the TSC will address the issues related to separation packages for those who will decide to migrate to the university and will redeploy those who do not have the requisite qualifications to other colleges of education across the country. This will allow for the transition of workers from the TSC to the university council, for those who will be employed by the university. 

 

It must be noted at this point that no contracts have been terminated, no employee have been retrenched and no jobs have been lost. In addition to the unjustified claims for excess load allowances by the lecturers, a financial audit of the institution initiated by the caretaker committee overseeing the transition of the institution found a worrying trend of resource mismanagement and lack of accountability at this institution. Some of the instances of mismanagement of funds included:

 

1. unretired imprest amounting to K968,856.66 for 2016 and K941,622.67 for 2017;

 

1. payment of subsistence allowances amounting to days in excess of 365 days in one calendar year and up to 735 days in one instance. In another instance, there were claims amounting to K511 days in one calendar year;

 

1. payment of fuel allowances above the approved rates per kilometer;

 

1. questionable retirement of imprest including counterfeit receipts; and

 

1. failure to account for stores, equipment and machinery amounting to K1,481,784.42

 

Mr Speaker, because of the song created by the people of this country about corruption, I am going to lay the financial audit report for the university on the Table, so that people can know who is responsible for misappropriation of funds.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, in spite of these revelations, timely institution of disciplinary measures is proving a challenge as the concerned staff is under the Ministry of General Education while the management is under the Ministry of Higher Education. The affected staff continues to question the authority of my ministry when we want to discipline them. They say that they are supervised by the Ministry of General Education. These and other challenges have necessitated the need to have all staff at Kwame Nkrumah University fall under the Ministry of Higher Education through the university council. This notwithstanding, the Ministry of General Education and Ministry of Higher Education are working closely together to ensure that those cited for resource mismanagement and failure to adhere to financial regulations at Kwame Nkrumah University are disciplined in line with the disciplinary code and other provisions. I do not want to hear any story about people being retired or disciplined on account of tribe. If somebody has committed a crime, discipline must prevail.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, I lay on the Table, the financial audit document for Kwame Nkrumah University.

 

I thank you, Sir!

 

The audit document was laid on the table.

 

  Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

  Mr Ngulube: Mr Speaker, I feel chimbu dong after listening to the statement given by the hon. Minister. I feel that she is trying to punish …

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Kabwe Central, we appreciate that you have acquired proficiency …

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: … in other languages. However, the official language for our business is English.

 

Mr Ngulube: Mr Speaker, I replace chimbu dong with confusion. 

 

I am confused now because yesterday, when the hon. Minister gave a statement on Kwame Nkrumah University, the reasons she gave for the closure of the university were cholera related. However, today the hon. Minister has told us a different statement, that there is financial mismanagement at the university. The MU, which has been given the task to run Kwame Nkrumah University by the hon. Minister, was a college once. These two colleges became universities at the same time. Why then did the hon. Minister give one university the responsibility to run the other? Why has the hon. Minister used the financial irregularities that happened twenty years ago when Kwame Nkrumah University was running as a college, as a reason for killing it? I say she is killing this university because I do not expect the students to return to school any time soon. The hon. Minister is punishing the students for the mistakes of management or for the mistrust between management and the Ministry of Higher Education or the Ministry of General Education.

 

I want the hon. Minister to comment on that.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, I sympathise with the hon. Member of Parliament …

 

Hon. UPND Members: Ah!

 

Prof. Luo: … because if he had listened to me very clearly yesterday, he would have known I said that I will bring a comprehensive answer concerning the MU. Today in my statement, I mentioned issues to do with cholera. I went further and explained more issues because the hon. Member wanted to know why the staff at the university was not working and whether their contracts had been terminated. Furthermore, I brought the issue of the financial audit of the university, which is due to the transition the university is currently undergoing. I talked about the financial audit for 2016 and 2017 because that is the period the college was transitioning into the university.

 

Sir, let me also correct the perception that the MU and Kwame Nkrumah University were declared universities at the same time. They were not declared universities at the same time. Let me also inform the hon. Member in case he is not aware, the MU went through a transition period.  In fact, Prof. Chinene of UNZA was transferred from UNZA to oversee the transition of the MU. He went to be the Vice-Chancellor caretaker for the MU specifically to do what we are doing at Kwame Nkrumah University. This situation is not peculiar to Kwame Nkrumah University. Everywhere in the world, when a new university is being established, especially from a college, there is always a transition period and somebody or an institution that is seasoned is given the mandate to oversee the transition. What we are doing is within the limits of the procedures prescribed for establishing new universities.

 

That is why I said I sympathise with the hon. Member of Parliament. I will take time during our tea break and educate him on how universities are established.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I sympathise with the hon. Minister, ...

 

Laughter

 

Mr Nkombo: Sir, it is with deep sympathy that I must ask her this question. I am pleading and asking her to change her demeanour so that we take what she is saying with the seriousness that this subject deserves. The issues at hand range from cholera to financial mismanagement. We will ask for a copy of this Audit Report which the hon. Minister has laid on the Table so we can learn, in no uncertain terms, what the issues surrounding this separation of staff at Kwame Nkrumah University and the institution are. Despite her saying this is not a factor for terminating the contract. I would like to find out whether the members of staff who are bound only to the lecturer rooms, and have nothing to do whatsoever, with the Accounts Department where this particular flaw seems to be coming from, were excluded and subjected the institution to a closure resulting in the students suffering. Does it mean that those who are found in the classrooms also deal with financial matters for you to take that position?

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, let me assure the hon. Member that I also sympathise with him. I would like him to change his demeanour when it comes to the way he asks questions.

 

Sir, if everybody listened to me very attentively, they would recall I said that there were claims of people that teach for overtime allowance and that the payments are done by the Accounts Department. Therefore, there are two people involved. The first is the one claiming and the other is the one paying. Secondly, I did say that whenever we have wanted to discipline the staff, the institution has told us that it is not answerable to the Ministry of Higher Education. Time has come for us to go through this transition. We are not punishing anybody, but merely correcting the situation and ensuring that Kwame Nkrumah runs as a university. We cannot call it a university if we do not have the correct prerequisites.

 

Mr Speaker, let me also take advantage of this opportunity and mention that for an institution to be called a university, there must be some professors and Doctors of Philosophy (PhD) holders. It is therefore, the Government’s wish that during this recruitment time, people with professorial and the PhD titles will be employed.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ngulube: Mr Speaker, I also want to sympathise with the hon. Minister because it appears that she is not aware that some of the lecturers at Kwame Nkrumah University are professors and the PhD holders. I want to correct the impression that, I do not know how universities are run. I think that was, ...

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Kabwe Central Parliamentary Constituency, as far as I am concerned, this is not a dialogue. You are not engaged in a dialogue. You may ask your question.

 

Mr Nkombo: Hammer!

 

Mr Ngulube: Mr Speaker, I thank you. Having given us the Audit Report, which the hon. Minister has laid on the Table of this House, the poor people of Kabwe who fought to pay tuition fees at Kwame Nkrumah University for their children only to be chased through text messages, would like to find out when this process of recruiting lecturers will finish and when the university will reopen. Further, what impression are we sending to the outside world on how we manage our universities? I ask this because when one university has a problem, the Government closes all of them.

 

Mr Speaker: I know that this is a very charged subject, but you are only entitled to one question at any given time, and you have asked three. The hon. Minister is only obliged to answer the first one.

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, my office has all the credentials of the members of staff from Kwame Nkrumah University. I am aware that the university only has one PhD holder and no professors. Therefore, if there are people who are going round calling themselves professors and doctors, then the Zambia Qualifications Authority will deal with such individuals. This is because this country has a statutory body that deals with people who parade around without the correct qualifications.

 

Sir, I did indicate when the university will open as well as when the process of recruitment will take place. I will not run the Ministry of Higher Education by doing the wrong things which people want. I will run the ministry and the country’s institutions of higher learning the way it is done everywhere in the world. With the experience I have and as a former university lecturer, it will be very sad if I go to do the wrong things. The onus is on me because His Excellency the President of this Republic, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu has given me the opportunity to run this ministry, to correct wrong things and ensure that our universities claim their old glory.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mweetwa (Choma): Mr Speaker, I equally sympathise with the hon. Minister because she has a very difficult time. It is under her leadership that the major tertiary learning institutions are closed.

 

Sir, the hon. Minister mentioned an audit report, which she subsequently laid on the Table of this House. She told the House that when the Government deals with the culprit, no one should allege that those found wanting were being fired on tribal lines. Is the hon. Minister telling the nation that she has established that the financial misconduct at Kwame Nkrumah University indicates a pattern that reveals that people from a particular tribe or region are involved? If so, and, from what she has said, is it an indication that the Patriotic Front (PF), has been firing people who have committed financial mismanagement or indeed, any other crime which some other people have defended?

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, I do not need any sympathy, especially from the hon. Member for Choma Parliamentary Constituency and all the hon. Members who have been going on about sympathising with me because I am standing on firm grounds. Unlike those who preach without evidence, I have provided it.

