Wednesday, 27^th June, 2018

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

                                                                                                      

PRAYER

 

_______

 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

 

THE STATUS OF THE ROAD TOLLING PROGRAMME IN ZAMBIA

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Chitotela): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to present a ministerial statement to this august House on the status of the Road Tolling Programme in Zambia which is an important programme.

 

The Tolls Act No. 14 of 2011 introduced road tolling as part of the Government’s strategy to improve funding towards road maintenance in the country. Following the enactment of the Act, road tolling commenced in 2013 at six weighbridges. Later in 2016, tolling started at two inland toll stations, namely Kafulafuta and Manyumbi.

 

As the Government made progress in the construction of conventional toll plazas, His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the President of the Republic of Zambia, commissioned Mumbwa Toll Station, Shimabala Toll Station and Katuba Toll Station on 27^th April, 2017. This brought the total number of inland toll stations to five.

 

Mr Speaker, currently, in addition to the inland toll stations, road toll fees are still being collected from nine designated ports of entry around the country and five weighbridges in Livingstone, Kazungula, Mpika, Mwami and Kapiri Mposhi. In 2017, the Government planned to commission an additional twenty inland tolling stations on key roads across the country. Out of this number, five stations commenced operations in the later part of 2017. These are as follows:

 

1. Chembe on Mansa/Chembe Road in Luapula Province;

 

1. Kalense on Kasama/Luwingu Road in the Northern Province;

 

1. Kateshi on Kasama/Mbala Road in the Northern Province;

 

1. Chongwe Toll Station on Great East Road between Lusaka and Chongwe; and

 

1. Nakonde Toll Station in Mbala on Mbala/Nakonde Road.

 

Mr Speaker, the three toll stations commissioned in April, 2017, contributed about K96,147,000 in toll revenue, as at 31^st December, 2017, while in the first quarter of 2018, they generated a total of K28,793,000. Comparatively, there has been a noticeable decline in toll revenue collections in the first quarter of 2018 at the three toll stations cited above as several motorists accessed toll discounts which are a relief given to local residents and those who frequently access the respective toll stations.

 

Mr Speaker, as reported earlier this year, collectively, all the toll stations raised a total of K667,952,022.57 in 2017 and created about 141 direct and permanent jobs for the youths in Zambia. I wish to underline here that from the time the Road Tolling Programme commenced in November, 2013, to date, a total amount of K2.2 billion has been collected from inland ports of entry and weighbridge stations across the country, making this programme the highest non-tax revenue contributor to the Treasury.

 

 I am pleased to inform this august House that the revenue collected has been utilised in accordance with the provisions of the Tolls Act, which specifically states that the toll fee or other charges imposed for the use of a toll road and collected by the agency shall form part of the road fund and shall be used exclusively for the construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of roads. To illustrate this point more clearly, I wish to inform this august House that under road rehabilitation, the Government has spent the toll revenue over the years as follows:

 

Revenue Collected                           Period

(K’million)

 

142                                                   2013 to 2014

 

204                                                   2015

 

259                                                   2016

 

501                                                   2017

 

Further, under road maintenance, the expenditure was as follows:

 

Revenue Collected                                  Period

(K’Million)

 

199                                                         2013 to 2014

 

285                                                         2015

 

129                                                        2016

 

297                                                         2017

 

296                                                         2018

 

This brings the total to K2.2 billion from 2013 to date.

 

Mr Speaker, further, whilst seven additional toll stations were operationalised in 2017, the Government made progress in the construction of conventional toll plazas at Garnerton, which has reached 70 per cent completion, Levy Mwanawasa Toll Plaza, which has reached 32 per completion, Kafulafuta Toll Plaza, which is at 35 per cent completion, Manyumbi Toll Plaza, which is at 60 per cent completion, but is still under procurement following the termination of the initial contract, Choma Toll Plaza, which is at 76 per cent completion, the Solwezi/Mutanda Toll Plaza, which has reached about 80 per cent completion and lastly, Chipata/Katete, which is at 45 per cent completion.

 

Mr Speaker, once the toll plazas under construction have been completed, the number of inland toll stations will increase to twenty-one.

 

Mr Speaker, in 2018, the Government’s initial plan was to commission an additional twenty toll stations on some of the roads that were under construction. However, because of the backlog of incomplete toll stations from the 2017 Plan, there will be a need for the Government to revise its plans. The delay has mainly been caused by the funding challenges which have affected the completion of the roads on which the toll stations are earmarked to be constructed.

 

Sir, as the hon. Members of this august House and the general public may have noticed, the Government has been constructing toll stations of varying architectural designs, depending on the commercial viability of the roads on which the facilities are situated.

 

Sir, on the more commercially viable roads with high traffic volumes, the Government has been constructing the more conventional toll stations equipped with unit fare displays, vehicle recognition devices, enhanced security features, office accommodation and other auxiliary infrastructure.

 

On the other hand, Mr Speaker, on roads that have medium to low traffic volumes, economic efficiency requires that the Government erects the simplified model of barrier, gate and booth type of toll station to maximise on the revenue collection through reduced operational costs.

 

Sir, I wish to inform the House that revenue collection under the Road Tolling Programme in 2018 has improved compared to the previous years. For instance, in the first quarter of 2017, the total revenue collected stood at K132,481,277.27 compared to a total collection in the same quarter in 2018 of K186,306,686.65. This is on account of an increase in the toll collections at some stations as well as ports of entry.

 

Mr Speaker, I also wish to note that the ports of entry contributed more revenue amounting to K97,550,211.13 in the first quarter of 2017 compared to K34,931,066.14 from the inland toll stations in the same period. The trend was similar in the first quarter of 2018 with the ports of entry contributing K118,572,726.77 compared to K67,733,959.88 from the inland toll stations.

 

As the Government continues the implementation of road construction, rehabilitation and maintenance projects, it will ensure that more focus is given to the roads that are contributing to the revenue collection so that the motorists who are paying the toll fees can get value for their money.

 

Mr Speaker, in the same spirit, the Government will continue implementing discount measures to mitigate against frequent and local road users residing within the 10 km radius …

 

Mr Kampyongo: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: … paying high toll facility fees. The criteria for qualifications have been well published and we urge those beneficiaries who may not be fully conversant with the criteria to visit our offices or the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) for more information.

 

Sir, in conclusion, I wish to state that the Government, under the leadership of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, will …

 

Mr Kampyongo: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: … continue with its commitment to maintain the roads using different financing mechanisms. The Road Tolling Programme is one of the key and most sustainable mechanisms that are available. The Government will, therefore, ensure that the administrative systems that have been put in place are improved to achieve more efficiency.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Hear, hear!

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the statement given by the hon. Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development.

 

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Minister for that wonderful statement.

 

Mr Livune: Question!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Michelo: Sir, we, as Zambians, are heavily taxed. I have noticed that the hon. Minister has raised so much money in the previous years that when I calculate, I think, he has mentioned more than K3.4 billion was raised, yet there is nothing much which is happening on our roads.

 

Sir, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is ruling the Zambian people in a costly fashion. My question is: Why is the Government failing to work on the Mazabuka/Kafue Road, Monze/Mazabuka Road and Monze/Niko Road when it is making huge amounts of money? Can the hon. Minister give us a straightforward answer.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I want to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Bweengwa for the earlier part of the statement where he commended us and even for the latter part.

 

Sir, this Government has not failed to work on Turnpike/Mazabuka/Monze Road. On Friday last week, we had a meeting with the hon. Minister of Finance in which we agreed to discontinue the pothole patching, but opted to carry out full road rehabilitation …

 

Ms Chonya: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: … from Turnpike to Monze.

 

Mr Speaker, the procurement process has advanced. Our partners, the African Development Bank (AfDB), who are part of the funders, gave us a no objection. The people of Mazabuka and Monze will soon see a contractor on site to carry out full road rehabilitation from Turnpike to Monze. We have a unique contractor who has been awarded to carry out the works on the Monze/Namwala Road, which the hon. Member has talked about, except we, as a Government, scaled down because we wanted to ensure that we raised revenue which would support the completion of the road project. I, therefore, want to assure the people of Monze that the road will be worked on and completed during the tenure of the leadership of the Patriotic Front (PF).

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker. 

 

Dr Kambwili: Question!

 

Mr Jere (Livingstone): Mr Speaker, in his statement, the hon. Minister gave us a break down of how the monies to rehabilitate the roads have been utilised. Would he be kind enough to tell us the roads which have been rehabilitated.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, currently, road maintenance works are being carried out between Kazungula and Sesheke. This is one of the road projects which is benefiting from the money that the Government is raising from the Road Tolling Programme. Pothole patching has also been carried out between Turnpike and Mazabuka, but has since been converted into full road rehabilitation. A number of roads are being constructed in Lusaka and in the North-Western Province. The works on the Chingola/Solwezi Road are at 90 per cent completion. Therefore, I can cite a number of roads that are being worked on.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Congestion!

 

Mr Chitotela: Sir, using the funding that is coming from the Road Tolling Programme, the township roads in Mwinilunga are being worked on as well.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo): Mr Speaker, in his synopsis of the background, the hon. Minister has given us the figures of the amounts raised from the Road Tolling Programme year by year. He also said that the money that has been realised is meant for the construction, maintenance and rehabilitation of roads. The hon. Minister also said that to date, the Government has raised K2.2 billion. I would like to find out from him whether the money for maintenance, rehabilitation and construction is exclusively limited to the trunk roads mainly in the urban areas or the areas that he has mentioned. Is there any portion of the money within what he has outlined that is specifically used to rehabilitate and construct roads in the rural areas so as to promote agriculture production? Is there any plan to that effect?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, yes, Mwinilunga Township roads are not in the urban area because Mwinilunga is part of rural Zambia.

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Feeder roads!

 

Mr Chitotela: Sir, the Act which I read is very clear. It states only three categories of the usage of the money which is collected from the Road Tolling Programme, that is, road rehabilitation, maintenance and construction. I also confirmed that the money has been spent on two different categories, that is, road rehabilitation and road maintenance. I have affirmed that part of the roads we are rehabilitating using this funding are the township roads in Mwinilunga, which are not part of the trunk road. One of the trunk roads being worked on is the road from Livingstone to Sesheke. At the moment, the contractor is on site and is working.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development, as I have understood the question, it is asking if you are also able to extend these resources to rehabilitating feeder roads.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, there are a number of roads under procurement and they will be funded through the Road Tolling Programme.

 

I thank you, Sir.  

 

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that those who stay within the radius of 10 km of the toll gates pay less. I would like to find out from him the type of apparatus the revenue collectors are using to determine that the distance where people live from the toll gates is a radius of 10 km.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the criteria used are the circulation of forms to be filled out by road users and also the sensitisation of the communities that live within the radius of 10 km on the need to register. Immediately their vehicles are registered, they are captured.

 

Sir, I know some hon. Members within this House who live near Shimabala area and have qualified for the local user discount. I am not looking at you, Hon. Gary Nkombo. I am just saying that there are some hon. Members in this House who live near Shimabala and have qualified for the local user discount.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I have been very busy trying to place this gadget in order for me to ask a question to a point where I even thought it was malfunctioning. So, I am comforted to see that it is not malfunctioning. However, while busy trying to make this gadget work, I heard my name being mentioned, including my P O Box, my residential address. Going by the fact that some of us are endangered species, …

 

Laughter

 

Mr Nkombo: … as we are sought after by his own (hon. Minister’s) party, I am sure you recall how they came here looking for my blood outside the gate when I wanted to impeach His Excellency the President, –

 

Laughter

 

Mr Nkombo: Is he in order to start giving my P O Box on public radio so that they can have easy access to me …

 

Laughter

 

Mr Nkombo: … when they want me?

 

I need your serious ruling, Mr Speaker.

 

 Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Well! I think I need to have recourse to those details complained about. So, for that reason, I reserve my ruling.

 

Brig-Gen. Sitwala (Kaoma Central): Sir, given the huge amounts which the hon. Minister has given to this House and the country at large, and the bad state of the Nkeyema/Kaoma Road, on behalf of the people of Nkeyema and in particular those in Kaoma, I would like to find out when we will benefit from the monies being raised from the toll gates.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, as you get to Nkeyema and Kaoma, there is a section of the road that is badly damaged because of heavy traffic. Therefore, the Government is contemplating embarking on serious road rehabilitation from Mumbwa. At the moment, part of the funding that is coming from tolling is going towards the construction of the Kafue Bridge after Mumbwa, as you go to the Western Province.

 

Mr Speaker, I have had a discussion with the questioner, and I have assured him that before the end of this year, we will see serious works on the Mongu Road being embarked on. I agree with him that the road has been in a deplorable state for some time. So, we, as a ministry, are mopping all the funding and will rehabilitate the road in-house, that is, within the Road Development Agency (RDA). Our people from the Western Province should benefit not just by having a bridge, but also by having that portion of the road attended to.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Siwanzi (Nakonde): Mr Speaker, I appreciate the idea of the toll plazas generating revenue for the rehabilitation of roads. However, when will the Government provide a weighbridge facility in Nakonde? What is happening now is that the truckers from Tanzania are avoiding the Great North Road, which is dilapidated, and are using Mbala Road, through Luapula, without passing through a weighbridge. Our roads are getting damaged and we will lose money by having them repaired. Therefore, when will the Government provide this facility in Nakonde so that we protect our roads?