 

Sir, secondly, where I come from, we do not talk tribe, and therefore, I will not start commenting on tribe because when people stand up from a certain corner of this House, they keep saying people are being fired because of their tribes. I just gave you the evidence.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that Prof. Chinene was sent to Mulungushi University, which is now managing Kwame Nkrumah University. Why has it taken more than ten years for this university to undergo such a transition?

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, I believe in nothing but facts and the truth. I do not know of a Kwame Nkrumah that has existed as a university for the last ten years. The hon. Member of Parliament may wish to go and check when Kwame Nkrumah was declared a university by His Excellency the late President Mr Michael Chilufya Sata. I do not think he has been dead for ten years.

 

  I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mecha (Chifunabuli): Mr Speaker, what are the cost implications of the decision to re-advertise all the positions at Kwame Nkrumah University?

 

Prof. Lou: Mr Speaker, cost implications will remain the same. What has been happening is that members of staff were being paid their dues by the Ministry of General Education, but the Ministry of Higher Education has been topping up to bring their salaries to the level of people that teach at the universities.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

POLICE POST AT LUNGO MUKUTA IN MILENGE

 

161.  Mr Mbulakulima (Milenge) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

 

1. whether the Government had any plans to construct a police post in Lungo Mukuta area in Milenge District;

 

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

 

1. what interim measures had been taken to curb crime in the area.

 

The Minister of Defence (Mr Chama) (on behalf of The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, the Government has no immediate plans to construct a Police Post in Lungo Mukuta area of Milenge District. The plans to construct the police post in Lungo Mukuta may be considered after completion of the police district headquarters and housing units for officers in Milenge District, which are currently under construction.

 

Sir, the interim measure put in place to curb crime in the area is deployment of officers based at Milenge District centre.

 

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, the hon. Speaker may recall that this is a question that brings controversy. This is the third time it has come and at one stage the hon. Minister had said the Government provides foot patrols, which is completely misdirected. This is a place which is over 250 km away from the Boma and I thought practical steps would be taken.

   

  Sir, Milenge is not just a constituency, but a district of over 60,000 people who are served by only one police post constructed through the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). This Police Post that the hon. Minister has mentioned has taken over three years and yet not even a slab has been completed. With the information that the hon. Minister has given today, what advice, political or otherwise, would he give the people of Milenge over this matter?

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, the advice I can give the people of Milenge is to remain patient as the Government is committed to ensuring that security is provided by constructing Police Posts in various areas. As the hon. Member knows, Zambia is a very big area geographically with 156 constituencies. I sympathise with the hon. Member because he comes from one of our rural constituencies which is quite vast. However, I can assure him and the people of Milenge that the Government is committed to ensuring that it constructs police posts. This is why the Government is currently constructing the district headquarters in Milenge to ensure that security is provided.

 

Sir, the hon. Member and the people of Milenge should be patient because we have a number of other challenging projects that we are undertaking, but we are committed to ensuring that we complete all the projects that we embark on.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo): Mr Speaker, in the few days since we opened this session of Parliament, there has been a number of questions concerning the construction of Police Posts for various constituencies. This shows that there is high demand for that service. It goes without saying that this high demand has come about mainly because of heightened crimes, which has been caused by high unemployment levels. Given the fact and the demand for police stations, would it not be wise for the hon. Minister to give us a rollout plan so that each and every district and constituency know precisely when this very important service will be availed to their community?

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, indeed, security is important. The hon. Member has attributed the increase in crime in our communities to unemployment. However, this is a historical issue that this Government has taken over, but the PF Government is committed to ensuring that this unemployment that has been there for a long time is reduced to the bare minimum.

Sir, in as far as the demand for police posts by hon. Members, most would appreciate that resources are not sufficient. The Ministry of Home Affairs has a strategic plan in terms of rolling out the construction of Police Posts on a demand driven basis, depending particularly on geographical areas. This is why we sometimes appeal to hon. Members to initiate the construction of these Police Posts using the CDF in order to mitigate the challenges we are facing in various parts of the country.

 

Mr Speaker, as you may be aware, Zambia is 752,612 sq. km, which is a vast area and the demands of our people in terms of police posts, hospitals, clinics and roads are quite huge. We need to figure out what the most important things that our people need are so that we can sustain their living. We are committed to ensuring that their security is guaranteed through the construction of these police posts. I appeal to hon. Members to bear with us. The Ministry of Home Affairs is planning, depending on the strategic plan to construct the police posts in various areas.

 

I thank you, Sir.

  Mr Livune: Question!

  Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, the question was whether you are able to indicate the rollout programme for the construction of these posts?

  Mr Livune: That is right, Mr Speaker!

  Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, the ministry has plans to rollout these plans. However, we need to complete the projects that we have at hand.

I thank you, Sir.

  Mr Speaker: Will you make it available to hon. Members?

  Mr Chama: Yes, Mr Speaker.

   Hon. Opposition Members: When?

Mr Mweetwa (Choma): Mr Speaker, I tend to concur with the hon. Minister of Home Affairs that we can initiate, as Members of Parliament, some of these projects using the CDF which the Government is failing to disburse. I do not know the CDF which, the hon. Minister is referring to when he continuously sings of doing projects using the CDF which the Government is not releasing. Look, last year, only 50 per cent was released.

 

Mr Nkombo: Shame!

 

Mr Mweetwa: Anyway, my substantive question is, the hon. Minister has said that the Government has limited resources, from the meagre resources that the Government is allocating to the police in Milenge, is it a sensible thing or a senseless thing to do, if what the hon. Minister has said is true, to be conducting regular patrols in an area that is 250 km away from the police station in Milenge, thereby spending more money than would have been required to build a police post. Is it sensible or senseless by the Government?

 

Mr Nkombo: One of the two.

 

Mr Speaker: Before the hon. Minister responds. You see, the same question can be asked in a different form without importing sarcasm.

 

Mr Lubinda: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: This is proscribed by our Members Handbook if you go through it.

 

Hon. Member, you belong to a profession where the tools of the trade are words. I am sure you would not suffer a great deal to identify and apply a more suitable word about the practicality of a measure that is being questioned.

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for Choma. Indeed, it is sensible to conduct patrols if at all the crime rate in a particular area is quite high regardless of the distance whether it is 200 or 300 km away from the police station. It is sensible to patrol in order to guarantee security of our people.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Home Affairs lamented about the lack of money in the Government to put up police posts in Milenge. This to me, like Chienge and all those border towns with Congo are under threat because of the influx of refugees. I want to find out from the hon. Minister if the Government sold one fire truck, those that were bought at a price of US$1 million. For instance, the one in Mazabuka, if we offered the Government to sell it, how many police posts does the hon. Minister think can be built? If the people of Mazabuka gave the Government back their fire truck to have it sold and make the money the hon. Minister keeps lamenting about. How many police posts can he build from that money?

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I was not lamenting about lack of funds. The Government through this Parliament approves the Budget and projects to be undertaken by various ministries including the Ministry of Home Affairs. You cannot develop any nation in one year or a month. It is almost impossible. Development is a process and this Government is committed to ensuring that we roll out various infrastructures all over Zambia, police posts included. They cannot be developed within one fiscal year. Hence, I was not lamenting. The Government has a plan and is committed to ensuring that all areas of our country lacking police posts over a number of years are constructed over a period of time.

 

Sir, as regards to the hon. Members specific question, I do not know how many police posts that can be constructed in US$1 million. This is because one needs to do the quantity surveying, come up with specific engineering designs and the cost of a particular police post. The hon. Member’s reference to a fire tender, I do not know because there are some people who have siphoned money through Saturnia …

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

 

Mr Livune: Which money?

 

Mr Chama: … people’s money. I do not know from US$40 million that has been siphoned from pensioners’ money …

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister …

 

Mr Chama: … how many clinics or police posts you can build.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Let us confine ourselves to the subject.

 

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, I want the hon. Minister to understand this; I am making a follow up on item (c) of the question, which is asking about the measures taken in this area to curb crime. I think we should be factual. I understand that resources are very scarce everywhere in the world. Milenge with only about …

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Milenge, I suppose you have asked your question, not so?

 

Mr Mbulakulima: It is a follow up question, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: No, no, I have no difficult with you coming back for the second time …

 

Mr Mbulakulima: Yes.

 

Mr Speaker: … because you are entitled to.

 

Mr Mbulakulima: Exactly.

 

Mr Speaker: You have already asked the question?

 

Mr Mbulakulima: Yes, exactly.

 

Mr Speaker: Have you?

 

Mr Mbulakulima: No, I have not. This is the second one.

 

Mr Speaker: No, no, no. I am saying …

 

Mr Mbulakulima: The substantive one.

 

Mr Speaker: … just now, you have put a question to the hon. Minister?

 

Mr Mbulakulima: The substantive question, yes, I did.

 

Mr Speaker: Okay, begin from your first statement.

 

What is your question?

 

Mr Mbulakulima: My question is a follow up …

 

Mr Speaker: Yes! Follow it up.

 

Mr Mbulakulima: … to the hon. Minister’s answer on item (c) …

 

Mr Speaker: Very well! What is the question?

 

Mr Mbulakulima: ... I understand that resources are scarce but I said that the answers that we receive should be accurate so that we can console the Government. I want the hon. Minister to understand that Milenge has a police station with only three police officers, with neither a motor vehicle nor a motor bike. In the area called Lungo Mukata, which is over 200 km away from the boma has no roads. Therefore, for the hon. Minister to provide an answer that indicates that the police provide regular patrols, for somebody listening, they might think that it is correct. However, in an environment that is 200 km away, with no motor vehicle or motor bike and only three officers. I would like to find out how accurate the source of information shared by the hon. Minister is and whether he is in a position to revisit that answer.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: I understand what you are trying to do but I would prefer you ask a question.

 

Given all those factors you have highlighted, put a question to the hon. Minister.

 

Mr Mbulakulima: The question is, would the hon. Minister revisit the answer given on part (c) of the question.

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, I think the answer was adequate and Hon. Mbulakulima must appreciate that this is why the Government has decided to create a number of districts in order to bring the services to our people as close as possible. We realised that some of the constituencies were too vast. Hence, we have segmented this country into other constituencies. Milenge was initially part of Mansa but it is a district on its own now. The district headquarters is currently under construction. That is the commitment by the Government so that we bring some of these services as closer to our people as possible. I think the hon. Member must be patient because we are committed to ensuring that all corners of this country is provided with security, police posts inclusive and a lot of other services in order to mitigate the suffering of our people …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended at 1040 hours until 1100 hours.

 

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister knows now that police posts are on demand, especially in most of the newly created districts such as Milenge and Mufumbwe. The hon. Minister mentioned that the Government is determined to complete the police posts which are at 80 per cent complete. We are almost going into March. Would we know which police posts these are? Are they going to be completed in 2018 or in perpetuity? We need to be aware so that we are assured Milenge will equally be considered.

 

Mr Chama: Madam Speaker, I must put on record, I did not come with a list of the various projects of police posts that are being constructed by the Government. The information of the police posts which are 80 per cent complete can be provided to the hon. Member. These are police posts which the Government is determined to complete this year, of course, depending on the availability of funds going forward. Currently, I cannot give the hon. Member the specific answer to that question. However, I wish to state that we have a number of projects that are being undertaken, some of which are at 80 and 90 per cent complete. The Government is determined to complete them fully this year or next year so that our people can be serviced properly.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Will the Acting Minister of Home Affairs be able to indicate when this list will be provided for the benefit of the hon. Members?

 

Mr Muchima: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: Madam Speaker that information can be provided next week, if possible.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

KANIKI PRIMARY SCHOOL IN CHIFUBU, NDOLA

 

162. Mr Ng’ambi (Chifubu) asked the Minister of General Education:

 

1. whether the Government had any plans to upgrade Kaniki Primary School in Chifubu Parliamentary Constituency to a secondary school;

 

1. whether the Government had any plans to construct more classroom blocks at the school; and

 

1. when the Government would deploy more teachers to the school.

 

The Minister of General Education (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, the ministry has upgraded Kaniki Primary School to a secondary school in Chifubu Parliamentary Constituency. The ministry will work with the Provincial Education Office (PEO) , the Parents and the Teachers Association (PTA) to construct additional classroom blocks at Kaniki Primary School.

 

Madam Speaker, the Government will consider deploying more teachers at the school in 2018 once the Treasury Authority to undertake net recruitment of teachers is granted by the Ministry of Finance.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ng’ambi: Madam Speaker, the people of Kaniki are very grateful to the President and the Patriotic Front (PF) Government for having upgraded this school. Indeed, for the area it is a land mark decision because it will stop the children from going to other places seeking secondary education. However, Kaniki is in the peri-urban area where people are very poor. Even engaging the PTA will certainly not heed any positive results. We are wondering whether the Government has specific programmes which could help the school upgrade its infrastructure by construction of few more classroom blocks. Further, if the Government will be able to supply of desks bearing in mind that this school covers a stretch of over 20 km away from Kitwe roundabout along Mufulira Road. Are there any immediate plans by the Government to ensure that the suffering of the people in that area is dealt with permanently?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, I agree with what the hon. Member of Parliament is saying in terms of the location of the school. The PTA involves stakeholder consultations. Therefore, our commitment is part of our ongoing programme of upgrading primary schools into secondary schools. Kaniki will be supported in terms of classroom blocks, desks and the number of teachers.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Fungulwe (Lufwanyama): Madam Speaker, I would like to commend the ministry for upgrading certain basic schools to secondary schools. When the ministry is planning to upgrade schools, do they consider things such as; infrastructure, teachers and learning materials in these schools? I am saying so because you may find a school has been upgraded with only one classroom block.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister of General Education, what do you consider when planning to upgrade primary schools into secondary schools?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, when schools are being upgraded, plans become very integrated. Things such as school infrastructure, desks and teaching materials will be needed and so, there are planned for. The limitation is the Budget. We can plan to have a certain number of teachers and teaching materials but what limits us is the Budget. The Budget limits what we want to achieve. This is why in many of my answers; I have mentioned that we have scaled-down the new projects with a view of completing the ongoing projects in a more rational process.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Jere (Livingstone): Madam Speaker, most of the schools that have been upgraded do not have laboratories. I would like to find out when the Government will commence the construction of laboratories as well as provide equipments?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, when we started the upgrading programme, the principle was that the basic infrastructure we were providing was limited. However, a decision was made to provide mobile laboratories. The hon. Member for Livingstone can inform me if there is a school in Livingstone that has been upgraded, but does not have a mobile laboratory and we can organize one. However, as we go through the transition, we will provide permanent infrastructure in terms of laboratories in schools. As of now, the principle is to provide mobile laboratories.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Madam Speaker, I would like to welcome the hon. Minister to the Ministry of General Education. Kaniki Primary School, like any other primary schools, needs more teachers. There are so many primary school teachers who have been trained. Does the Government have a deliberate policy to recruit these teachers? They should not tell us as they always do about the Government not having money. They have money. They buy fire tenders and misuse money here and there. When will the ministry recruit primary teachers so Kaniki and other rural places can benefit?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: That is actually part (c) of the question and I think the hon. Minister answered it. Perhaps the hon. Minister would like to repeat his answer.

 

Mr Lubinda: No!

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, for the sake of Hon. Muchima and other hon. Members of Parliament, I can repeat what I said. In fact, Hon. Muchima is aware because we sent teachers to Ikeleng’i. We have just completed the recruitment process of teachers for the year 2017 across the country. Ikeleng’i in the North-Western Province must have been a beneficiary of that process. However, if Hon. Muchima is not aware, I can give him the names of the teachers who have been deployed to Ikeleng’i. I said the Government will consider deploying more teachers at Kaniki Primary School in 2018 once Treasury authority to undertake a net recruitment of teachers is granted by the Ministry of Finance. This is not only applicable to Kaniki Primary School, but all the schools across the country.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Ng’ambi (Chifubu): Madam Speaker, first of all, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for a very well elaborate answer. However, one of the issues that we are dealing with at the school has to do with how we will manage the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) subject, which is now examinable at Grade 12. This is a very big challenge. As I indicated, the parents in the area where the school is located are very poor. Does the Government have any plans to support the school by providing a few computers and library?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Chifubu, your question is specific. You asked the hon. Minister of General Education whether the Government had any plans to upgrade Kaniki Primary School, construct more classroom blocks at the school and when it would deploy more teachers to the school. You have veered off now asking about computers. I will not allow that question.

 

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that the Government will deploy some teachers to Kaniki Primary School. Where are they going to come from? This is because we have a problem. Some teachers are getting Payroll Management and Establishment Control (PMEC) Numbers in rural areas and when they teach for three months, they leave and go to urban areas. How will the ministry ensure that those teachers who will go to Kaniki have PMEC Numbers for Kaniki Primary School?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, I answered this question in the course of the week. I said that, as a ministry, we will begin consultations with the unions, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) and the Teaching Council of Zambia (TCZ) so that we can address this particular problem. I sympathise with my colleagues because the teachers sent to rural areas get transferred two to three months down the road. I said that since we are going through the consultation process of the reforms, I do not want to preempt anything. However, my colleagues should expect to see a change.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

ROAD REHABILITATION IN MANYINGA

 

163. Mr Lihefu (Manyinga) asked the Minister of Defence whether the Government had any plans to rehabilitate the following roads in Manyinga District:

 

1. Ndunga;

 

1. Litoyi;

 

1. Chifuwe; and

 

1. Lumwe.

 

The Minister of Defence (Mr Chama): Madam Speaker, it is the Government’s mandate to construct and rehabilitate all the road networks in the country. Therefore, it has plans to rehabilitate the feeder roads in question through the Zambia National Service (ZNS) in constant liaison with the Road Development Agency (RDA) and the provincial administration of the North-Western Province. These roads were captured by the RDA in its Ten Year Provincial Rollout Plan even before Manyinga was declared a district.