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to announce to the people of Muchinga and Nakonde, in particular, that their Government has awarded a road rehabilitation contract to two companies, namely China State Construction Engineering Corporation and China Railway Seventh Group. They will rehabilitate the Great North Road from Nakonde up to Chinsali in two lots. We hope the contractor will be on site before the end of July or August, 2018. The contract for rehabilitating the Nakonde/Chinsali Road includes the construction of a weighbridge. The Government noted the need to control the traffic that will move on this road after it has been rehabilitated. I want to assure the hon. Member of Parliament that the contract for the rehabilitation of the Nakonde/Chinsali/Mbala Turn-off includes a 10 km dual carriageway and construction of a weighbridge.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mukumbuta (Senanga Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said the toll plaza between Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi, which is one of the first toll plazas in this country, is at 60 per cent completion, and that the contract was terminated. The motorists who are using that great road have suffered enough by using that bypass road which is pathetic. It has potholes and is so dusty that it has become a public nuisance. What is the name of the contractor who was contracted to work on this road? Can the hon. Minister give us more details on what happened.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the name of the contractor who was awarded the contract to construct a toll plaza between Kabwe and Kapiri Mposhi is Nzovu Transport. The contract expired, and then he sought an extension which we gave him. However, he could not perform, thus, we terminated the contract. 

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, Kazungula is one of the great contributors to that huge amount of money that the hon. Minister has mentioned. All those big trucks pass through Kazungula, but he is failing to work on our 15 km road network in Kazungula Town. It is disappointing to be on the Kazungula side –

 

 Mr Speaker: Order!

 

What is your question?

 

Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, why is he failing to work on a 15 km road network in Kazungula Central Business District (CBD)?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the Government is not failing. At the moment, it is building the district and accommodation infrastructure in Kazungula. Once that is done, it will get back to the township roads and see how many kilometres can be worked on. How do we begin with township roads before putting up the required infrastructure for the people of Kazungula? 

 

Mr Livune: Question!

 

Mr Chitotela: So, the Government has started with the first things first and will later go to the road sector.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kufakwandi (Sesheke Central): Mr Speaker, the Road Tolling Programme is ongoing and the hon. Minister has reported that a lot of money is being collected. According to his estimation, can he assure this House and, through it, the nation that the resources that will be raised through the toll gates when the tolling programme for the entire country is completed will be sufficient to take care of road maintenance in this country? Our people are complaining about being taxed heavily.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, Zambia is made up of 750,000 sq. m². We cannot say that just one source of revenue, the tolling, will be enough to cater for all the road needs in Zambia because even currently, the K2.2 billion that has been raised from the tolling is just part of the Government’s contribution to road construction, road rehabilitation and road maintenance. So, the needs are many. That is why this Government thought that it should begin creating internal capacity so that it can slowly start financing its programmes and projects. The people of Zambia must be assured that the money that is coming from the Road Tolling Programme is part of the larger amount that goes into road maintenance and road rehabilitation.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: I know that this is a very topical subject, and it covers virtually every inch of the country but, at some point, there must be a closure. We will proceed as follows: I will have the hon. Member for Luena, the hon. Member for Milenge, the hon. Member for Mkushi South, the hon. Member for Namwala, the hon. Member for Mangango, the hon. Member for Lufwanyama, and, then, I will close with the hon. Member for Lupososhi.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: I am following what is on the screen.

 

Mr Kundoti (Luena): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister –

 

Mr Sing’ombe: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Mr Speaker, thank you very much. May I apologise to my colleague who was just about to ask a question.

 

Mr Speaker, as I was coming to this House, I noticed that our Zambian National Flag is hoisted lower here at Parliament. I want to know what is happening in these grounds that has necessitated the lowering of our flag?

 

Mr Speaker: Sorry, I want to be clear on what you mean by “lowering”. What do you mean?

 

Interruptions

 

 

Mr Sing’ombe: It is flying at almost half mast.

 

Mr Speaker: Almost.

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Almost.

 

Mr Speaker: I will reserve my ruling. I need to establish the facts.

 

The hon. Member for Luena may continue.

 

Mr Kundoti: Mr Speaker, as a representative of the people of Luena Parliamentary Constituency, I have been assured on the Floor of this House, on several occasions, that the road to the wonderful palace of the Litunga, from Mongu to Limulunga, will be rehabilitated. To date, no works have been carried out on that road. Could the hon. Minister tell the people of Luena Parliamentary Constituency and I when that road will be rehabilitated.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, before we proceed, I am concerned about the nature of questions that are being posed. The statement by the hon. Minister was very specific. He was addressing the Road Tolling Programme. Of course, he mentioned that the functional purpose of the whole programme is to fund maintenance and construction of roads. However, I do not think that this should be the occasion for us to begin exploring each and every road that we think ought to be attended to. I do not think that is proper and fair.

 

Mr Mbulakulima (Milenge): Mr Speaker, I have observed that wherever these toll plazas are constructed, ...

 

Mr Livune: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: Let me make a point now. In order to make progress, I am not entertaining any more points of order.

 

You may continue, hon. Member for Milenge Parliamentary Constituency.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mbulakulima: ... there is more than beauty added. The towns become new all together and it is fantastic. However, when I go to my province, Luapula, via the Congo/Pedicle Road, I find a ramshackle kind of plaza as I enter the province and the same structure is found when I use the Tuta Road to Samfya/Mansa. One has to get out of his/her car to pay the toll fees and that inconveniences motorists, especially during the rainy season. When will we have proper toll plazas in Luapula Province, in line with what our colleagues have received?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the reason Luapula Province seems to have a toll plaza of a different architectural design is the volume of traffic that passes through it. Economically −

 

Mr Mwamba: Question!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Chitotela: I will come to that.

 

The conventional toll plaza will cost between K50 million and K100 million, which is about US$10 million. A simplified toll plaza will cost between K5 million and K20 million, which is relatively cheaper. Therefore, we look at maximising the revenue collection so that we can invest the money back into road rehabilitation. I understand the desire to have things that grow the economy. As a ministry, we think that once we open up these areas for economic activities, there will be a need for us to upgrade the infrastructure that we put up under the Road Tolling Programme because that will enhance security and collection of fees.

 

Mr Speaker, with conventional toll plazas, it is possible to monitor the way fees are collected by those charged with that responsibility from the office. Furthermore, there is very little human interference as compared to the simplified one, such as the one in Luapula Province. We are hoping that as economic activities increase in Luapula Province, we should have a conventional toll plaza constructed on one of the major roads in that region.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Mr Speaker, the construction of toll plazas is one mechanism of raising the employment levels in this country, and Munyumbi is not an exception. The hon. Minister has indicated that Munyumbi Toll Plaza is in the procurement process in order to complete the remaining 40 per cent. When will the procurement process be completed and when are we likely to have the contractor on site?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we hope that all the procurement processes will be finalised by the end of this quarter. When that is done, we will see the contractor back on site.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, I must say that I am disappointed by the casual manner in which the hon. Minister has responded to the question concerning the Turnpike/Mazabuka Road and the Monze/Namwala Road which are eyesores. The hon. Minister stated that these roads would be worked on within the tenure of office of the Patriotic Front (PF). Could he be serious enough and state when the works on these two roads will commence.

 

Mr Livune: That is right.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, works on the Namwala/Niko Road commenced in 2013. Works on the Turnpike/Mazabuka/Monze Road will commence as soon as all procurement processes are completed. I just said that we received a no objection from our partner, the AfDB, which is partly funding this project. Shortcuts will not be taken in any of the processes. It is hoped that all procurement processes will be completed before the end of this year so that the full road rehabilitation works can commence. However, the works on the Monze/Niko Road started in 2013.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mwene (Mangango): Mr Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to ask a question. The K2.2 billion raised from the toll plazas is quite a huge amount. Looking at the works on the Kafue Hook Bridge on the Lusaka/Kaoma/Mongu Road, one would realise that they have stalled. Has the entire K2.2 billion been spent or there is something that has remained?

 

Mr Speaker: You always find a way to get round these positions.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the K2.2 billion has all been spent. However, we collect money every day from toll plazas. Therefore, we have money that has been collected from the toll plazas which will go into Control 99, as provided for in the Public Finance Management Act. Later, the money goes to the road spending agency which also disburses money to contractors. The contractor working on that bridge is China Hainan. The Government has been very consistent in funding that bridge project. I will sit down with my staff and inquire whether it is true that the contractor is not working on the Kafue Hook Bridge.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Fungulwe (Lufwanyama): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has stated that more toll plazas have been constructed countrywide and that more revenue is being collected. There are some roads whose construction was initiated during the campaigns in 2016, Lufwanyama is one of them. However, works on this road were abandoned along the way. The hon. Minister has mentioned that his ministry has collected a lot of money since 2014 and the people of Lufwanyama Parliamentary Constituency have heard about the amount of money which the Government has collected thus far. Therefore, what made the Government the abandon works on this road? When will it work on that road so that a toll gate can be constructed on it and help broaden the revenue base?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, as you earlier guided, the statement was on the status of the Road Tolling Programme in Zambia. I am aware that a statement on the status of the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project has also been deposited. This statement will deal with the status of each road in Zambia, if there are road projects which have stalled, why that is the case and what plans and programmes the Government is coming up with to ensure that all those seemingly stalled projects are completed. At the time the ministerial statement is presented, the Kalengwa/Lufwanyama Road will be dealt with.

 

If I go on to say when the works on the road project will start, another person will stand up to say, “Even works on my road project have stalled” and I will eventually veer off the Road Tolling Programme. With your permission, Mr Speaker, when the ministerial statement on the status of the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project is presented, I will be able to deal with the question on why the works on that road project have stalled and what programmes the Government has put in place to ensure that it makes that road accessible.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, I would like to inform the hon. Minister that the Road Tolling Programme is a very good innovation which gives hope that roads will be maintained going forward. The figures that the hon. Minister has given are quite encouraging and huge. I know that the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) is under the Ministry of Finance and, therefore, I want to believe that those figures are confirmed by the Ministry of Finance. How well is the hon. Minister collaborating with the Ministry of Finance in ensuring that the system being used is not collapsing, thereby inconveniencing motorists?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we are collaborating very well and that is why if you checked the Road Tolls Act, you would realise that road tolling and road maintenance are the responsibility of the Road Development Agency (RDA). Since we, as a Government, collaborate very well, I appointed the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA) as a lead toll agent to collect the inland tolling while the Road Traffic and Safety Agency (RTSA) has also been appointed as a lead toll agent for all port of entry areas. The RDA has retained the power to collect fees on all weighbridges. This is a serious collaboration and the law provides that any public funds that are collected be deposited into Control 99 within forty-eight hours for proper accountability. The staff have been cautioned and commanded to ensure that money does not stay in their jurisdiction for more than forty-eight hours.

 

Mr Speaker, the reason forty-eight hours has been given in the Statutory Instrument (SI) I signed is that the weekends were taken into consideration. When the money is collected, it is deposited in Control 99 and thereafter, the hon. Minister of Finance consolidates and transfers this money to the NRFA for onward transmission to contractors that are engaged in road rehabilitation and maintenance. So, there is a strong collaboration.

 

Mr Speaker, even last time, I stated that the hon. Minister of Finance is the Chairperson of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) while the hon. Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development is the deputy. The hon. Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development is the Chairperson of Infrastructure Development and the hon. Minister of Finance is the deputy. So, there is very strong collaboration between the two institutions. People cannot even tell whether the NRFA falls under the Ministry of Finance or the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development because its role is to account for the money that is collected from road programmes in order for us to sustainably fund the road projects in Zambia.

 

Mr Speaker, I would like to assure the hon. Member of Parliament for Lupososhi that this Government collaborates well. Ministries do not do things in isolation. They work as a team. The hon. Minister of Transport and Communication can question how much the RTSA has raised from the port of entry and the hon. Minister of Finance would be able to confirm and give us information in order to consolidate and ensure that we do not give different information. We, as a Government, speak with one language and with one voice. I want to re-confirm that, indeed, we do collaborate very well with the hon. Minister responsible for the Treasury in Zambia.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

_______

 

QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

ANTI-RETROVIRAL TREATMENT

 

284. Mr C. Zulu (Luangeni) asked the Minister of Health:

 

(a)     whether the Government has the capacity to provide Anti-Retroviral Treatment to a massively increased number of people that may be found to be HIV positive following the introduction of the mandatory HIV Testing, Counselling and Treatment Policy;

 

(b)     if not, whether there are any co-operating partners ready to support the policy financially; and

 

(c)     if so, who the partners are.

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Mr Speaker, I must state from the outset that the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, launched –

 

Mr Livune: Question!

 

Dr Chilufya: I will repeat, the President of the Republic of Zambia, …

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Chilufya: … His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, made a policy pronouncement shifting from the passive Volunteering Counselling and Testing to the routine Human Immuno-deficiency Virus (HIV) Testing, Counselling and Treatment Policy in August, 2017. Yes, this has seen a significant spike in the number of people who are testing and being initiated on treatment. Specifically, we have seen a 20 per cent increase in the number of people testing and 4 per cent increase in the treatment uptake. In terms of the acceptance of same-day initiation of treatment for those who test positive, it is above 80 per cent. The Government has the capacity to provide Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) for all these people.

 

Mr Speaker, it is estimated that there are 1.2 million people living with the human immuno-deficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Since the programme started in December, 2017, approximately, 860,000 people were initiated on treatment. This translates into almost 340,000 people who are currently living with HIV, but may not know their status. We have the capacity to initiate these 340,000 people on treatment.

 

Mr Speaker, it is important to note that the Government’s capacity is an aggregation of what it puts in and what donors have put in. So, the donors that the Government works with include the United States of America (USA) Government, through its various implementing agencies, the Global Fund on HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB), the United Nations (UN) family, through the United Nations Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (UNAIDS), the World Health Organisation (WHO) and other United Nations (UN) agencies.