 

Madam, when the Ministry of Defence took over the maintenance and rehabilitation of the rural road network throughout the country, the provincial administration in the North-Western Province directed the ZNS to start road construction works in three districts, namely; Solwezi, Zambezi and Chavuma.

 

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Defence is hopeful that the ZNS will be guided by the provincial administration, as to which projects should be next upon being funded. The hon. Member is therefore, advised to liaise with the provincial administration for the inclusion of the highlighted roads on the provincial priority list.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Lihefu: Madam Speaker, some of the roads in question connect Zambia to Angola through Ndunga. A lot of activities are taking place at the border such as the smuggling of guns and stealing of cattle from the local people. In short, the roads are economically viable. However, we have been trying to liaise with the provincial administration for quite some time to work on these roads and nothing has been done. What financial measure has the Government put in place to ensure that viable economically feeder roads are rehabilitated as soon as possible?

 

Mr Chama: Madam Speaker, as I have indicated, the local administration directed the ZNS to work on the three roads. This is because the ZNS has the capacity to work on these three roads at any particular time. It has been working on the Solwezi, Zambezi and Chavuma Roads. When it moves from these sites and depending on what the hon. Member liaises with the provincial administration, the road that he has indicated as being an economic road will definitely be worked on.

However, I also want to highlight through you Madam Speaker that, a number of pronouncements have been made by the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development and the Minister of Local Government, that there is a programme that is coming under the World Bank funded programme of US $200 million to do the feeder roads. Therefore, all the economic roads I believe will be prioritised, so that we open our country to our neighbouring countries in order to enhance trade with these countries. The issues of security that the hon. Member has highlighted can also be addressed in the same vein.

 

Madam Speaker, it is a programme that will be funded by the World Bank and several roads will be repaired and rehabilitated through this funding.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, if I may quote the Minister correctly, he is urging the Member of Parliament to pressurise the local administration in Solwezi. Is that a new phenomenon of Members of Parliament now to pressurise the local administration rather than himself liaising with the provincial administration and attend to these critical feeder roads? I need his comment, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Chama: Madam Speaker, hon. Member of Parliament for Ikeleng’i, I would advise you not to put words in my mouth. Maybe it is a matter of English or semantics, I said ‘liaise’. Of course, constant liaising with our provincial administration will bear fruit. Hence, those particular roads that hon. Members have identified in their respective areas can be worked on. It is not the responsibility of the Ministry of Defence to identify these roads but the hon. Members know them because they are locally based. They know which roads are important and those that link our country to our neighbouring countries. The roads leading to where many people are settled that are very active or which roads are more productive where people are producing a lot of crops that must be transferred to the markets. The hon. Members are better placed rather than the Ministry of Defence.

 

Therefore, the programme is that the hon. Members will identify the priority roads, sitting with the local leadership, either with the councillors, Member of Parliaments, councils to identify priority roads in respective areas that must be worked on.

 

As Ministry of Defence, we are just given a list of roads that must be worked on then we move on site. The Ministry of Defence works on command. Once we are commanded we move and get things done.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Lufuma: Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister is aware that submission of priority roads has been the song that the administration has always provided on the Floor of this Parliament. These roads that are here were submitted three years ago. Every year we submit the same roads with the same priorities to the provincial administration, but nothing has happened neither under Rural Reconstruction Unit (RRU) nor the ZNS, it is the same thing. We are asked to submit the names of the roads every year. The Hon. Minister should still have the lists with him but nothing has happened. Given the fact that he has pointed out that World Bank might come in with money to try and assist in the rehabilitation of these roads, could the hon. Minister assure us that International Monetary Fund (IMF) together with the World Bank will not prevent World Bank from giving us this money owing to the fact that we have not met the conditionalities of the IMF since these two organisations work together?

 

Mr Chama: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kabompo does not need any assurance because these pronouncements were made on the Floor of this House that roads will be done using the World Bank programme or facility. I can rest assure him that his lamentation that these roads have always been put on the priority list but have not been worked on will be a thing of the past. Of course, we must realise that there are a lot of roads that need to be worked on. That is why the Government initiated, through the able leadership of His Excellence President Edgar Lungu, to ensure that we access this facility to work on the demand of major roads and all the roads in rural areas. Probably, works that could be done over a period of ten years on the roads can be done within a short period of time.

 

Thank you, Madam.

 

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Madam Speaker, the decision to deploy the ZNS to infrastructure development on the roads was made a few years ago. Therefore, by now, the hon. Minister should have a comprehensive list of the roads that have been done. Is the hon. Minister in a position to avail to us that list, so that we are aware of which roads have been done?

 

Mr Chama: Madam Speaker, yes indeed, we can provide that list even an additional list of which roads we are currently working on and the list that we have been given. For instance, in Solwezi we were given three districts in which we are working and definitely, we can provide that list even by next week through the hon. Members’ Pigeon Holes.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Miyutu (kalabo central): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Defence concerning the process of presenting the lists. I am aware that the process of presenting the lists to the provincial administration is the same procedure which is done in both the North-Western and Western provinces. Is there any interference by the office of the Permanent Secretary (PS) to divert or disregard the lists which has been presented by the councils? The  ZNS might not comply to what is requested by the district, instead, they dance to the tune of the PS who has also been influenced by some channel? Does such a situation occur?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I know it is a very difficult question for the hon. Minister to answer but perhaps he can attempt. Is there a way of you, as a ministry, knowing that these are indeed priority roads?

 

Mr Chama: Madam Speaker, indeed, it is very difficult for us to know who is interfering where. Whether it is the hon. Member of Parliament who is interfering making sure that the road has been diverted, when they are supposed to work on road ‘A’ to road ‘B’ or whether the councillor has pressed upon the provincial administration to divert works from point one to point two. This is a very difficult question to answer just like Madam Speaker has rightly observed. Whether the PS has a hand in it, I am not aware. It is very difficult for me to answer that question.

 

However, we want to be as transparent as possible, that is why through the provincial administration and local leadership, they give us the priority list. I know that competing demands are quite high. Sometimes it becomes a challenge because everyone is competing for their roads to be done and that is why maybe one can insinuate that the PS is interfering in terms of choosing which roads to be prioritised in the hon. Members’ respective areas.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

WATER RETICULATION SYSTEM AT CHIKANKATA MISSION HOSPITAL

 

164. Mr Mwiinga (Chinkankata) asked the Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection:

 

1. whether the Government had any plans to improve the water reticulation system at Chikankata Mission Hospital and  surrounding areas;

 

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

 

1. what the estimated cost of the project is.

 

The Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection (Dr Wanchinga): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that currently, Chikankata Mission Hospital is drawing water from an earth dam, which was constructed in 1972 and currently leaking. The Government will be assessing the status of the dam to ascertain its efficiency thus, to determine whether the dam can be demolished or it can be repaired. This is the assessment which the Government will be undertaking this year. As for the surrounding areas, the Government drilled a total of fourteen new boreholes in 2017 and is scheduled to rehabilitate ten boreholes which are currently not functioning within the surrounding areas. This is the programmes which the Government has in 2018.

 

Madam speaker, the interventions to improve the water reticulation system at Chikankata Mission Hospital and surrounding areas has already commenced with fourteen boreholes already drilled in the surrounding areas while the assessments of the leaking dam and the rehabilitation of the ten boreholes are scheduled to be carried out in 2018.

 

Madam Speaker, the estimated cost of the rehabilitation of the earth dam and the ten boreholes, which will be rehabilitated will be known once the assessments have been completed while the cost of drilling of the fourteen boreholes is already known and the amount is K582, 558.18

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Kamboni (Kalomo Central): Madam Speaker, in kalomo district, we have; the mission houses, a high school, a primary school, a mission hospital, a school of bio-medics, a school of nursing and a university but yet, there is no proper water system. Surely, why has it taken the Government this long to work on the boreholes because the water system, which is there is from within producing dirty water which is brown in colour. I would like to know from the hon. Minister why it has taken the Government so long to make some interventions.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, every ministry has a work plan. The rehabilitation of the ten boreholes and the decision by the Government to assess the current condition of the dam so that a decision can be made whether it should be repaired or demolished were planned for. The Government has been following a well-laid out work plan of interventions in various areas as to how the water challenges can be solved.

 

Madam, I appreciate the fact that there is a cluster of institutions within the area, which need to be serviced ranging from the hospitals, schools and other facilities. Certainly, the matter of finances is another issue. Nevertheless, the Government has been mobilising resources to be deployed on this particular programme in order to improve the water reticulation system within the area.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mwiinga: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether or not he is aware that the borehole, which was sunk at Chikankata Mission Hospital, was tested with the cholera infections.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

That is a new question, which is discussing the quality of the water. I will not allow that question.

 

Mr Chaatila (Moomba): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister is aware that Chikankata District was among the districts, which were having the challenges of cholera. In your response, the hon. Minister has indicated that the assessment of the dam, which is the source of water for Chikankata Mission Hospital will be conducted this year. These are the statements, which give us problems. I would like the hon. Minister to be specific because this is February, 2018; therefore, we have ten more months before the year comes to an end. Could the hon. Minister tell the people of Chikankata when the Government will be able to send people to go and carry out the assessment?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, like I said, the ministry does its works by using the work plan. Certainly, we will be sending a team to that area as soon as possible, although I cannot tell the hon. Member whether that will be conducted, whether it is tomorrow or a day after. However I would like to give that assurance on the Floor of the House that the problem is important and it will be quickly attended to.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that fourteen boreholes have been drilled around Chikankata Mission Hospital and the surrounding areas. Considering the area in which Chikankata is, I would like to find out on how many boreholes are within the boundaries of Chikankata Mission Hospital out of the fourteen boreholes.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, I do not know whether the hon. Member wants me to go with a tape …

 

Laughter

 

Dr Wanchinga: … to determine the distance between the boreholes and the household. When the assessment is conducted in the communities, the technocrats determine that once the borehole is placed at a particular place, it will serve so many communities. Apart from that, there are a number of factors, which determine the place where the borehole will be drilled. For instance, it could be the water table or the type of rock underneath. Therefore, I would like to assure the hon. Member that the boreholes have been drilled depending upon the factors, which have determined the exact locations of the boreholes.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

SCIENCE AND COMPUTER LABORATORIES AT CHIKANKATA HOSPITAL

 

165. Mr Mwiinga (Chikankata) asked the Minister of General Education:

 

1. whether the Government had any plans to construct science and computer laboratories at the following newly upgraded schools in Chikankata Parliamentary Constituency:

 

1. Ngangula;

 

1. Nadezwe

 

1. Chikankata;

 

1. Hakantu; and

 

1. Ching’ang’auka; and

 

1. If so, when the plans would be implemented.

 

The Minister of General Education (Mr Mabumba):  Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Government has plans to construct the science and computer laboratories at Ngangula, Nadezwe and Chikankata upgraded schools. However, this will be undertaken once funds are available. There are no immediate plans to construct computer and science laboratories at Hakantu and Ching’ang’auka Primary Schools as they are yet to be upgraded.

 

Madam Speaker, as stated in part (b) of the question, plans to construct additional infrastructure at Ngangula, Nadezwe and Chikankata will be undertaken when funds are made available and when the current ongoing construction of the 115 secondary schools are completed.

 

I thank you, Madam. 

 

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister informed the nation about the upgrading of 220 primary schools to secondary status. However, what surprises me is that the ministry plans to upgrade the schools without planning for infrastructure development. Therefore, in which phase did the Government plan to set up laboratories at the upgraded schools? These schools are failing to acquire examination centre numbers because they do not have laboratories. According to the Government’s plan, when are these schools supposed to have science laboratories?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister of General Education, the question is; during planning to upgrade these schools, at what stage did you intend to ensure that computer laboratories were provided in the upgraded schools?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, for the 220 primary schools that were upgraded in 2014, the first phase consisted of the construction of a staff house and one 1 x 3 classroom blocks. The second phase was meant to put up additional staff houses as well as laboratories. However, what we said for the sake of examination, and I have said this in answering other questions, is that all the 220 primary schools which were upgraded are supposed to be provided with mobile laboratories. If the hon. Member has been to an upgraded school with no mobile laboratories, it is a matter that I would be more than happy to deal with because that was our principle and it remains as such.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mwiinga (Chikankata): Madam Speaker, I can safely say to the hon. Minister that there is no mobile laboratory at the upgraded school in Chikankata. Therefore, would it not have been prudent to first of all set up laboratories before upgrading these schools?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, at the expense of repeating myself, I will say that when we upgraded these schools, given the money which was available, we put up a staff house, one 1 x 3 classroom block and a mobile laboratory at each school. At that stage, the school could  be given an examination number because the people who make rules for the examination centre numbers is the Ministry of General Education working together with the Examination Council of Zambia (ECZ). We flex the rules to allow these schools to operate with mobile laboratories, while as part of phase two; they were supposed to have the physical structures for the laboratories.

 

Madam, therefore, if these particular schools are part of the 220 primary schools that were part of the ministry’s plan, my expectation is that they are supposed to have mobile laboratories. However, because of pressure, what has happened overtime is that some districts made local decisions to upgrade some schools. In that case, they may not have support from the Ministry of General Education, but for those 220 primary schools which were officially upgraded, they are supposed to be given this package.

 

Madam Speaker, I think that going forward, I will come and issue a ministerial statement just to explain the status of all the 220 primary schools that were upgraded so that we put matters into context.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: What will the hon. Minister do if indeed the school in Chikankata is one of the 220, but it does not have a mobile laboratory?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, we have got a science centre which manufactures mobile laboratories within the ministry and my commitment is that we will give the school the mobile laboratory.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Chaatila (Moomba): Mr Speaker, the situation that is obtaining at Ngangula, Nadezwe, Chikankata, Hakantu and Ching’ang’auka Secondary Schools is very prevalent even in other constituencies. There is lack of science and computers laboratories. It is very evident from the results when children sit for the examinations because the passing rates are very low. Does it not worry the ministry that pupils are being subjected to sitting for examinations when these amenities are not there? If so, what is being done about this?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, I know that you have in the past tried to answer this question. Perhaps you could repeat your answer.

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, what I have said to my honourable colleagues is, first of all, when we upgrade school infrastructure, the exercise is supposed to be supported by a budget. For the 220 primary schools at that time, the budget was provided, including the issue of mobile laboratories. In fact, before I left the Ministry of General Education, we had already distributed mobile laboratories maybe to more than 80 per cent of these schools.

 

However, if there are challenges at particular schools which are inhibiting the performance of children, like I have said, I am more than willing to go to the science centre even today with my honourable colleague and give him mobile laboratories. I want to come and put this matter into context, whereby I will come and explain the status of all the 220 primary schools. Some schools may not be part of the 220 primary schools which were officially upgraded and maybe the decisions were just made at a local level.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Nonetheless, the hon. Minister will do both. He will go and collect a mobile laboratory with the hon. Member of Parliament as well as present a status statement to the House.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mabumba: Yes, Madam Speaker. I am able to do that. I thank you.

 

Mr Ndalamei (Sikongo): Madam Speaker, most of these 220 schools being upgraded are still in the first phase. Does the ministry have money in this year’s budget to move to the second phase?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, at the expense of repeating myself, let me say I will be able to provide clarity on that particular question when I issue a ministerial statement in the next few weeks.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that under phase one, a 1 x 3 classroom block and staff house will be constructed at each upgraded school and now they are embarking on phase two. When will the ministry embark on phase two and when will it come to an end?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, that is very similar to the question that I have just answered. When I issue a ministerial statement, we will be able to provide clarity in terms of when phase two starts and when it finishes.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Madam Speaker, I sympathise with the hon. Minister because there are so many questions that are coming to him on the construction of science and computer laboratories. We are supposed to have a national science and technology policy and a presumable plan. This goes back to 1996 when the first National Science and Technology Policy was put in place and we understand it is being revised. Of course, science and computer laboratories are supposed to be part and parcel of that broader national policy. The ministry is not supposed to be struggling to look for resources to construct those facilities because they are supposed to be part and parcel of the national programme. Is there any move on the part of the ministry to operate within that broader national science and technology policy so that the construction of science and computer laboratories is part of the national programme?

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, my hon. Colleague should recognise that the 220 primary schools we have upgraded have provided an opportunity to learn for many of our children who did not have access to secondary education. I am sure my hon. Colleagues from the districts where these schools are situated can attest to this.

 

Madam Speaker, the ministry has decided to transform the National Science Centre into a directorate which will purely focus on science, mathematics and technology in order to address some of the challenges we have in teaching Information and Communications technology (ICT), mathematics and science. Going forward, Prof. Lungwangwa will see a lot of change in terms of the capacitation for our teachers to handle science, mathematics and technology subjects.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Nanjuwa (Mumbwa): Madam Speaker, can the hon. Minister help us by availing the list of the 220 primary schools that were upgraded to secondary schools so that we can be aware of which districts and constituencies have these schools?

 

Madam  First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister will be repeating himself on that question. He has already undertaken to bring that information to the House.

 

Next question.

 

CHIKANDO SECONDARY SCHOOL IN LUANGENI

 

166.  Mr C. M. Zulu (Luangeni) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

1. when the construction of Chikando Secondary School in Luangeni Parliamentary Constituency which stalled in  2010 would resume; and

 

1. what had caused the delay in resuming the project.

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Chitotela): Madam Speaker, before I address this question, allow me to clarify the issue of the feeder roads and the funding from the World Bank. It must be put straight on record that the funding has been made available to the Government of the Republic of Zambia for the Improved Rural Connectivity Project in six provinces. The rehabilitation of feeder roads in the remaining four provinces will be funded by the Government of the Republic of Zambia. The six provinces to be funded by the World Bank are; the Southern, the Central, the Eastern, the Northern, Muchinga and Luapula …

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker:  Order!