 

Mr Speaker, the USA Government is the biggest donor to the health sector and its support, through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and various USA funded projects, has seen millions of lives of Zambians being saved.

 

Mr Speaker, I want to reassure the nation that all resources needed to manage the HIV infected patients are available and we anticipate to add 160,000 more patients on ART in the next one year. The Ministry of Health has duly planned and quantified this number, including those who are currently on treatment.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Dr Kambwili (Roan): Mr Speaker, the Anti-Retroviral Treatment (ART) Drugs are fast moving because they are on high demand. In the recent past, we heard that the Government lost colossal sums of money on drugs that had expired. May I find out from the hon. Minister what actually transpired. Where was the problem? Was it at the hospitals or at Medical Stores? Where was the delay that caused the loss of close to K1 million worth of drugs?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament for Roan for that very useful question.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the expiry of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs was reported in the Auditor-General’s Report for 2015/2016. When evidence was adduced that there were molecules that were more efficacious to treat HIV/AIDS, the WHO changed the regimen for ARV drugs to treat HIV positive patients. That demanded a shift in the policy of the drugs to be used to treat patients in Zambia.

 

Sir, we had already procured or planned for procurement of other drugs in the previous regimen. In view of the new evidence that informed the policy shift, it was mandatory for Zambia to be aligned to the WHO decree for the shift in the treatment regimen. Therefore, the drugs that were bought earlier could not be used in the face of the current evidence and that is what led to their expiry in 2015/2016.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr C. Zulu: Mr Speaker, is it true that there is a new drug on the market and that when one takes it for two weeks, his/her status improves greatly?

 

Mr Speaker: With reluctance, the hon. Minister of Health may respond to that.

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, yes, evidence has been adduced that there is a newer molecule that will reduce the viral load to undetectable levels within two weeks. The drug is called Dolutegravir. It comes as a combination called Tenofovir Disoproxil Fumarate with Lamivudine (TLD) and Dolutegravir.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: This is the information that was asked for and I am now giving it.

 

Mr Speaker, there is a new drug and Zambia has commenced the transition to it. Already, the first consignment has been received. The big difference is that the new drug will ensure viral load suppression within two weeks while the drugs we are currently using will attain the same viral load suppression within three to six months. Therefore, it is a significant shift in the management of HIV/AIDS. The transition is being managed to avoid the expiry of drugs, as it happened the last time.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I would like to remind the House that supplementary questions should relate primarily to Question 284. Please, consult the Question, otherwise, if you move on to a new subject, I will just discount your question. In short, I will simply ignore it on the basis of the rule of relevance.

 

Mr Sampa (Kasama Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out the policy of the Government, especially concerning people who live in the rural settings and have no direct access to medical care. What sort of policies has the ministry put in place to ensure that these people have access to medical facilities, considering that a new drug has been introduced on the market and most of them cannot access it because they have no access to clinics within their reach?

 

Mr Speaker: Let me repeat. Question 284: To ask the Minister of Health:

 

1. whether the Government has the capacity to provide anti-retroviral treatment to a massively increased number of people that may be found to be HIV positive following the introduction of the mandatory HIV Testing, Counselling and Treatment policy;

 

1. if not, whether there are any co-operating partners ready to support the policy financially; and

 

1.  if so, who the partners are.

 

Laughter

 

Ms Chonya (Kafue): Mr Speaker, indeed, the question is whether the Government has the capacity to provide anti-retroviral treatment (ART) to the people. If so, does it have adequate systems to help account for the anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs and, indeed, other drugs so that they are not pilfered, as we read in yesterday’s the News Diggers on what happened at Kafue General Hospital?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, while I may not comment on the article in the News Diggers over what happened at Kafue General Hospital, as this is subject to investigation, I would like to confirm that the Government has invested in robust health systems and one of the fundamental pillars is the supply chain system. Therefore, this robust system starts with proper forecasting and quantification, efficient procurement, storage and distribution. The Government has also invested in electronic programmes in order to manage its supply chain to increase visibility of stock at the frontline.

 

Sir, we, as a Government, have multi-sectoral teams that ensure on-the-spot checks at various levels of the supply chain to ensure that there is no leakage. The Government has also put in place integrity committees at its various levels of service delivery to ensure that it upholds the utmost standards of conducting the supply chain.

 

Mr Speaker, recently, I launched the new Whistleblower Policy and another code of conduct policy document for staff at the Medical Stores Limited. All this is meant to ensure security for public health commodities. Therefore, I would like to assure the hon. Members that we have increased volumes of drugs and have invested in better systems to ensure commodity security in the supply chain.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: I will take the last batch of questions as follows: the hon. Member for Mitete, the hon. Member for Kaputa, the hon. Member for Kantanshi, the hon. Member for Chienge, the hon. Member for Lukulu East, the hon. Member for Kamfinsa and the hon. Member for Kanchibiya.

 

Mr Mutelo (Mitete): Mr Speaker, according to the hon. Minister, the number of those who have been tested has massively increased because of routine testing. An apparatus is used to ascertain whether one is positive or negative and we are made to understand that one can test negative at one clinic or health centre and test positive at another. Is the apparatus being used to test the people of the same standard?

 

Mr Speaker: I can see that the hon. Member has been very careful and has the question in front of him.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, before we, as a Government, unleash any commodity onto the market, we ensure to undertake a quality control test. Therefore, we have robust systems that assure quality of any products that go on the markets, including the test kits. So, we do not expect varying results from one centre to another. We have a standard algorithm for testing. For instance, it is specified what to use in step one and step two of the process. If one is negative in step one, he/she does not go to the next confirmatory step. If one is positive, he/she goes to the next step for confirmation. The results one gets from one clinic are results he/she will get at the next clinic.

 

Therefore, I want to assure the hon. Member of Parliament that what he is saying is more hypothetical than real because it does not happen. We have highly sensitive and specific test kits that pick out HIV 1 and HIV 2.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, my question is on both the Government capacity and our co-operating partners. The information available is that the anti-retroviral (ARVs) treatment is majorly supported by our co-operating partners, such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund. I would like to find out from him when we will see Zambia totally owning the financing of this particular programme in the near future so that our people do not worry about somebody out there either cancelling or reducing support to this country.

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, indeed, sustainability is important for this programme. Like I have always said, in the Government’s quest to strengthen health systems, it has also primarily focused on health care financing. The main strategy is to increase domestic funding to the health sector. This is the reason a law to introduce social health insurance was passed.

 

Secondly, even the amount of money that has been put in the budget for ARVs has increased over the years. For instance, in the last budget, we saw a 56 per cent increment in that cost centre for ARVs. So, clearly, the Government is making its statement of intent by increasing the allocation every budget that comes.

 

Thirdly, Sir, through innovative healthcare financing, the ministry is slowly reaching the figures that it had planned on spending on this programme.

 

Sir, I want to assure the hon. Member that the Government is fully conscious that this programme, even if it is supported by donors today, requires to be sustained through a robust domestic financing programme.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr A. C. Mumba (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the Government for its aggressive position on the fight against the human immuno-deficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS).

 

Sir, mine is a rider to the systems that the hon. Minister said had enabled the situation to normalise. Does the Government consider setting up its own manufacturing plant so that we can improve on research and also be the suppliers of anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs in the region?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, when His Excellency the President opened Parliament, he made a statement that the Government would support local manufacturing of drugs. This principally involves two routes. Firstly, the PPP, where the Government partners with the private sector come up with certain manufacturing plants and assures the market. Secondly, where the Government just encourages the private sector to set up plants and supports them by procuring from them.

 

Sir, we have made progress in the sense that in the last one year, we have seen three new manufacturing plants being put up by the private sector. This year, we will see the first ARVs being manufactured in this country by the private sector. Therefore, we are encouraging local manufacturing of drugs because it makes the management of the framework contracts of procurement of drugs much easier.

 

Mr Speaker, the Government is also engaged in discussions with various partners that want to invest in a model where they will build a manufacturing plant and hand over to the Government for it to continue the production of drugs. However, that is at a premature stage for it to be mentioned.

 

Therefore, Mr Speaker, yes, we have put in place measures to ensure that local manufacturing of ARVs is on a scorecard.

 

Mr Speaker. I thank you.

 

Ms Katuta (Chienge): Mr Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to shade more light on the issue of the expired drugs. In his answer, he said that the expiration was caused by a policy shift necessitated by the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) change of regimen for ARV drugs. So, I want to find out from him who bore the cost for the expired drugs that Zambia had been keeping.

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, when drugs expire, they have to be disposed of. Using resources from the Treasury, the Zambia Medicine Regulatory Authority (ZMRA) is supported in the disposal of these drugs in a manner that does not put the public at any risk. Therefore, the expense of disposing of drugs in a manner that protects the public is borne by the Government.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, I would like to ride on the fact that as Members, we have also been allowed to seek clarification on the Floor of this House based on the information that is given by an hon. Minister.

 

Mr Speaker: That is how I allowed the question from the hon. Member of Parliament Chienge.

 

Dr Kalila: Exactly. Thank you for that.

 

Therefore, my question is basically on the transition that we are making to newer molecules that are more efficacious and also reduce the pill burden, as this new molecule is professed to do. I would like to find out whether the hon. Minister is able to give a comment on the cost, per person per year, of these new molecules as compared to the current drugs. Is it likely to be cheaper than what we are using now or not?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the Joint United Nations Programme on the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (UNAIDS) has led a campaign to ensure that these drugs are sold at a cheaper price to countries that are in need. At the moment, we have seen that the cost may be slightly higher, but not significantly so. All those aspects have been considered in the quantification and costing.

 

However, Sir, the critical thing is that the cost that should have been much higher has been reduced significantly at much closer to what is obtaining for the other drugs because of the economies of scale. UNAIDS has committed that many countries will buy in huge quantities so that they benefit from the economies of scale and get the drugs at a lower price. So, there is no significant increase in the cost.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, to ensure that people who seek medical attention from private health facilities do not miss out on mandatory testing, has this testing been extended to them and is there compliance?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, routine testing, counselling and treatment is a national policy and it is supposed to be compulsorily practiced in all health facilities. So, it is a public health policy and it is expected that the private and public sectors will implement it as pronounced in the new policy of routine testing, counselling and treatment.

 

Sir, I would like to emphasise that it is routine testing, counselling and treatment as opposed to mandatory.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: At this juncture, I would like to revert to the point of order raised by the hon. Member for Dundumwezi regarding the fact that some of our flags in the precincts of Parliament are still flying at half-mast. This is regrettable because, in fact, they should have been fully hoisted. I am informed that the reason is that the line ministry, which is responsible for supplying us with hydraulic lifts, has not been responding to our calls on time. However, remedial measures are being taken to ensure that we normalise the situation.

 

That is my ruling.

 

_______

 

MOTIONS

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON YOUTH, SPORT AND CHILD MATTERS

 

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Youth, Sport and Child Matters for the Second Session of the Twelfth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on 19^th June, 2018.

 

Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Ms O. M. Phiri (Nyimba): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, your Committee, in line with its terms of reference as specified in the Standing Orders, undertook a study on youth unemployment in Zambia, a topic which I must emphasise is critical to the development of our country.

 

Sir, I must state that the report tackles one of the most serious challenges that Zambia faces and I am confident that all of us in this country are committed to tackling it, contributing from various perspectives, as policymakers, lawmakers or even human resource practitioners.

 

Sir, allow me to state from the outset that it is clear that Zambia’s growth and prosperity is predicated upon her greatest asset, her people. In this regard, Zambia’s youthful demographic should be harnessed as an asset and not a burden. This is why Zambia’s first priority should be to ensure that the country is a place where her young people can flourish and actualise their potential and that it is a place of positive prospects for all. Without that, Zambia’s future will be bleak and we will do ourselves a disservice.

 

Mr Speaker, this crisis of youth unemployment has taken a major toll on our economy and society in general. Young people are bearing an inordinate burden due to the unprecedented rates of unemployment with only precarious and low-income work available, if at all.

 

Sir, to illustrate the magnitude of the problem, allow me to give the House a few statistics relating to youth unemployment in Zambia. Hon. Members may be interested in knowing that the youth constitute over 70 per cent of our population. According to the Central Statistical Office (CSO), the 2017 Quarterly Labour Force Survey revealed that out of 1,900,000 unemployed citizens in Zambia, 1,200,000 or 77 per cent were youths.

 

Against this background, it is not far-fetched to imagine that these high numbers of economically frustrated unemployed youths might cause instability in the nation if nothing is done to address their plight. Mr Speaker, we could possibly be sitting on a time bomb.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me now to highlight a few, but key observations your Committee made arising from its deliberations. The first observation made was on the lack of capacity by the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development to manage the Youth Development Fund (YDF). It was also worrying to note that the ministry had no presence at district level, a situation which greatly hampered the development, co-ordination and monitoring of youth programmes in the country.

 

Sir, further, your Committee observed that the fund was biased towards the youth in the urban communities at the expense of those in rural areas. Your Committee was perplexed to learn from stakeholders that some of the beneficiaries in the communities were not even known or worse still could be ghost beneficiaries.

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Miyutu: Additionally, some of these beneficiaries were chosen on partisan lines.

 

Sir, your Committee strongly recommends that the Government considers decentralising the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development to district level as a matter of urgency. This will help to improve monitoring and co-ordination of programmes under its mandate.

 

Sir, your Committee is also of the view that the Government consider decentralising the YDF to district level and also that a special purpose vehicle be established to manage the fund in the most prudent and efficient way so that it can fully benefit youths throughout the country. It is the view of your Committee that this will also eradicate political interference in the management of the fund.

 

Sir, your Committee further recommends that a separate ministry to look into the plight of youths be established. This way, the country will have a more focused approach to fighting youth related challenges. The arrangement where the youth portfolio is in the same ministry as sport and child development leaves much to be desired as there is not much focus on issues affecting the youths.

 

Mr Speaker, the other issue your Committee observed was that Zambia has no programmes and institutions to create a pathway for new entrants into the world of work and job market. If not addressed, the situation may worsen and result in a widened gap in the mismatch between skills produced and institutions of higher learning and the skills demanded by industries. Your Committee strongly urges the Government to expeditiously establish linkages between education institutions and various prospective employers in order to reduce the skills gap. The Government is also urged to expeditiously finalise the review of the Apprenticeship Act Cap 275 of the Laws of Zambia in order to regulate internships and placements in the country. Your Committee further recommends that the Government considers increasing its investment in the operationalisation of the revised curriculum framework.

 

Lastly, allow me, Sir, to address the issue of the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP). Your Committee is seriously concerned that youth unemployment has not been prioritised in the 7NDP, considering that the attainment of its goals will remain the Government’s priority in the next five years. Your Committee is concerned that if youth unemployment is not addressed, not much progress will be achieved in the 7NDP in terms of improving the living standards of the majority of Zambians during the period in which it is to be implemented.

 

Your Committee, therefore, urges the Government to align the Youth Action Plan with the National Development Plan as a matter of priority. The Government must also urgently consider amending the 7NDP to clearly include programmes for all youths as the current plan only mentions the less-privileged youths.

 

Mr Speaker, let me end by stating that we owe the Zambian youths today an opportunity to have decent work for a better livelihood. I beg to repeat. Let me end by stating that we owe the Zambian youths today an opportunity to have decent work for a better livelihood. Let us, therefore, work with determination and do everything possible to win the battle against youth unemployment and poverty. I am confident that, with continued political commitments, sufficient resources, and a strong resolve, we will attain the results we are all striving for. I, therefore, implore the Executive to be fully committed to the consistent release of the YDF. In this regard, I earnestly appeal to the Executive to take your Committee’s recommendations seriously and implement them expeditiously in the interest of our nation.

 

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, your Committee wishes to thank all stakeholders who appeared before it and tendered both oral and written submissions. Gratitude goes to you for your guidance to the Committee as it executed its mandate. Your Committee also appreciates the services rendered by the Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff during its deliberations and tours.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

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

 

Ms O. M. Phiri: Now, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this chance to second this Motion.

 

Mr Speaker, in seconding this Motion, the mover highlighted issues that were deliberated upon by your Committee. I feel honoured considering the importance of the occasion on which I must submit.

 

Sir, the mover of this Motion has ably articulated the views of your Committee on this Motion and I shall, therefore, only make a few comments on other issues that caught your Committee’s attention.

 

Mr Speaker, I will restrict myself to the findings of your Committee during the local tour. One issue over which your Committee was concerned was the recruitment done in the districts by both the private sector and public sector. Your Committee is saddened to learn that our local youths in the districts are sidelined during recruitments, which mainly results in most youths, especially in mines and Civil Service, being recruited from other provinces or districts. This has been worsened by the employment in the private sector of foreigners who take up even lower positions which could be taken up by local Zambians.

 

Mr Speaker, talking about the Public Service, this would have been progressive had there been equity in the recruitment exercises. The desirable is to have, at least, a greater number of local youths recruited while the supplement may come from other districts or provinces in line with the spirit of one Zambia, one nation. However, in most cases, the compared recruitments are biased towards those in the urban areas to those in rural areas. Your Committee strongly recommends that the Government consider enacting policies intended to empower local youths in various districts where companies operate, and that the policies clearly state in their provisions how the local youths will benefit, especially from recruitments.

 

Further, Mr Speaker, your Committee strongly recommends that the Government ensures that the process of decentralisation is expedited, and that it includes devolving the service commissions which only recruit centrally. Your Committee is of the view that this must be done because the current system only favours those close to Lusaka, being the headquarters of these commissions.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee also recommends that understudy programmes be strictly monitored and enforced in the private sector to reduce the number of foreigners working in the country for a long period without transferring skills to local Zambians. Your Committee also urges the Government to strengthen the local framework for the implementation of the Youth Employment Policy, especially as it relates to foreigners taking up jobs which can be taken up by the youths.

 

Sir, another issue which your Committee noted relates to youth resource centres and public institutions of higher learning in the districts. Your Committee observed that the construction of most of the youth resource centres is unfinished in most districts and that some needed complete reconstruction to give the full benefits intended. Your Committee is saddened by the state of affairs in most of these centres which were intended to give skills training to the youths in the district.

 

Furthermore, your Committee observed that the youths in the districts have no access to public institutions of higher learning, which also contributes to their losing out of the available jobs in the districts. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Government consider releasing enough funds to complete the construction of youth resource centres. It also recommends that the Government consider standardising the structures and stocking up equipment at each resource centre. Further, your Committee strongly urges the Government to consider building institutions of higher learning in all the districts to improve the status quo in the country.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to quote the Chinese proverb which states that:

 

“If you are planning for a year, sow rice, if you are planning for a decade, plant trees, if you are planning for a lifetime, educate the people.”

 

Sir, I also want to briefly comment on the utilisation of the Skills Development Fund (SDF). Your Committee observed that despite companies contributing to the SDF, the fund is not being used for its intended purpose, which disadvantages the youths. From the visitations to some institutions of higher learning during your Committee’s local tour, it is evident that the utilisation of the fund leaves much to be desired as no impact has been seen since its introduction. Your Committee strongly urges that the Government takes steps to ensure that the fund is utilised for its intended purpose. This will go a long way in improving skills development in a well co-ordinated way in colleges and other institutions of higher learning.

 

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, allow me to register my disappointment on the lack of action from the Executive in implementing your Committee’s recommendations. I wish to indicate that some of the issues your Committee is pursuing date back as far as six years ago and one wonders when they will be implemented.

 

Sir, does that suggest that the matters have been ignored or that the Executive is trying to undermine the oversight function of the Legislative arm of the Government? This question begs an answer. However, your Committee is grateful that, at least, 50 per cent of its recommendations made during the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly were adequately responded to. We can only hope the current report’s recommendations will exceed this mark.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to thank the House for its attention and your office and that of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the support rendered to your Committee.

 

Sir, I beg to second.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, thank you for according me the opportunity to debate the Report of the Committee on Youth, Sport and Child Matters. I would like to thank, most sincerely, the mover for ably moving the Motion and the seconder.

 

Sir, I would like to confine myself to the report of your Committee pertaining to the Youth Development Fund (YDF). I do not agree with the recommendation of your Committee that this particular fund be transferred to the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC).

 

Sir, it is my considered view that the practice that was obtaining under the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government was and still is the best option to ensure that our youths are funded in this country. I recall that under the MMD Government, every constituency was allocated equal funds for youth development. There was no segregation. I would, therefore, like to implore the Government to emulate the good practice that was implemented by the MMD Government. I would also like to urge the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development to ensure that the administration of this fund is decentralised to the constituencies. Each constituency should be allocated money for the YDF, which should be managed by a Youth Development Committee (YDC). The YDC in the constituency will determine the type of projects that will be undertaken in the particular constituency, and disbursements will be done the same way that they are being done for the Constituency Development Fund (CDF).

 

Mr Speaker, it is my considered view that all of us are agreeable with the fact that this particular fund must trickle down to the constituency. I do not see anyone in this House who does not want this particular fund to be made available at the constituency level. All of us are representing the youths in our constituencies.

 

Sir, whenever we get back to our constituencies, we are confronted with many problems affecting our youths. We are all aware that no employment opportunities have been created in the constituencies, and we tend to think that this is the only fund that can empower our youths. It is, therefore, my very strong recommendation that this fund must not just be decentralised as per recommendation of the Committee, but be decentralised to the constituency. I implore all my colleagues here to support my proposal.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I recall that during the reign of the MMD, we used to get equipment for agriculture purposes in the constituency, through the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development.

 

Mr Livune: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, I tend to think that was a very good gesture on the part of Government then. I have no doubt in my mind that if the ministry followed the good practices of the MMD at the time, many of our youths would benefit. I am aware that at one time, we were all given treadle pumps, ploughs and fishing nets for those who have water bodies in their areas, to give to our youths. The complaints that were coming from the youths minimised. I tend to think that we should always ensure that we do not discard good practices.

 

Mr Speaker, what is currently happening pertaining to the YDF is sad. This week, I read a report in which one of the hon. Ministers, who has a constituency on the Copperbelt, was boasting about his constituency having received K1.2 million as YDF and that the fund was in the account of the council. I have no doubt in my mind that my colleagues on the left will testify that none of us have received that fund.

 

Mr Nkombo: Not even one ngwee.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Why is the Government being discriminatory? The youths we represent are said to be the leaders of tomorrow. Why should we discriminate? We want to hear from the hon. Minister of Youths, Sport and Child Development the criteria that were used to ensure that other constituencies are given the YDF while others are denied? That is not the only constituency. We are aware that a number of our colleagues on your right, Mr Speaker, have been accorded the opportunity of receiving this fund.

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Why are we being discriminated against?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Question!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister for Lusaka Province was in the media boasting about his constituency having received the CDF. It is public knowledge. So, why are you saying, “Question”, when it is a fact?

 

Mr Mwiimbu: So, Mr Speaker, all that we are saying is that just as the youths in the constituencies of our colleagues demand this money, so are our youths are entitled to it. We are looking forward to seeing them receive it. As a result of the lack of funding, our youths are now being used as instruments of oppression, …

 

Hon. Members: Violence!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … atrocities and violence during elections.

 

Mr Muchima: Yes!

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, anyone who has money during elections will just go to the Intercity Bus Terminus and Chibolya to hire our youths.

 

Mr Muchima: Without employment.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, our colleagues on your right think that is employment.

 

Mr Muchima: Shame!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: We are damaging the future of our youths in this country. We must be focused and ensure that we provide for them.

 

Mr Muchima: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, at one time, I will not mention the name of the hon. Minister who was in charge of the youths then, it was ensured that street kids, as they were being called then, were removed from the streets, …

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … provided with training opportunities and jobs.

 

Mr Muchima: Yes!

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, we would like the hon. Members on your right to emulate …

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … the then hon. Minister …

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … who is also in this House, but serving in another capacity.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Muchima: Community Development and Social Welfare.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: At that time, it was very rare …

 

Mr Zimba: The hon. Member of Parliament for Mafinga!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: … to find street kids. However, now, it has become a common phenomenon. We find street kids on every street in Lusaka.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Uhmmm!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Some of them have graduated from being street kids to streets adults. Once a street kid graduates from being a child to an adult, he/she engages in heinous crimes. We are not surprised that these children who were street kids are now involved in organised crime because they have no other opportunity, but to engage in dangerous vices. We have to look at the root cause of the problems we are encountering in this country.

 

Dr Imakando: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: It is the responsibility of the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development to see to it that there is a panacea to the plight of the youths. Unfortunately, we are not doing much, yet it is our responsibility, as leaders in this House, to provide for the youths. One measure we can collectively agree on is the use of the YDF.

 

Mr Muchima: Yes!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Speaker, as I have proposed, the YDF must be constituency-based. This afternoon, I want all of us to make a difference by agreeing on one fundamental issue by voting that we create a youth empowerment fund that is constituency-based.

 

Mr Speaker, with those few remarks, I urge the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development to agree with me that the proposal I have made is good, not only for the youths in our constituencies, but also for the youths in his constituency.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: As we continue debating this particular report, please, note that its thrust is on youth unemployment in Zambia. I know that some of you may have read the report while some of you may not have read it, but still want to debate. 

 

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I also want to adopt the debate of my leader as my own. I will just delve into slightly deeper waters around this report.

 

Mr Speaker, you will recall that, in the last Meeting, the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development came here and was at pains to try to explain a fund that he had established. He first called it the Vendors Fund, I think, and when we quizzed him, he came up with another name for the fund the next day. Soon after that, we saw how the same glorified vendors were thrown out of the streets by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government.

 

Sir, your Committee, in my view, did a fantastic job in outlining, in the report,  the continental framework of laws that govern the issue of youth empowerment inter alia the African Charter, as a political and legal document serving to be a strategic tool to direct youth empowerment. Your Committee also quoted the Agenda 2063, the 28^th African Union Summit and its resolutions and the Pan-African Youth Union. It went further to bring the argument close to home by quoting the local laws or legislative framework that exists to assist the issue of youth unemployment. Among the few are the National Youth Empowerment Policy, the Constitution of Zambia itself, the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) and the Employment Act.

 

Mr Speaker, the mover of the Motion was once a Deputy Minister in the ministry in which Hon. Mawere is serving. From where I stand, I want to confirm that the issue of youths was better addressed then than it is being addressed now.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Nkombo: I also want to state that I have solutions that I would like to offer to the Patriotic Front (PF), the Government in power, on how it can try to ameliorate or reduce youth unemployment. Youth unemployment has ultimately led to the rise in crime, prostitution, the advent of homo-sexuality and an increase in alcohol intake in our country because an idle mind is the devil’s workshop.

 

Mr Speaker, among the instruments that your Committee quoted, it left out one very important legislative instrument, namely the Markets and Bus Stations Act. I am sure one would agree with me that a market is a trading place. It is a venue of empowerment to which people go to trade in order to make some money, earn a living and put some bread and butter on the table. Your Committee did not include the Markets and Bus Stations Act, yet we know that buses converge at bus stations to ferry passengers and goods from one place to another and that they are a means through which the operators empower themselves.