 

Hon. Minister, I have difficulties with the procedure you have adopted. I would like to guide you to bring that information in a ministerial statement so that hon. Members can ask you questions to clarify the statement that you will make at that stage. You should do that next week, since you are eager to bring that information to the House. That information should be brought to the House within next week through a ministerial statement.

 

You will now deal with Question No.166.

 

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, much obliged.

 

Madam Speaker, the construction of Chikando Secondary School in Luangeni Parliamentary Constituency which stalled in 2010 will resume once an outstanding issue with the contractor is resolved. One of the key outstanding issues is securing an equity partner to complete the remaining works.  I assure the hon. Member of Parliament that the equity partner has since been identified and discussions are underway to make sure that Chikando Secondary School is completed. The contractor was paid, but he misapplied the funding. Hence, we decided to terminate his contract.

 

Madam, the project delayed because the contractor did not apply the funding to the project. The contract was terminated, and we are currently engaging another equity partner to complete the construction of Chikando Secondary School.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr C. M. Zulu: Madam Speaker, this project has stalled for seven years. First, I dealt with Hon. Mabumba when he was the Deputy hon. Minister in the Ministry of General Education. He visited the site of the school. The current hon. Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection also went there when he was the hon. Minister of General Education. However, I am not aware of what he went to do there. Hon. Chitotela has told the people of Luangeni Constituency that the Government has found an equity partner to complete the construction of the school. The people of Luangeni have asked what they have done to Hon. Chitotela for him to take seven years to find an equity partner to complete the school. Is the hon. Minister able to tell us the name of the equity partner?

 

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, we are still discussing with the equity partner. Immediately we conclude the discussions, I will be able to give his name. I assure the people of Luangeni that it is not business as usual, we are here to deliver. That is why even yesterday, I and the hon. Minister of General Education discussed this subject and we assured the hon. Member for Luangeni that we may even consider putting this school under a special project so that it can be completed quickly. The people of Luangeni are very good, and they have never done anything wrong to me. Once we conclude the discussions, I will bring the name of the equity partner to the House.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Jere (Livingstone): Madam Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister stated that funds were not applied to this project by the contractor. Apart from terminating his contract, what other measures has the Government taken against this contractor who misapplied the funds meant for this project?

 

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, the Government has recommended the recovery of the money from the contractor. The company and its directors have also been blacklisted and banned from participating in public tenders in Zambia. We have also instructed the Office of the Attorney-General to look at the provisions of the contract to see if we can institute legal proceedings against the contractor.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has already established that the contractor defaulted on the contract to the extent that the Government even blacklisted them. Can the hon. Minister tell us who this contractor is? Why is the Government waiting to prosecute this contractor?

 

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, on the earlier part of the question, I may require guidance from the Chairperson on whether I should answer it or not. As to the latter question, we have not delayed prosecuting this contractor. We terminated the contract and went further by blacklisting the contractor. We have also written to the Office of the Attorney-General to look at the contract to find out whether we can institute legal proceedings against the contractor. There is no delay, we are following the process.

 

I seek the guidance of the Chairperson as to whether I can publish the name of the contractor.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, is the process of blacklisting a contractor confidential? If not, you may go ahead and mention the name of the contractor and not the individuals behind it.

 

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I will be able to avail the House the name of the contractor next week on Tuesday because I do not have it now.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, you do not have the name now?

 

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I do not have it now, but I can make it available on Tuesday, next week.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Chaatila (Moomba): Madam Speaker, how much was this contractor paid before the contract was terminated?

 

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, the name of the contractor has been availed to me. If you permit me to inform the House, then I will do so.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, please proceed.

 

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, the name is Marike Contractors.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, you may proceed to answer the question on how much has been paid to the contractor.

 

Mr Chitotela: Madam Speaker, I apologise. I did not look at the amount that was paid to the contractor. If it is required, I can make that information available to the hon. Member.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

CHIEF’S PALACE IN MAPATIZYA

 

167. Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya) asked the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs:

 

1. whether the Government had any plans to construct a place for Chief Simwatachela in Mapatizya Parliamentary Constituency;

 

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

 

1. what the estimated cost of the project was; and

 

1. how many chiefs, country-wide, did not have places constructed by Government.

 

The Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (Mr Sichalwe): Mr Speaker, the construction of chiefs’ palaces in the country is being implemented in phases. In the current and first phase, the Government is constructing three palaces per province. In the Southern Province, the palaces under construction in the first phase are; Chieftainess Choongo in Monze District, Chief Chona of Monze District and Chieftainess Mweenda in Chikankata District.

 

Sir, the plans to construct Chief Simwatachela’s Palace in Mapatizya Parliamentary Constituency in Kalomo will be implemented in subsequent phases. All the 288 chiefs do not have government constructed palaces.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, what about the response to part (C) of the question?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam Speaker, when we start considering which palaces will fall under the subsequent phases, that is when the Bills of Quantities (BOQ) will be generated to arrive at the cost.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Miyanda: Madam Speaker, 288 chiefs across the country do not have palaces. These are the same people that the Government runs to when there is an election. Why is the Government so reluctant to construct palaces for these very important people in our country?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, you must ignore the part about elections and answer the second part of the question.

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam Speaker, the hon. Member may wish to know that the Government is not ignoring the plight of the chiefs. Taking care of chiefs has always been the Government’s policy. This is why the Government came up with this project of constructing chiefs’ palaces. However, there have been some delays in doing this and these are due to the fact that this project was initially labour based. We expected the community, with the hon. Member asking the question being one of them, to have contributed 30 per cent towards the construction of these palaces. After seeing that the community was not very responsive and that the avenue was not of much help, we decided to go on a full contract as opposed to labour based.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Kufakwandi (Sesheke): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out the criteria that are used in selecting which chiefs’ palaces to be built. Is it based on demand? I note that in the Western Province, there are very few palaces that have been constructed, yet there are a number of chiefs in the province.

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question. You may wish to know that the Government really balances the distribution of the construction of chiefs’ palaces. The Government’s plan was to construct three palaces per province. The Western Province has also been catered for. It can be seen from the construction of palaces for Chiefs Kaharia, Lukama and Kandala. Going forward, we will still consider the province under Phase II of this project.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, a programme like this is very important to our chiefs. However, looking at the number of chiefs that we have in the country and the three palaces earmarked to be constructed in each province, is this programme sustainable? Is the Government going to achieve what it wants? Is there not another way that can be used in ensuring that our chiefs’ palaces are constructed in a much faster way?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that question. Indeed, this has been a challenge for our ministry because of insufficient funds given to the ministry. With the introduction of the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development and the palaces being the Government houses, we are in a transition where the construction of chiefs’ palaces will be a responsibility for the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development. It is the Government’s hope to complete the 288 palaces within the shortest possible time.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Jere (Livingstone): Madam Speaker, would you assure this august House and the nation at large, that we shall have value for money? I ask this because most of these contracts for constructing chiefs’ palaces are labour based, and as such, quality is compromised.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I thought the hon. Minister indicated that they had moved away from that model. Hon Minister, would you like to confirm that that is indeed the position?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam Speaker, you are spot on. That is the right position.

 

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Madam Speaker, in his response to part (c) of the question, the hon. Minister said he would only be in a position to know the estimated cost of the project when the BOQ was raised. However, since they are constructing these palaces and I am of the view that they are of the same standard, could he kindly give us the cost of one of the palaces he has constructed? For example, Chieftainess Choongo in Monze.

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam Speaker, the BOQ will vary considering the different areas where these palaces are being constructed and also the terrain and the difficulties the contractors encounter in getting to the sites. However, in reference to Chieftainess Choongo, what has been spent so far is K398, 000.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

  

   Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, what is the average cost of a chief’s palace?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam Speaker, the average cost is in the range of plus or minus K600, 000.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Ms Kasanda (Chisamba): Madam Speaker, looking at the fact that the Government has earmarked three palaces to be constructed per province, which palaces have been earmarked for each province? For example, which palaces have been earmarked for the Central Province and what level are they at?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You have attracted that question through your answer so you have to respond, or perhaps make an undertaking to come back later.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Long live!

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam Speaker, I will begin with addressing the Central Province. In the Central Province, there is Chief Moono in Mumbwa, Chief Mukuni in Ng’ombe in Kabwe and Chieftainess Serenje in Serenje. The contracts for all these palaces have just been signed and the contractors should be arriving on the site. I would be glad if the hon. Member can assist us with monitoring the projects.

 

Madam Speaker, I do not know whether I should go ahead and elaborate on all the other ...

 

Hon. Members: Yes!

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: No. Hon. Minister, you may have to come back to the House so that you can give a comprehensive statement indicating even their status in terms of completion so that hon. Members can be aware of what is going on in their respective provinces and constituencies. You will come back to the House.