 

Sir, I have identified the politicisation of markets and bus stations as one area in which youths have missed an opportunity. Currently, the running of markets and bus stations is so politicised that if one is not a member of the PF, he/she has diminished space to trade. It is a common fact that people who do not belong to the PF have been brutalised at the biggest trading place in Zambia, namely Soweto Market. They have been beaten upon being identified as not being supporters of the PF. That is a fact.

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Shame.

 

Mr Nkombo: Sir, this unwritten legislation that the PF has enacted in market places reduces the people’s potential to make money. For example, one would have toiled for so long to produce vegetables and food, yet upon arrival at Soweto, before even turning off his/her car engine, he/she will have been levied by the PF cadres. That is a fact. Therefore, the answers are not so far-fetched. If we depoliticise the markets and trading places, many people will not wait for a by-election in order to earn a bit of money by assaulting an opponent.

 

 As the Leader of the Opposition has stated clearly, we have an avalanche of youths now who are simply waiting to be used to commit atrocities. At the moment, it is like Christmas for them since we are about to have the mayoral, council chairperson and local government election in Lusaka. I would liken this to a general election as all seven constituencies are going to vote. It is time for the youths to reap money off people who hire and patronise them in order to beat up other people who do not believe in their ideals. One month later, they will be back in their saddle, hungry and unable to afford a loaf of bread.

 

Mr Kambita: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Nkombo: Then, as lawmakers, we pride in breaking the very law that we make with impunity. I urge the hon. Minister of Local Government and hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development to get those cadres out of the market places so that Zambians, according to the Constitution that I read every other day, can trade freely in their own country without necessarily belonging to the United Party for National Development (UPND), PF, National Restoration Party (NAREP) or whatever political persuasion it may be. It is possible. It can be done.

 

Mr Speaker, before I move a bit further in my argument, I forgot to mention that this issue of idling of the youths has brought about what one hon. Minister talked about last week, that is, the gun culture that has come into this country. Since some people sit idly and do not have jobs, they have resorted to a gun culture and are robbing people in order to make a living. There is no decency in living a life of robbing another.

 

Sir, when the PF Government came into power, it decided to make an adjustment to the retirement age. Where I stand, this contributes a certain percentage to why youths cannot get employed. One goes to school, gets a degree with flying colours or distinction, but cannot get a job for ten years because the PF Government decided to increase the retirement age from fifty-five to sixty-five. Therefore, people must stand in the queue for ten years before they can get a job.

 

Ms Mwashingwele: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Nkombo: These are the real issues that we have to look at. If one is not ready to face life at the age of fifty-five, I put it to you, Mr Speaker, and the Government, that he/she will never be ready. As a matter of fact, for me, by thirty-five, one should have already charted a way forward for his/her life and how he/she will live post retirement.

 

Mr Speaker, the issue of nepotism is sitting right at the centre of our society and has eroded the social fabric of Zambia. Someone bearing the name Nkombo, even if he/she is not my relative, may be victimised on those grounds. A woman with the name Mwiimbu was fired and cannot get a job in this country, yet Hon. Mwiimbu does not even know her. The Constitution has its dictates. Without sounding like I am issuing a threat, the point is that every dog has its day. There will come a point when the Government will move from where it is to here, the left. Some members of that Government will not even move here, but outside ...

 

Laughter

 

Mr Nkombo: … because in this life, the only thing that is constant is change. We are all just a passing phase and that is what we should know. The Government should not grow wings because it is ubuteko. Ubuteko what? The Government what? It should be –

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, use the …

 

Mr Nkombo: Ubuteko is the Government.

 

Mr Speaker: … official language and also focus on –

 

Mr Nkombo: I would like to use the right –

 

Mr Speaker: I am speaking. You were focusing on issues. Now, you are sliding into personalities.

 

Mr Nkombo: There is no person that I have named. I am naming the Government which is running this affair.

 

Mr Speaker: Use the official language nonetheless.

 

Mr Nkombo: I have the right to translate what I say. I can speak in Tonga and change to English.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Use the official language.

 

Mr Nkombo: Have you outlawed translation, Sir? I need your guidance so that I can –

 

Mr Speaker: I have not outlawed it. Translate the words.

 

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I just translated that Ubuteko is the Government. You cannot go on saying ubuteko or that we are the Government. You should know that this Government is made up of three wings.

 

Mr Kambita: Gary Nkombo.

 

Mr Nkombo: That is my name.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Nkombo: The Government is made up of three wings, namely the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary. So, the Executive cannot patronise people. It should respect them. A human being is an animal, but just a civilised one because he/she can speak and express his feelings.

 

Mr Speaker, I am holding a list of the names of youths who just passed out in Kafue last week at an event which the Head of State officiated. I am trying to augment my argument that there is stiff nepotism in this country perpetuated by the PF Government without naming any individual. I will lay the list on the Table when I am done.

 

Mr Kampyongo: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: Just wait, hon. Minister. Resume your seat.

 

Mr Kampyongo resumed his seat.

 

Mr Kambita: Abene ba PF.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, I will give you an opportunity to respond.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: If you raise points of order, there will not be order in this way, anyway. Therefore, just take note. If you have contest on some of the issues that the hon. Member for Mazabuka Central is raising, take note of them, …

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: … then, when your opportunity comes, challenge them.

 

May the hon. Member for Mazabuka Central continue.

 

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I said that I have some solutions to offer my brothers and towards the end, I will lay them bare. It will be up to them to take or leave them. For now, I am dealing with the issue of His Excellency the President’s attendance at the pass out parade for cadets or youngsters –

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I continue where I left off with pleasure. When business was suspended, I was busy trying to explain the issue of the Zambia National Service (ZNS) Pass out Parade last week, which was attended by the Head of State.

 

Mr Speaker, there is no contest to the fact that as leaders, we should be the first ones to raise the flag and point out a wrong upon seeing it. For example, when there is an imbalance in the manner the people that we supervise are recruited, we must say, “Something is not right here.” I am still waiting for that signal that something is not right from His Excellency the President. Fortunately, though he does not come to Parliament, the hon. Minister of Defence is here.

 

Sir, this list of the names of cadets who passed out is not impressive. In a country with ten regions, according to this cadet list, there are some regions that have zero enrolment. There are regions that have one or two enrolments while others have fifty enrolments out of a list of ninety-one.

 

Mr Speaker, because I have an avalanche of things to say to this House this afternoon, I will not dwell on reading out the names on the list. However, I will lay it on the Table and it is here for everyone to see that there is a bias in the way recruitment is done.

 

Sir, this is a matter that I raised in the last Meeting. Through a Motion, I appealed to this Government to stop discriminating against the people in the Civil Service who were perceived to have a bias towards the Opposition. Now, the Government has brought it down to the recruitment of youths, innocent young children who are straight from school. These are not university graduates, but just Grade 12’s who applied to be recruited in the ZNS.

 

Sir, at this juncture, I am not saying that people from the region which got the lion’s share of recruitments should not be employed. I am simply saying that the recruiters should shed the coat of shame off their bodies.

 

Mr Lufuma: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Nkombo: Take it out. The hon. Minister of Defence appears to be reasonable.

 

Mr Speaker, yesterday, one hon. Minister talked about how it will be ensured that employment is done in quotas and that all regions are taken care of. In psychology, that is a state of cognitive dissonance. This is being conflicted with two or three different ideas at the same time.

 

Sir, the Government cannot hypocritically tell us that it will ensure that all regions are covered. This is donchi kubeba, meaning do not tell them. It is a slogan for the Ruling Political Party and it started doing the donchi kubeba a long time ago. In the day, it says one thing and does the exact opposite in the night. I have a list here with me and I will lay it on the Table of the House when I am done because I am in a hurry to give some solutions to the PF. It must heed my advice because it is free of charge. We have had great men sitting there …

 

Mr Chama: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central, give me a minute.

 

Hon. Minister of Defence, I know that you are edging to respond. I will give you an opportunity.

 

Can the hon. Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central continue, please.

 

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, water finds its own level.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Nkombo: I will give solutions. In the political party I belong to, the UPND, …

 

Mr Mweetwa: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Nkombo: … we have a blueprint which is called a ten-point plan.

 

Ms O. M. Phiri: Question!

 

Laughter

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Nkombo: It is called a ten-point plan.

 

My mother told me that empty cans make a lot of noise. For now, let the empty cans make the noise.

 

Hon. Government Member: Question!

 

Mr Nkombo: My focus is on the solutions for this country. In the UPND, we have a ten-point plan. Point number one is job creation.

 

Ms O. M. Phiri: Question!

 

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Nkombo: It is written. Ililembedwe. How do we create these jobs? I now see that when Hon. Dr Kambwili, my brother-in-law, was in the Government, his services were not appreciated. He made what may have appeared to be a wild statement …

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central, …

 

Mr Nkombo: I withdraw that, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: Yes, withdraw that and refer to him as the hon. Member of Parliament for Roan.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Kampyongo: Sit down.

 

Mr Nkombo: There is a young man talking, Mr Speaker, while you are talking.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Sit down.

 

Mr Nkombo: I have not been asked to sit down.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, resume your seat.

 

Interruptions

 

Hon. Government Members: Who are you? Iwe, ni chani?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order! Let us have some order.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

You may continue, hon. Member of Parliament for Mazabuka Central. You are just on the verge of concluding.

 

Dr Kalila: Give solutions!

 

Mr Nkombo: I want to give solutions.

 

When Hon. Dr Chishimba Kambwili, the Member of Parliament for Roan, was in the Government, he made a fundamental statement which touched me and this is what he said:

 

 “This PF Government will not tolerate foreigners making blocks and pavers because these are jobs that Zambians can do.”

 

Therein lays the solution. If we empowered these youngsters with a bit of capital and moulds, they would undertake this job which can take them out of the jaws of these crocodiles who want to use them for political advancement whenever there are by-elections.

 

Mr Speaker, we need to scale up the Technical, Entrepreneurial and Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) for our people. Artisans must be developed in this country. The skills of boys and girls who are good with their hands, but have not made it in a normal classroom must be enhanced.

 

Mr Speaker, if one went to Kalingalinga, on Alick Nkhata Road, where the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) is situated, he/she would see the amount of economic activities, such as welding, that are being engaged into by our people. This can be replicated countrywide.

 

Mr Speaker, when these youngsters want to go to the village, they are told by antu aku munzi that, “Kuno tinakwana. Bwelelani ku tauni,” which means that we are full here …

 

Ms O. M. Phiri: Question!

 

Mr Nkombo: … in the village. Go back to town where there is mayhem.

 

Sir, city congestion can be dealt with if people can be allowed to go back to the land to engage in some farming. Everyone has where he/she comes from. For instance, my NRC is 157636/71/1. 71/1 nku Mazabuka. That is where I am from. Everyone who came here, as a poor person, is just causing confusion because he/she is idling. They should be encouraged to go back where they came from.

 

Sir, the Electronic Voucher (e-Voucher) system must be improved upon so that people can be motivated to engage in some farming as opposed to the Government encouraging the youths, without shame, to mine at the Black Mountain in the name of empowerment when people are dying every other day.

 

Mr Michelo: Shame!

 

Mr Nkombo: Sir, there is a person in the PF who said that the UPND leader is not a farmer, but one who just keeps cattle. Animal husbandry is farming.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Nkombo: We need to educate people at this level that animal husbandry is farming. You cannot just say, “Asunga chabe ng’ombe si farmer,” no.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Nkombo: It is as basic as that. We need to teach …

 

Mr Speaker: You have to translate what you said.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Nkombo: It means he rears cattle and is not a farmer. Can you imagine that?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Nkombo: Sir, my last point is that, we have God-given natural endowments, that is, water bodies and forests. There are people in the Northern Province who were making a living out of the mukula tree forests. However, the Government banned the exportation of the mukula logs through a statutory Instrument (SI) and then started exporting the logs themselves on behalf of the Zambia Forestry and Forest Industries Corporation Limited (ZAFFICO). Where the proceeds of the exportation have gone, we do not know. What kind of people are these who can deprive their poor citizens from earning a livelihood through forests endowed by God? 

 

Mr Speaker, we should stop exporting jobs, and this is my final point. Anyone who listened to the hon. Minsiter of Housing and Infrastructure Development talk about the toll gates this morning would think that there is development taking place. Toll gates are not development, imwe. They are not.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Again, you have to translate.

 

Mr Nkombo: Sir, it means that you people, a toll gate is just a form of tax. However, the Government is proudly saying that twalipanga ama toll gates, we have made toll gates. No. It is taxing the citizens. For now, the Government should not take pride in things like shopping malls, such as East Park, because it has just exported jobs because all the fresh vegetables and the things that we can produce here, including eggs, are from across the borders. So, to whom are we giving the jobs? We are giving the jobs to the youths in South Africa who rear chickens.

 

Mr Speaker, I end there.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Opposition: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Kambwili (Roan): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for giving me an opportunity to add my word to this very interesting debate. If we put our heads together and focused, we can overcome.

 

Sir, I realise that youth unemployment is a global problem, but there are certain initiatives that we can undertake to reduce the plight in Zambia. By and large, we have neglected our people through bad policies.

 

Mr Speaker, it is unacceptable that we are talking about youth unemployment of over 1.2 million people, according to the statistics given by the Chairperson of your Committee. Just on the road projects, when one moves around the country, he/she would see the Chinese driving tractors, front-end loaders or operating the rollers. What are we saying? It is like we are contradicting ourselves. Surely, how many Zambians can drive rollers or front-end loaders?

 

Sir, in fact, I am grateful that most hon. Ministers travel by road and see these things. We are crying over youth unemployment in our constituencies, yet as we travel from Lusaka to the Copperbelt, we see Chinese labourers working on the roads. How does that make one feel, as a leader? By and large, we should be ashamed of ourselves. I have been to China, but I have never seen a black man, that is, a Zambian, Nigerian or South African driving a tractor there. Why are we allowing it in Zambia?

 

Sir, when we came into office, as the Patriotic Front (PF), this is one of the issues we told people we would sort out. I am so shocked that after seven years of being in office, this problem is still there. This is simply due to patronage. We have become too familiar with the Chinese. They are buying fitenges for us during the by-elections  and …

 

Mr Jere: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Kambwili: … giving us money to throw everywhere.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Kambwili: This is why we are failing to act. It is a straightforward issue.

 

Mr Speaker, from Kaunda’s time to date, we have not seen the amount of fitenges that are coming in during a by-election in this country. All political parties, the PF inclusive, are not in business or profit-making organisations. They do not run any business. The question is: Where are they getting the fitenges that they can even dress dogs and trees in order to win an election?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Roan, please, bear in mind the focus of the Motion and the report.

 

Dr Kambwili: Yes, Mr Speaker, I am talking about patronage with foreigners in order to get something at the expense of creating jobs. That is the connection.

 

Hon Opposition Members: Hear, hear! Icho!

 

Dr Kambwili: It is shameful that because an individual wants to win a by-election, he/she has to patronise a Chinese and allow him/her to perform labourer jobs in exchange for fitenges to enable him/her to win an election at the expense of our youths. Thereafter, this individual should come to Parliament and say that there is youth unemployment in the country. We need to resolve these issues and rise above them if people are to trust us, as leaders.

 

For instance, look at the mining industry. I come from Luanshya which houses a mine run by the Chinese. When I was Minister of Foreign Affairs, I tried to correct the situation there. I went there and said there were too many Chinese and, therefore, we needed to sort out some of them. I did not last for two days in the ministry. I was removed.

 

Hon. Members: Why?

 

Dr Kambwili: No, by influence.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Roan, do not respond to the audience. Just address me.

 

Dr Kambwili: Sir, I did not last for two days to enable me to sort out the problem. This is how we, as leaders, are acting against our own people.

 

Mr Speaker, the mining company in Luanshya retrenched 1,600 Zambians, yet there is in excess of 400 Chinese nationals working there. Those who come from Chambeshi will tell you that when travelling to Chingola around 1600 hours or 1700 hours, you will see Higer buses transferring Chinese nationals from the mine in Kitwe to the compounds where they live, yet our own youth are selling on the streets. Our own youths are becoming Tokota boys, but we come to the House to say that we have a problem on our hands.

 

Mr Speaker: I did not get the other –

 

Dr Kambwili: Tokota boys are members of a gang on the Copperbelt and they were arrested. Those boys could have not been gang members had the 400 Chinese been removed from Luanshya and 400 Zambians been employed instead. If the Chinese in Chambishi were told, “Look, we know that you are over populated in your country, but give us space because we also have youths in this country who need these jobs,” issues of Tokota boys would not have arisen.

 

Mr Jere: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Kambwili: The job space that the youths are supposed to occupy in the mining industries has been taken up the Chinese. However, none of these people can speak out, yet we are talking about youth unemployment. We need to do the basics.

 

Sir, first of all, let us do away with unnecessary labourers who not only happen to be Chinese, but also other nationalities. If one went to any Indian shop, he/she would realise that three quarters of the people in those shops are Indians. In fact, most of the people who handle the money at the counter are Indians while Zambians have just been given a stick to hang clothes and hand them over to customers. In the meantime, the Indian would be there to receive the money or to be the one to carry out the cashiering job. Are we not ashamed of ourselves? Even the hon. Minister will be there buying after a Zambian akobola and gives you …

 

Mr Speaker: Meaning what now?

 

 Dr Kambwili: Sir, using a stick to hang off clothes from a high place, a Zambian will then give it to a customer who, then, pays to an Indian at the counter. I really feel bad when I see those things happen when we have a Government in place. It is a question of legislation.

 

Sir, we are very fast at bringing legislation which we would want to to use to elongate our stay in the Government like the Cyber Bill. Since so many people are attacking the Government through social media, the Government quickly wants to table the Cyber Bill on the Floor of the House.

 

Laughter

Dr Kambwili: The Budget Act, however, is not coming to the House. The legislation involving improvement of conditions of service for employees is still being worked on. Please, my heart bleeds. I do not understand Zambians.

 

Sir, since the Lusaka Mayoral, Council Chairperson and Local Government  elections are here, the youths will start shouting, “Pa bwato, pa bwato”after being given kapenta, saladi, yet tomorrow, they will have no jobs.

 

Laughter 

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Shame!

 

Dr Kambwili: It is painful that the people who are inflicting pain on the youths are the same ones they want to vote for. These people have solutions that can have youths in employment, but are passing the buck because they are taking advantage of the poverty they have created by bringing the Chinese to take up jobs that are supposed to be taken up by the Zambian youths who, as a result, are on the street. Tomorrow, should there will be a by-election, the youths will be given K20 which will excite them into voting for the Government, which will, in turn, claim to be popular. Only heaven knows.

 

Mr Speaker, these are issues we can sort out tomorrow. I mean, like Hon. Nkombo said, we sat in the Cabinet and the hon. Minister of Finance was very forthright on the issue of quarrying and block-making. I remember we said that we would not allow any foreigner whatsoever to get involved in the quarrying and block-making business. Today, when you traverse the country from the Copperbelt on the Great North Road, you will notice that more factories are coming up and they are owned by the Chinese, Lebanese and Indians.

 

Mr Speaker, when you go to these factories to see the equipment or the machinery that is being brought in by the investor, you will find two block-making machines, which each cost K85,000 and wheelbarrows that do not even qualify to be called as such. They are just metal fabricated within those workshops, yet our youths get employed by these people who give them peanuts for salaries, and we are happy. However, there is a policy against this. Why can we not have our inspectors go round to tell these people that there is a policy that does not allow them, as foreigners, to engage in quarrying and block-making? We are seeing this happen while our youths do not have employment. We just want to come here day in and day out to talk about this issue of youth unemployment.

 

 Mr Speaker, I remember Mr Sata, may his soul rest in peace, said that we cannot export soil. However, today, we are back. After he died, we reversed the policy and said they can be allowed to export. Do you know the consequences of allowing mining companies to export concentrates? Instead of building a refinery here where they can produce 99.9 cathodes of copper, they build a refinery in China where there is no copper. They will build a refinery in South Africa where there is no copper to purify the copper. When they build those refineries, they will not come here to tell you, “Hon. Minister of Mines, give us some 200 Zambians to work in this factory because we are getting the copper from Zambia.” Is the Government not ashamed of itself? It should legislate to stop the exportation of concentrates out of this country. Within six months, the investors will build a refinery. By the way, the Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines (ZCCM) had so many refineries. Some of them have been closed. At Nkana, the cobalt plant is closed, yet we are allowing them to export cobalt concentrates to be processed outside the country. They are allowed to export concentrates that comprise many components, among them, silver and gold. However, when they export the concentrates, they declare it as copper. Cobalt is now US$95,000 per tonne, yet we have allowed these investors to close the cobalt plant at Nkana when we allow them to export the cobalt concentrate for processing in China, thereby creating jobs for the Chinese youths. Sometimes, it is not worth being a leader because a man without shame is as good as a corpse.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Kambwili: We come here every time to talk about youth unemployment when we have the solutions. Are we not ashamed?

 

Mr Speaker, there are so many shopping malls that are coming up in the country. We are even happy to officially open them. Now, everywhere there is space, there is a shopping mall coming up, yet our youths continue wallowing in poverty and without jobs. The only job they can have is to arrange things properly on the shelves in Shoprite. Maybe, only about 2 per cent of the things being sold there are from within Zambia. The rest are from South Africa, thereby giving jobs to South African manufactures and farmers. Why can we not for, once restrict, the importation of these products so that the manufactures who supply goods can be compelled to set up manufacturing plants here employ our people? We are not stopping them from selling these kinds of goods, but I think, by and large, they should help us create jobs for the youths.

 

Mr Speaker, we, as leaders, are complacent. Even when we go to Shoprite, some of us cannot even buy Trade Kings products. We want foreign goods, forgetting that it is giving us a problem in as far as youth employment is concerned.

 

Mr Speaker, look at the mining industry. Some of these things mufulo. Umufulo.

 

Mr Speaker: Meaning what now?

 

Dr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, it is deliberate.

 

Some of us who grew up in mining areas have seen deterioration that is unacceptable. Almost all the industrial areas in mining townships are gone. They are white elephants. They are closed. Do you know the reason? The owners of the mines have given the job of even machining a bolt to a South African machinist. What, then, happens to a machinist in Mikomfwa industrial area in Luanshya? He has no business. He cannot pay his workers and he closes down, giving a chance to a South African machinist to make a bolt to be used in the mining industry. Why can we not legislate to enable the creation of a medium income group which will be supported by being offered business from the mining industry? These are simple things that we can do. However, because of patronage, if we told the investors that they are not allowed to buy bolts from South Africa, they would not supply fitenges for the Lusaka Mayoral, Council Chairperson and Local Government Elections, hence we are told, “Eh, eh leave them.”

 

Laughter

 

Dr Kambwili: That is the order of the day. In the meantime, we are saying there is youth unemployment. The youths are denied employment in the mines because Zambians are denied the chance to create a business environment under which they can be employed. When they go on the streets to start trading in order to survive, they are followed, yet they are innocent boys walking towards and running after cars to earn a leaving. The Government even says that it will employ 150 more council police to handle them.

 

Ms Kapata: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources –

 

Ms Kapata: Yes, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: No, just let me guide. Maybe, you were absent when I gave guidance.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: I have said that I will not allow points of order. I will give the right an opportunity, very soon, to respond.

 

The hon. Member for Roan may continue.

 

Dr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, thank you.

 

Sir, I was saying that the youths are denied employment. When they move on the streets to try to earn a living, they are followed. There is so much crime here in Zambia. Criminals are all over. Cases take four or five years to be disposed of. There has even been creation of a special fast-track court. These are people who want to earn their living. I miss the late President Michael Sata who said, “Yes, street vending is not good, but we do not have employment. Where can we take these people? Meanwhile, let us allow them to survive.” However, these people, imitima yabo katwishi aba abantu.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Kambwili: Their hearts are so hard. They do not think of the poor.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Roan, you see, now you are debating individuals.

 

Dr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, I withdraw what I said.

 

Mr Speaker: Hear!

 

Mrs Phiri: You were part of us.

 

Mr Speaker: You may continue.

 

Dr Kambwili: Those who come in here through nomination, like the Backbencher Mumbi Phiri, are so –

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member –

 

Dr Kambwili: Mr Speaker –

 

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member! Just hold on.

 

Why are you dragging Hon. Phiri, who is not even saying anything, into your debate?

 

Dr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, you must check the Hansard. She is very clever like that.

 

Mr Speaker: Can you withdraw that because I do not see any reason you should refer to her.

 

Dr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, unless she withdraws what she said about me as well, I will not withdraw what I said. I am sorry.

 

Mr Speaker: No. Just wait hon. Member for Roan. If you have a complaint about what she has said regarding you, there are rules and procedures.

 

Dr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, for the sake of progress, I withdraw my statement.

 

Mr Speaker: Yes.

 

You may continue.

 

Dr Kambwili: Mr Speaker, all mining companies had trades training institutes. Most children in mining areas used to be recruited from school into the trades training institutes. They were being trained according to the trades that the mining companies wanted. Today, all the trades training schools in the mining townships have been closed except for one in Kitwe, Kitwe Trades School. How, then, is employment for the youth expected to be created? How is that expected to be done when we are retrogressing instead of progressing?

 

Sir, in a nutshell, I am trying to advise my friends in the Government to do these basics. They are so basic that some of them only need an hon. Minister to get on a vehicle and travel to the Copperbelt to talk to the mining companies to ensure that business is given to Zambian suppliers. If they do not listen, then, we will come here to legislate and help the Government. All nuts and bolts must be supplied by Zambian suppliers. When we pass the law, nobody will go against it. However, this idea of giving everything to foreigners is causing youth unemployment. By and large, we must hire the youths at hand. People are suffering.

 

Sir, now that elections are around the corner, the boys will be busy beating up people instead of being in employment, and we are happy.

 

Sir, we are even allowing a known criminal from Inter-City Bus Terminus to attempt to file in his nomination as Mayor of Lusaka. What a country.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, let me say this. It is not possible for me to allow everybody who has indicated to debate. If I do, we will not even finish this particular report today. Yet, we have another report to consider. As you know, today is a very short day. It is Wednesday. I know that this is a very topical issue and people are geared to debate. However, I also have to manage time. Therefore, I am moving to the right.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: I will review my decision for one simple reason. There is one political grouping that has not debated.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Just one.

 

Mr Chabi: Independent.

 

Mr Speaker: Then, the right will steady itself for response.

 

Ms Katuta (Chienge): Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing this party called the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) to debate and to add a voice to this debate on the wonderful report which is affecting our nation.

 

Sir, the rate of unemployment in our country is alarming and quite disturbing. In Bemba, we have a saying that, “Imiti ikula e mpanga.” Should we not lay the foundation for the young ones, we risk not having –

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, you have not translated that saying.