 

Mr Kambita (Zambezi East): Madam Speaker, I am glad the hon. Minister has said three chiefs houses are earmarked for construction in each province. I am interested in the houses that will be constructed in the North-Western Province. The reason why I am asking a question pertaining to two particular chiefs is the state in which they are in. Are palaces for Chief Mpidi and Chief Nyakulenga included in the three that will be constructed in the North-Western Province?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member I have just guided that the hon. Minister will come to the House with a comprehensive statement on the construction of chiefs’ palaces.

 

Ms Chisangano (Gwembe): Madam Speaker what criteria was used to pick the three chiefs from each province?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam Speaker, the selection was recommended by provincial administrations after having assessed the chiefs’ palaces in their provinces.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Madam Speaker, will these palaces have the same standards?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam Speaker, these are Government institutional houses and thus, they will be uniform.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

YOUTH SKILLS TRAINING CENTRE IN NDOLA CENTRAL

 

168.  Mr Kabamba (Kafulafuta) (on behalf of Mr Mulenga) (Ndola Central) asked the Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development:

 

1. whether the Government had any plans to construct youth skills training centres in the following wards in Ndola Central Parliamentary Constituency:

 

1. Twapia;
2. Nkwazi;
3. Mapalo;
4. Kansenshi;
5. Yengwe; and
6. Kanini; and

 

1. if so, when the plans could be implemented,

 

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development (Mr Mawere): Madam Speaker, it is the Government policy, like I have said before, to establish at least one youth skills training centre in each district, funds permitting. After establishing a youth resource centre in each district. In the future, consideration may be given for the establishment of additional centres at ward level, in the mentioned ward because of the interest we have seen coming from people of various constituencies.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

MKUSHI SOUTH BOARDING SECONDARY SCHOOL

 

169.  Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South) asked the Minister General Education:

 

1. when the construction of Mkushi South Boarding Secondary School will be completed;

 

1. what had caused the delay in completing the project;

 

1. what the total cost of the project was; and

 

1. how much money had been paid to the contractor so far.

 

 The Minister of General Education (Mr Mabumba): Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the contract for the construction of Mkushi South Boarding Secondary School was awarded in 2013. This project has taken too long to complete and such, the ministry is in the process of terminating the contract due to poor performance by the contractor. The completion date will only be known after a new contractor has been appointed.

 

Madam Speaker, the delay in completion was caused by financial challenges faced by the contractor leading to cash flow problems and lack of capacity.

 

Madam, the revised contract sum for the project is K59, 163,229.92.

 

Madam Speaker, to date, the contractor has been paid a total of K10, 228,058.95 of the contract sum.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for that response. I want to find out from the hon. Minister, if he is talking about terminating the contract, is there any time frame that you have put to terminate and award the contract to another contractor so that this school can be completed as soon as possible?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, although I may not have the specific time frame, I can get back to Hon. Chisopa for we need to do some consultations. I do not want to specify the time frame for we may not deliver. Hon. Chisopa and I can compare notes at the ministry.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Siwale (Mafinga): Madam Speaker, what has caused the termination of the contract? Is it the poor workmanship or the contractor was not paid on time?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Would the hon. Minister like to repeat his answer?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, for the sake of the hon. Member for Mafinga, in (b) I did say, the delay in completion of the school was caused by financial challenges faced by the contractor leading to cash flow problems and lack of capacity.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

MINE SAFETY INSPECTIONS AT JIFUMPA MINE

 

170. Ms Tambatamba (Kasempa) asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

 

(a)        whether there were any mine safety inspections conducted at Jifumpa Mine in Kasempa District from 2016 to 2017;

 

(b)        if so, how many inspections were conducted;

 

(c)        whether the mine was operating in line with the mine safety regulations; and

 

(d)        if not, what measures have been taken to ensure compliance.

 

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Musukwa): Madam Speaker, mines safety inspections are conducted at Jifumpa Mine in Kasempa District by various inspectors of the Mine Safety Department.

 

Madam Speaker, a total of eight inspections was conducted at the mine between 2016 and October, 2017. These included inspections of explosives, magazines, general operations investigations of fatal accidents, and complaints of cracking houses within the surroundings of the mining area as a result of blasting.

 

Madam, in areas where there were anomalies during inspections, corrective measures were instituted as directed by the inspectors. These measures included appointment of a Zambian Mine Manager, ensuring that the Log Book was in place and entries done by the Shift Boss; all blasting operations to be conducted by trained personnel.

 

Madam Speaker, management at Jifumpa Mine has been co-operating with the Ministry of Mines and Mineral Development through the Mines Safety Department with regards to compliance with the requirements of the Zambian law. The safety problems which were observed during inspections were brought to the attention of management who are currently working on rectifying all outstanding issues.

 

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to know that in 2018, the Department of Mine Safety plans to carry out safety audit by a team of inspectors comprising mining, machinery, explosives and environment inspectors.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Ms Tambatamba: Madam Speaker, the situation pertaining on the ground as per my previous visit at Jifumpa Mine is such that there are a lot of grievances that have come through from the employees of the mine. Some of the findings which have come through from the health institutions at Mukinge indicated that there were a lot of injuries such as eye and face disorders. My question is, whether the mine operator, who is Ridder Mine has put in place the safety management plan as at now? I am saying so because at the time we visited, there was no safety management plan, which is part of the requirements.

 

Mr Musukwa: Madam Speaker, it is true that the mine has faced serious challenges as regards to the issue of safety. In fact, this mine started operations recently. I want to put on record the fact that the Member of Parliament has been very emphatic to ensure that people in that area, get the best from the mine, including safety. We are working together with the mine to ensure that they adhere to safe provisions. What we have actually done is instituted a team of mine inspectors to ensure compliance by the mine.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Ms Kasanda (Chisamba): Madam Speaker, looking at the fact that most of the mines that are operating in this country do not have any compliance of safety. I wanted to find out from the hon. Minister, is it possible that he could give us a compliance report for all the mines that are operating in different districts?

 

Mr Musukwa: Madam Speaker, as the Government, we have dedicated an entire Mine Safety Department. Its main responsibility is actually to inspect and ensure compliance. The policy of the Government is to ensure that all mining houses operating in the Republic of Zambia comply with the safety regulations as stipulated by the law. If the hon. Member, in her words, would like us to provide some of the provisions, we will be too glad to do so.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Ms Tambatamba: Madam Speaker, at the time of inspections, is there a grievance management plan? At the moment, community members as well as the employees at Ridder Mine are only reporting these concerns in an informal manner. The international and national standards require that there is a formal grievance management procedure.

 

Mr Musukwa: Madam Speaker, yes, there is a formal grievance procedure in terms of safety at any working place in a mining area. In this regard, we have developed a philosophy that states ‘if it is not safe, do not do it’. Hence, it is incumbent upon the employees to ensure that they actually enforce these provisions.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Madam Speaker, there has been concerns, as raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Kasempa, and the workers at the mine are complaining. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the Government has a programme for inspectors to carry out random safety checks so that they can bring to book some of the wrongs that have been made?

 

Mr Musukwa: Madam Speaker, yes, the Government has a plan to ensure that there are robust impromptu visits and inspections in various mining houses. In fact, there is a regular programme that the ministry has instituted to undertake this course.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Mulusa (Solwezi Central): Madam Speaker, we know that most of the mines especially in the North-Western Province are operating under very difficult conditions. Safety is always a problem. There is no compliance. Is there a possibility for the ministry to attach the safety team, even for a month or two, to make sure that the mines are running with the compliance required?

 

Mr Musukwa: Madam Speaker, yes, there is a possibility. In fact, in instances where a mine starts operating like Jifumpa Mine, we should have sent a technical safety team. When we have challenges of mine accidents, before the mine continues with its operations, we ensure that there are safety facilities on site and compliance is adhered to without fail.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

CHEMBE AND CHIKUPILI LOCAL COURTS IN MKUSHI SOUTH

 

172. Mr Chisopa asked the Minister of Justice:

 

1. which contractor has been constructing Chembe and Chikupili Local Courts in Mkushi South Parliamentary Constituency;

 

1. what the cost of constructing each local court was;

 

1. what had caused the delay in completing the projects; and

 

1. when the construction of the two projects would be completed.

 

The Minister of Justice (Mr Lubinda): Madam Speaker, Chembe Local Court is being constructed by LM General Dealers whilst Chikupili Local Court is being constructed by Hench Enterprise.

 

Madam, the cost of constructing Chembe Local Court is K492, 000 and Chikupili Local Court is K719, 614.47.

 

Madam Speaker, the delay is due to lack of funds to honour the interim payment certificates. Given the delay in honouring the interim payment certificates on time, the projects could not be completed as per the contract terms. In this regard, the concerned contractors have been requested to submit a revised programme of work for each project and to apply for an extension of time. After we have received that is when we can indicate the time frame for the completion of the projects.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, the construction of these two projects started in 2010. The Mailoni Brothers came from Luano and we risk having such people if these local courts are not completed.

 

Mr Ngulube: Ema shikulu aya!

 

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, has the ministry given the contractors a timeframe for them to submit the work plan?