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, the meaning of imiti iyikula e mpanga is that – what do you call the forest?

 

Hon. Government Member: Young trees are the ones that grow old.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, I was trying to say that it means the young ones are the future generation.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Ms Katuta: Sir, I was saying that if we do not lay a foundation for the young ones, we risk not having future leaders. What is happening in our country is quite sad. No matter how much we debate the issue of unemployment in our country, if certain policies are not put in place, we will continue coming here to be cheer leaders and that will not make any difference.

 

Sir, we have youths out there and most of them are school leavers. Some are school drop-outs and others are just in between, while others do not even know whether they are school leavers or school drop-outs.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order! Let us have some order, please.

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, the Government needs to do more on the policy regarding youth employment and empowerment. The worst thing is that the current Government does not embrace all the youths of this nation. I can give an example of what is happening in Chienge Parliamentary Constituency. When there are projects for the youths, those who are perceived to be supporters of mayo, mayo, the Forum for Democracy and Development Member of Parliament, who is me, are sidelined. Similarly, the United Party for National Development (UPND) youths are sidelined. How are we are going to progress? Meanwhile, the youths who have been given funds are the ones who continue benefitting from such projects. I remember the hon. Minister saying, in this House, that the Government is facing challenges recovering even the small amounts that were given out as loans. That is so because these loans are given to cadres who are not expected to pay back. There are people who can use that kind of money for the betterment of their lives.

 

Mr Speaker, in this country, we have a huge challenge of discrimination. If a youth belongs to a certain political party, he/she will know that he/she will not get a job nor will he/she be able to access the Youth Development Fund (YDF). In fact, the youths are complaining that when they go to the Ministry of Youth and Sport to apply for this fund, they are given documents which are difficult to understand because there is no one to give them proper guidance. In a nutshell, the Government should start with skills development if it wants to help our youths. We may talk about employing the youth, but how do you employ an unskilled person? We have many young people who have never been helped in any way. The help that the youths receive comes with conditions. For example, they are told to belong to a certain party if they are to be helped. As I speak, ...

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Ms Katuta: ... the youths do not even know where the youth resource centres are. In Lusaka, we have the Olympic Youth Development Centre (OYDC) on Kabwe Road. However, if you look at the other districts, these facilities are not there. These are the facilities from where our youths could be trained. Since we are talking about people coming to invest in our country, our youths could be part of what the investors are doing only if they acquire some kind of training. You have an investor operating in a certain area, but how will he employ our youths in that particular area if they are not skilled? Our young people lack skills in bricklaying, plumbing and electrical works, among others, because we do not have skills training centres from where they can acquire such skills. This is the reason I am urging the Government to look at putting up skills training centres from where our young people can get training. There are so many things that the Government can do to empower the youths.

 

Mr Speaker, in Canada, there are universities which are there to train the youths in farming. Why can our Government not come up with such a thing? I have always been referring to the Zambia National Service (ZNS). If the Government can use the ZNS as some university to do something that we had before, like Kambilombilo, it can train our youths to be farmers. In farming, there is money which will empower our youths. There is a farming block, I think, in Nsama, where the youths were taken and given portions of land. I say job well done to whoever did that. This is what we should expect instead of giving huge chunks of land to foreigners to farm. Give land to the youths and train them in farming. Instead of importing farm produce from South Africa or other places, we will get it locally.

 

Mr Speaker, I would also like to talk about this matter of creating employment for other countries. Recently, it was on the news. China deported thirty young people from South Africa who went to China to work as teachers. This means that China is not ready to receive anyone with intentions of earning a living from there. Why is our country entertaining them? I see these Chinese in Kalingalinga walking and I scream or call out to them, “So, you are also an investor?” We see all these Chinese coming into our country as so-called investors, but doing the jobs which our youths are supposed to do. We should also learn from them. If they can deport Africans from China, who have gone to look for jobs, why is the Ministry of Home Affairs keeping them? One time, I saw an embarrassing news item in which a Chinese was even daring, I think, a Permanent Secretary (PS) just because he was asked about his work permit. We need our youths to be empowered. We cannot really blame it all on the investors or foreigners, but the Government for turning a blind eye and purporting to be working when it is not.

 

Mr Speaker, how do you arm a young man to –

 

Mr Speaker: Are you still speaking to the report?

 

Ms Katuta: Yes, Mr Speaker, I am.

 

Laughter

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, I am talking about the youths.

 

Mr Speaker: I know we are talking about the youths in general.

 

You may continue with your debate.

 

Laughter

 

Ms Katuta: I am talking about the youths and unemployment.

 

What I am trying to drive at is the way the youths are being used now. They are being empowered in a wrong way. Here is a young man who is being armed to hurt another person for a K200 in return. To the youths, that is what they can earn. What we are saying is that if these youths were empowered, no one would even hand them a Kantobo to drink and promise them a payment for harming another person. There is a lot happening in our country with the youths. Youths are now being found –

 

Mr Speaker: What is that substance you are referring to?

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, Kantobo, is a beer. It is brewed –

 

Laughter

 

Ms Katuta: I do not know. I see it. It is Kantobo.

 

Mr Speaker: That is why I encourage you to use the …

 

Ms Katuta: It is a name, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: … official language. It is so easy.

 

Ms Katuta: No –

 

Mr Speaker: I am sure you are referring to alcohol.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Yes!

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, that is the name of the beer. It is like Mosi.

 

It is called Kantobo.

 

Hon. Members: Aah!

 

Mr Speaker: You may continue with your debate.

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, I would also like to …

 

Mr A. B. Malama: In conclusion!

 

Ms Katuta: … urge the Government to stop this thing of discriminating. These youths are Zambians who deserve what the country is producing. We are tired of hearing that the youths have been empowered, yet that only refers to a small number of Patriotic Front (PF) cadres.

 

Mr Speaker, may I urge the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development and the Ministry of Local Government, though it might not be part of this, but since we are talking about the rate of unemployment it can be included, to allow the youths who are selling clothes on the streets to continue to do so because, at the moment, it is risky for them to do so. They have no jobs and want to sell to earn a living, but they are being chased away from the streets. May the Government try to come up with a way of helping these young ones and not arrest them.

 

Mr Speaker, to wind up my debate, I would want to urge the Government to start engaging the youths in vernacular. As we debate here, we debate in English. How will we let the youths know that we have their interests at heart regarding what they are currently facing? May this ministry, in particular, begin to empower the youths through the use of vernacular so that even those who are not educated can know how they can go about accessing what the Government can offer to them.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

The Minister of Defence (Mr Chama): Mr Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to comment briefly on the Report of the Committee on Youth, Sport and Child Matters.

 

Mr Speaker, I make this contribution with a very heavy heart. The politics of this country lack morality.

 

Rev. Sumaili: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: How I wish that those who debated could have remained in the House to listen to what I am going to say.

 

Hon. Government Members: Yes!

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, it is unfortunate that reference has been made to the pass out parade in Kafue that was officiated by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Forces. Of course, names were not mentioned, but I want to put it on record. I can use a typical example of myself. In my house, at the moment, I have a nephew by the name of Harrison Banda. I have a niece by the name of Princess Banda and I also have another nephew by the name of Mukelebai Mukelebai.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, if we were to use this august Hose to divide the nation on the basis of tribe, it would be very unfortunate.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: Through the founding President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Kenneth David Kaunda, the motto “One Zambia, One Nation” and intermarriages were promoted in our nation. If you identify a person by their surname, for lack of a better word, that is divisive, primitive …

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: … and very dangerous for the unity of our nation.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, maybe, we are seeing this kind of politics because people are excited for they are on radio and television wanting to divide the nation on the basis of tribe. It is very unfortunate.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: In our party, which is being led by His Excellency the President, Mr Lungu, we do not believe in tribalism.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: We do not employ youths on the basis of their surname.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Uhmmmm!

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: We do not even ask where somebody comes from. Their tribe is Zambian.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, today, I am a very sad person to have listened to those who debated like they are holier than thou, yet when you look at how they draw the composition of their leadership, it points to the fact that they are guilty of what they are accusing the Government of.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kampyongo: Even here.

 

Mr Chama: Even here in the House.

 

Mr Speaker, when you are a thief, you think everyone is a thief.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: When you are a tribalist, you think everyone is a tribalist.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: Employment in the Zambia National Service (ZNS) is not based on a tribe or where someone hails from. It is based on equity …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Chama: … and qualifications. The officers who passed out in Kafue on Friday last week are professionals who are employed in the ZNS. They are not school leavers. Therefore, I wanted to correct the record.

 

Mr Speaker, I also want to comment on your Committee’s report because we need to respond to the debate as we received it on this side of the House, the Frontbench. Some people lack morality. One year and some months ago, they had the privilege to be in the Government, yet the way in which they talk −

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister of Defence, let us focus on issues.

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, a number of issues were raised.

 

Copper is a wasting asset. Some of us were brought up on the Copperbelt and we know for a fact that copper cannot last forever. We used to stay in Lukwesa Street in Chingola, but it is no more because the mine has been extended. Copper is a diminishing asset. It cannot last forever. Unemployment of the youths has been attributed to the fact that the mines are not employing as many people as possible. Insinuations have been put across in this House that in a certain area in Luanshya, about 400 Chinese have been employed which is a – I do not know the term I can use otherwise I will be cited for using unparliamentary language, but that is not true.

 

Mr Mbulakulima: That is a misrepresentation.

 

Mr Chama: It is a misrepresentation of facts. It is unfortunate that we want to bank on the Copperbelt in politics of deception and immorality. When copper is depleted, mines are not viable to run because they are not productive and profitable. Therefore, the workforce is scaled down. One attributed unemployment to this and it is very unfortunate.

 

Mr Speaker, the Government of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is trying to find alternative ways …

 

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: … of making our country as productive as possible by making use of the resource that we have in abundance, which is land. Zambia has 75 million ha of land and this is why His Excellency the President and the Government are putting emphasis on agriculture. The factors of production that we have …

 

Mr Muchima: E-voucher.

 

Mr Chama: … are land, labour and capital. The factor of production that we have in abundance is land. When we do not include the lakes, water bodies, mountains and land, which is not arable, we remain with 42 million ha of land which we are not utilising for production purposes. This is why His Excellency the President and the Government have put emphasis on agriculture so that we can create employment for the youths …

 

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: … and revolutionise the way we do things as a country.

 

Mr Speaker, there are countries that have nothing in terms of land, but have sufficient food. We have water and rains, and arable land, yet some people want to deceive the Zambian people that the mines will remain in production permanently and that they will be a source of employment. This is very unfortunate and these are polities of deception. However, thank God, the Zambian people are seeing what the Government is doing in order to transform Zambia into a production hub of southern Africa.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to ensuring that the youths are brought on board and given the relevant training. This is why a number of universities and colleges have been opened in this country. The Government has made massive investment in colleges and universities in order for the youths to acquire skills to prepare them for engagement in production.

 

As regards the issue of the mindset of the people and some of the leaders, we need to transform the way we think as we move forward. Yes, some of these challenges which we inherited have been historical. However, His Excellency the President and the Government is determined to ensure that we change …

 

Mr Mutale: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: … and create employment for the youths. Therefore, those who want to deceive them by politicking baloba ilyabola, …

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: … meaning they have caught a rotten fish.

 

Mr Speaker, I said that I would say very few words. In conclusion, the PF Government of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is determined to transform the way things are done. Going forward, we are calling upon the Zambian people to be patient because they have a caring President who is determined in ensuring that his Government changes this country for good.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

 

Mr Chama: Therefore, it is very unfortunate that those who were fired for getting commissions from the Chinese want to appear like angels today.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chama: Mr Speaker, we will not give them any space to deceive and mislead the Zambian people.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, thank you so much for according me this opportunity to also debate the Motion ably moved by the Chairperson of your Committee. I will adopt the hon. Minister of Defence’s debate as part of mine.

 

I will start by commenting on the submission from the seconder of the Motion who highlighted a number of issues. She talked about recruitment in public and private sectors and urged the Government to ensure that there is decentralisation. Indeed, the Government …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Let us have some silence on the right.

 

Mr Kampyongo: … is committed to implementing the Decentralisation Policy in totality. The other week, I was talking about the need to create infrastructure on which the Decentralisation Policy will be anchored. Similarly, the issue of getting services closer to the people goes with employment as well.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Bweengwa, your consultations are loud.

 

May the hon. Minister of Home Affairs continue.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, the challenge we have in this House is the manner in which we deliberate issues.

 

Sir, before I was interrupted, I was saying that the seconder needs to be assured that this Government means business when it talks about decentralisation. Taking infrastructure development to all parts of the country responds exactly to the challenge the hon. Member raised.

 

Mr Speaker, yesterday, I mentioned how the Government is putting mechanisms in place and so, I do not understand why a reasonable and balanced person would have a challenge with what I said. On the Floor of this House yesterday, I talked about decentralising the recruitment of our youths, for example, in the Zambia Police Service.

 

Sir, I want to agree with the sentiments made by the hon. Minister of Defence that in this time and era, people should not talk about how people are being recruited on the basis of names. This is the worst kind of primitive politics.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

 

Mr Kampyongo: Like he said, we are all intermarried. So, looking at my children because of their surname is being unfair. That is how it is and it is a reality. Those who are thick in the head and think tribalism is something …

 

Mr Nkombo: Aah! Point of order!

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, please, take a seat.

 

Interruptions

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Let us have some silence.

 

This debate has been largely emotive. You see, when you take offensive approaches to debates, this is where we end up in offence for offence.

 

Hon. Government Member: Panga for panga!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Self-control and temperaments are lost and we become emotive.