 

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, I will leave the Mailoni brothers alone. However, I will just indicate to the hon. Member that in responding to his question, I mentioned that when we have received a revised programme of work for either project, is only when we can indicate when the projects would be completed.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Ngulube (kabwe central): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister of Justice if his ministry has any plans of working with Members of Parliament to ensure that some of these projects like; the court rooms, local courts and magistrate’s courts are expeditiously constructed. Are there any plans that the Ministry of Justice has in that regard?

 

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Hon. Ngulube for that very important question. Madam, I have requested Members of Parliament several times that as we receive the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), we should consider investing in these very important facilities. This gives me an opportunity to indicate that as at the close of last year, only ministers had not received or had received only 50 per cent of their CDF.

 

Hon. Opposition Member: Aah!

 

Mr Lubinda: Some of the Back Benchers had actually received 100 per cent of the CDF.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Iyee! Which ones?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Lubinda: Therefore, I would like to encourage the Hon. Members to utilise that public resource by investing in court infrastructures. Like the hon. Member of Parliament for Mkushi was saying, where there is no court, we let people start to settle disputes on their own, leading to incidents such as the emergence of the Miloni brothers. Hence, investing the CDF in these projects, Hon. Ngulube, it is a very good idea and I would like to encourage all Members of Parliament to consider that.

 

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Chisopa: Madam Speaker, as the hon. Minister receives the work plan from the contractor, is he aware that the local court in Chembe has since been damaged and it will call for a fresh start of a new local court?

 

Mr Lubinda: Madam Speaker, I did indicate that we had requested the two contractors to give us their work programmes and request for an extension of time that indicates that we have not received any work plan at all.

 

With regard to the second part of the question, I am not aware of any damage having occasioned at Chembe Local Court. I would be very delighted if my Hon. Colleague could kindly furnish us with further information on the damage that he is speaking of. If it was caused by people, it might be necessary for us to know who they are, but if it is a natural damage, certainly we would like to know about it and see if we can have it included in the work plan of the contractor.

 

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Madam Speaker, it is generally acceptable intermission of parliamentary norm that we do not do speculations on the Floor of the House especially, on the part of the Executive. In his response to the supplementary question asked by the hon. Member of Parliament for Kabwe Central, the hon. Minister of Justices stated that some of the Members of Parliament here have received 100 per cent of the CDF. Madam Speaker, is he in a position to give us a list of the names of those who have received 100 per cent of the CDF funding?

 

Ms Lubezhi: Hear, hear!

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I will take advantage of this question and of course, the hon. Minister will not have to answer it. Nevertheless, I would like to counsel the Executive.

 

In their responses to questions that are posed, they must always avoid going outside their portfolio functions thereby, attracting further questions that they may not be ready to respond to.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, I noted that and I was hoping that it would not attract questions from my left. As the House maybe aware, the issue of the CDF is an issue that hon. Members have been pressing on for a long time.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Therefore, one can only hope that members of the Executive will be aware of that and avoid attracting unnecessary questions pertaining to the CDF. That is my counsel.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

LUBWA MISSION IN CHINSALI

 

173. Mr Mukosa (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Tourism and Arts:

 

1. whether the Government had any plans to gazette the Lubwa Mission, in Chinsali district, as a heritage site;

 

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

 

1. if there are no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (Mr Sichalwe)(on behalf of the Minister of Tourism and Arts (Mr C. R. Banda): Mr Speaker, I would like to inform the House that plans by the Government through the Ministry of Tourism and Arts were set in motion in the last quarter of 2017 to gazette Lubwa Mission as a National Monument. Surveyors were sent to the mission to ascertain the boundary to start the process of declaration.

 

Sir, the Minister of Tourism and Arts prepared a Statutory Instrument (SI) for the declaration of the mission and was submitted to the Ministry of Justice in the last quarter of 2017. The nation may wish to know that in 1976, Lubwa House of Dr Kenneth David Kaunda was declared as a National monument under the Statutory Instrument (SI) No. 121 of 1976. The declarations of the Lubwa Mission will therefore, be an extension of the 1976 declaration as Dr Kaunda’s house is located within Lubwa Mission.

 

Sir, the SI is now with the Ministry of Justice. Once it is scruitinised and approved by the Ministry of Justice, the declaration will be made. Therefore, part (c) of the question falls out.

 

Madam, I thank you.

 

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out if it is possible to indicate the time frame within which the ministry of Justice will finish the SI?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam Speaker, unfortunately, I am unable to crisscross into the Ministry of Justice to check on the workload they have, but we are eagerly waiting for them to scruitinise the SI.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

 

                                        WATER RETICULATION PROJECT IN CHINSALI

 

174. Mr Mukosa (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection:

 

1. whether the water reticulation project in Chinsali District was on schedule;

 

1. who the contractor for the project was;

 

1. how much work, in percentage terms, had been done so far;

 

1. what the contract sum was ; and

 

1. how much money had been paid to the contractor so far.

 

The Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection (Dr Wanchinga): Madam Speaker, the water reticulation project in Chinsali District is on schedule. It is hoped that the project will be completed by 30^th April, 2018. It may be noted that this project begun in May, 2013. The contractor that is handling this project is China Gansu Engineering Corporation. The amount of work which has been accomplished so far is at 87 per cent. The contract sum is K51, 078,443.39. Of this amount, the contractor has been paid K35, 803,455.72.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Madam Speaker, I may not have heard the hon. Minister correct, but if I did, he indicated that the project is on schedule and it could be completed by 30^th April, 2018. However, in terms of how much work has been done, the hon. Minister said it is at 37 per cent. I just want the hon. Minister to clarify if what I heard is true. If the works are at 37 per cent completion and April is within two months, will the people of Chinsali surely see this project completed within that time schedule?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, this is what the assessment experts have said and I will still indicate that we hope to finish this project by 30^th April, this year.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I have noted from his answer that the hon. Minister is saying the works that have been done so far amount to 87 per cent and the amount that has been paid out of the K51 million contract sum is K35 million, which represents 68 per cent. I want to find out if there are any pending interim payment certificates that are due to the contractor? When are they going to be paid so that the works can be completed by April, 2018?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister will take into account the question from the hon. Member for Kaputa who mentioned that he heard 37 per cent completion rate. Is it 37 or 87 per cent completion? Clarify that.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, I do not know, maybe it is the distance between where I am seating and where he is, but it is 87 per cent.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Wanchinga: That is why we are confident that the works will be completed by end of April, this year. As regards to any outstanding interim payment certificates, I will get back to the House next Tuesday if that information is really required.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

MINING CONCESSIONS

 

175. Mr Chali (Nchanga) asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

 

1. when the mining concessions between the Government and the following mining companies were signed:

 

1. Mopani Copper Mines Plc;
2. Konkola Copper Mines Plc;
3. Kansanshi Mining Plc; and
4. Lumwana Mining Company Ltd; and

 

1. when the concessions would expire.

 

   The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Musukwa): Madam Speaker, the Government does not sign concessions with mining companies. Mining companies are issued with mining licences. Mopani Copper Mines Plc was granted two mining licences; the first was granted on 31^st March, 2000, while the second was signed on 31^st March, 2005. Konkola Copper Mines Plc was granted three mining licences on 31^st March, 2000. Kansanshi Mining Plc was granted a mining licence on 7^th March, 1997. Lumwana Mining Company Limited was granted six mining licences; the first five were issued on 6^th January, 2004, while the sixth was granted on 17^th September, 2012.

 

Madam Speaker, the two mining licences for Mopani Copper Mines Plc will both expire on 30^th March, 2025. Konkola Copper Mines Plc mining licences will all expire on 30^th March, 2025. Kansanshi Mining Plc mining licences will all expire on 6^th March, 2022. The first five licences for Lumwana Mining Company Limited will expire on 5^th January, 2029, and their sixth licence will expire on 16^th September, 2037.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Chali: Madam Speaker, one of the requirements for mining licences is implementation of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programmes. Is the Government happy with the CSR activities being done by all the mining houses?

 

Mr Musukwa: Madam Speaker, the mines operate in various communities, and at various stages. It is the responsibility of mining houses to show their presence in our communities in terms of the CSR activities. They can provide infrastructure for health, education and sport. Many mining houses are not doing what the Government and the people expect them to do in this area. The Government has structured a robust plan to encourage mining houses to participate more in our communities through the CSR.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Mukumbuta (Senanga Central): Madam Speaker, is the Government likely to renew the licences of these mining houses, considering that Konkola Copper Mines Plc has brought more misery to the people of Chingola?

 

Mr Musukwa: Madam Speaker, mining licences are renewed depending on the availability of the mineral resources. If the mineral resources will be available at that time, they will be renewed.

 

The Government is working to ensure that the plight of miners across the Republic of Zambia, especially in Chililabombwe and Chingola are addressed within a certain timeframe.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Kasonso (Solwezi West): Madam Speaker, …

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

(Debate adjourned)

 

_______

 

The House adjourned at 1256 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday, 27^th February, 2018.