 

Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, please, depersonalise your debate. You can criticise the views that were offered, but in the nature of our rules, we are refrained from being personal. You may say no express reference to an individual has been made, but an innuendo is nonetheless made. By definition of an innuendo, you can unveil it and get to the individual. So, rather than discussing or debating personalities, concentrate on issues, and I always urge the House to do so. Instead of throwing salvos, let us have a contest of ideas.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Let us have a contest or battle of ideas. We should be battling with ideas, not individuals.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

 

Mr Speaker: Earlier on, I cautioned the Members on my left as well when they were saying, “No, I am referring to the Government in general”, but behind the Government, again, there are individuals.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Points of order on the right were restrained, but you can see that this has been simmering because of these offensive approaches to debates.

 

Mr Jere: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Where you want to attack personalities instead of attacking ideas. It should be a battle of ideas, and may the best ideas prevail.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister of Home Affairs, just focus on ideas as you continue.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Well guided, Mr Speaker, and I thank you for that wise counsel. However, you just have to bear with us because we must fight certain vices that are propping up, and we will not shy away from doing so.

 

Mr Speaker: That is what I am trying to do now.

 

Laughter

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, in reacting to the mover of the Motion, I was also trying to acknowledge that this Government is putting in place policies which are meant to protect its own people in various sectors.

 

My ministry, through the Immigration Department, plays a role in ensuring that Zambianisation is implemented during recruitment, both in the private sector, be it in the mining industry, and other sectors in which investors are attracted. What we cannot deny is the fact that the investors attracted to this country would want to come with certain expertise which is not available on the market. That we cannot deny. However, what we are encouraging is to ensure that those skills that are not available on the market are transferable to our citizens through understudies that the seconder made reference to.

 

What this simply means, Mr Speaker, is that we do permit certain skills, which are not available, and as they are being employed in various sectors or industry, we get people to understudy these expatriates or specialised skilled manpower.

 

Mr Speaker, we have now set up inspectorates that will ensure that if someone is getting a conditional work permit, which has a period attached to it, the commitment they make for an understudy is followed to the letter. That is what we are doing through the Immigration Department.

 

Sir, now, we have also teamed up with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, through the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), which is working with the Immigration Department to ensure that these matters are followed up thoroughly.

 

Mr Speaker, this Government, like the hon. Minister of Defence mentioned, is trying to change the way it equips the youths through skills training. On several occasions, on the Floor of this House, the hon. Minister of Higher Education has talked about how many institutions she would want to see going into our provinces training our youths in skills.

 

Sir, those of us who superintend over institutions like correctional services, which are now going into full time production, will depend on the youths that will be churned out of these institutions. Like the hon. Minister said, we are going into irrigation farming. As we speak, the correctional service has 1,400 ha of land under irrigation. What this entails is that apart from their core function of looking at the correction of offenders, they will also be creating jobs for our youths in productive activities.

 

Mr Speaker, we have also talked about value addition. I was shocked when I heard someone referring to the banning of mukula as a way of enriching the few. This is a responsible Government and the hon. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources just came back from the Western Province.

 

Ms Subulwa: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kampyongo: So, we are encouraging our people not to let these logs to be exported in raw form. We want value added to them so that those logs that are being chopped from our bushes are able to create a few jobs for our youths. That is what a responsible person does.

 

Mr Speaker, it does not matter whether the Chinese partner with our people and teach them skills. If we structure these things properly, they can be beneficial to everyone. I heard someone complain about the Chinese. However, truth be told, there is a need for us to change our mindset. If we do not learn the attitude towards work from them, we will continue complaining. These people work hard, and out of their hard work, they have had so many achievements. Therefore, we can learn from them other than just condemning them. We can utilise them to create wealth for ourselves through value addition. They might have equipment which we may not have. So, we should ask them to bring their equipment and empower our youths through training. What we should be doing, as leaders …

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1810 hours until 1830 hours.

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Mr Kampyongo: Before business was suspended, I was discussing the aspect of value addition.

 

Sir, it is true that, through value addition, we expect Zambia to benefit from her natural capital, which is God-given. As a result, we have taken measures to identify deposits of various minerals, which are in small proportions. The Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry has been tasked to come up with ways of creating jobs through co-operatives which will explore the natural resources.

 

Mr Speaker, there was talk about the Youth Development Fund (YDF) and its being taken to the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) as a way of empowering youths.

           

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order on the left and right!

 

Mr Kampyongo: Sir, where the fund sits is not what is important, but are the programmes being put in place to empower the youths. Just like I said the other day, we must understand that certainly, finger pointing will never be a solution. The joblessness we are talking about is a global phenomenon and each country is striving to come up with its home-tailored solutions. This is happening wherever one goes. Our African youths are risking crossing the oceans in search of what appears to be heaven. So, we are not an exemption. However, what is prudent is that we come up with home-tailored solutions. Therefore, we do not want a situation where that is left to the Government.

 

Sir, for instance, we are in this House as an arm of the Government. So, when we are here, we should offer solutions through the recommendations of your Committees because that is what we can come to build on as we debate issues because we are all affected. Therefore, we should shun the habit of saying that the youths who are being employed are only from the Patriotic Front (PF) or are part of the Government because that is not the desire of the Government. The desire of the Government is to ensure that all the youths are taken care of in one way or another. Therefore, the issue of the YDF being taken to the constituency will be just to supplement the programme that we need to put in place.

 

Mr Speaker, there was also talk on bus stations and markets. I do not know what kind of society we would be in if common trading places or bus stations belonged to a particular group of people. How would that work because the stations are for public use? For instance, the Inter-City Bus Terminus is where buses servicing the entire nation are found. So, how can one say that one particular bus station is only meant for a particular section of the country? Could that be possible? No. It is not possible. let us be realistic

 

Sir, let us not demonise our youths. Those who have travelled across the African Continent know that youths are ever at bus stations trading in different types of merchandise while others carry out the loading of the luggage. So, let us not demonise the youths because what they are doing is what is putting food on their table. To come here and say that youths from a particular section want to stand for whatever position, be it Mayor or councillor, is shameful. How can one say that? They are equal citizens and are entitled to anything that every other citizen is entitled to. So, let us avoid demonising our youths when the Government is trying to create solutions for them.

 

Mr Speaker, I do not know how much the issue of retirement age can affect joblessness ...

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Kampyongo: ... because while this is applicable to the public sector, where jobs are limited, I do not think the same can be said about the private sector. So, as we discuss these matters, let us look at them and interrogate them properly because to just come and say that the adjustment of the retirement age contributes to the rate of unemployment is not correct. People opt to retire even before the retirement age and no one is stopped from doing that. So, we need to be serious.

 

Sir, on the issue of nepotism, again, they say that those who call others to equity must come with clean hands. The hon. Minister just talked about how certain organisations are composed and how they share the few leadership roles which are available as a way of citing examples.

 

Sir, there was a talk about the Black Mountain. The youths who are now small-scale miners used to engage in illegal activities. We regret the incident that happened in Kitwe where we lost ten lives. It is regrettable, but we will not be swayed by that setback. We will ensure that our youths equally benefit from some of the resources that they are benefiting from. The role of the Government is to ensure that it puts in place measures that will enable the youths to work in a safe environment and earn a living from the small-scale mining activities, and the Government will do just that because it has decided to do so. Therefore, we are not backtracking because those youths deserve to be assisted.

 

Mr Speaker, I was talking about how we should avoid being hypocritical as leaders. Today, I am Minister of Home Affairs and when I leave office, someone else will come in because I am not the first and neither will I be the last. So, when I leave, I should be able to show my successor the template I will leave for him or her so that, in future, I should question him/her by saying, “This is a structured development plan I left behind for you. So, hon. Minister, what are you doing or where are you?”

 

Like the other hon. Minister was saying, there are leaders who have had an opportunity to contribute to the creation of jobs for their youths. Some of us have closely worked with them not only at Government level, but also at party level, as chairperson of the youths. So, we thought that by being a Minister responsible for youths, it was possible for him to do something. With no intention to personalise the debate, Mr Speaker, what I expected to hear today, because as leaders, we need to be accountable for our time in office, was my elder brother, the hon. Member of Parliament for Roan Constituency, telling his successor …

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

I know that you have warned yourself that you will not personalise your debate. So, keep it that way.

 

You may continue.                

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, what I am just trying to say is that we must leave templates behind so that we can question our successors on what they have implemented to ensure that we create jobs for our youths to empower them? That is what a normal leader should do, and that is what I should be proud to do and not come here or go to any other platform and talk sweet nothings which do not exist. What we are dealing with are real problems and challenges which are not only unique to Zambia, but exist in many other African countries, including developed countries. These are the issues they are grappling with. That is why I am calling for collective effort, across the board, here inclusive, that when we are here, we should offer solutions. Let us give direction. When we talk about value addition, hon. Members should offer help to the Government, by advising on solutions that can help to create the many jobs that we are looking forward to having.

 

Mr Speaker, for me, other than complaining about those who have come into the country, the Chinese, there is a need for a change in mindset to enable us to realise that we can utilise these people for our benefit. That is what people should discuss. How do we learn from their skills? Here, I was saying that we have had jobs given to our citizens and jobs given to these people we are complaining about. What did we see? Our citizens abandoned these projects with the same conditions. The same people we are condemning will be very happy to be in the village and ensure that they execute these jobs. So, what is important is how we benefit from those who are coming to engage in various activities in this country.

 

Mr Speaker, ultimately, we, as a Government, are committed to pursuing possible practical solutions to ensure that we create as many jobs as possible. Where we cannot create jobs, we will get the youths to create jobs for themselves and ensure that they are able to earn a living for themselves.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development (Mr Mawere): Mr Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to respond to the Report of the Committee on Youth, Sport and Child Matters on youth unemployment in Zambia. 

 

Mr Speaker, my response will focus more on your Committee’s observations and recommendations and, of course, not on political lamentations by some debaters because I feel Zambian youths deserve the best from this responsible Government of His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, your Committee has urged the Government to consider transferring the management of the Youth Development Fund (YDF) to a special purpose vehicle or to the Citizens Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC). Your Committee is of the view that the commission has the requisite expertise and infrastructure to manage the fund and only provide reports to the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development. 

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee may wish to note that the ministry is reviewing the mechanisms for the management of the YDF in collaboration with the relevant stakeholders. Further, the ministry is in consultation with other stakeholders on how the proposal by your Committee can be implemented. Your Committee has further urged or asked the Government to consider decentralising the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development to the district level without delay in order to improve its monitoring and co-ordination of youth, sport and child development programmes.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee may wish to note that the ministry revised its organisational structure in 2012, and this was approved by Cabinet Office in 2013. It is just waiting for Treasury authority to implement the new organisational structure. Additionally, the ministry has earmarked the devolvement of some of its functions to the local authorities in line with the Decentralisation Policy. The functions to be devolved include sports development, community sport and child development. The ministry has since developed and submitted a draft sector devolution plan, and awaits feedback from the Decentralisation Secretariat.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee has further asked the Government to consider decentralising the YDF to the district level so as to enhance monitoring and evaluation of projects funded under the fund. Your Committee’s recommendation is well-taken and the ministry will consider its implementation in line with the previous recommendations to engage the CEEC to manage the empowerment fund. Once consultations have been concluded, a report will be laid on this Table.

 

Mr Speaker, further, your Committee has strongly urged the Government to finalise, within 2018, the resource mobilisation strategy proposed in the action plan in order to broaden the resource base beyond the limited resources provided through the National Treasury. The Government has also been urged to strengthen and broaden the resource base of the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development through the creation of sport public-private partnerships (PPPs) that could provide youth-friendly supplementary funds for skills development and micro credit services to youth entrepreneurs. 

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee may wish to note that the ministry has engaged the Ministry of National Development and Planning in developing the resource mobilisation strategy in order to broaden the resource base for youth empowerment programmes. Furthermore, the ministry is actively engaging stakeholders, among them, the United Nations (UN) agencies and private sector organisations on the possibility of their increasing support to youth, sport and child development programmes.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee has also urged the Government to consider bringing back programmes under the Zambia National Service (ZNS) or establish a similar programme with a view to helping empower young people.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee may wish to note that the ministry has commenced consultations with the Ministry of Defence and the ZNS on youth empowerment. The ministry has requested to partner with the ZNS on youth empowerment. Further, your Committee may wish to note that the ministry has partnered with the International Youth Fellowship, an international organisation from South Korea, to establish a school on mindset education in Chilanga District. The school, among others, will inculcate positive a mindset in the youth. The school is currently being constructed with the support of the International Youth Fellowship, and is currently at 70 per cent completion. It is expected to enrol its first students in the first quarter of 2019.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee has further urged the Government to align the Youth Action Plan to the National Development Plan as a matter of priority. Your Committee also urged the Government to also consider amending the plan to clearly include the youth as it observed that the current plan only mentions the less privileged youths.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to inform your Committee that the ministry, through the Cluster Advisory Groups, under the implementation of the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP), has managed to mainstream and prioritise youth employment and empowerment in all sectors of our economy.

                                                                                                                

Mr Speaker, your Committee further recommended that the Government urgently explore options of lowering the cost of internet connectivity and establish an accessible data base for job opportunities covering the whole country, which could be disseminated to job seekers through the Short Message Service (SMS), social media and radio. Further, your Committee is of the view that the new web applications be designed since the internet has contributed to the redefining of traditional forms of communication and young people are increasingly looking to the internet in search of job opportunities. As a Government, we are committed to the recommendations made by your Committee. I, therefore, want to inform your Committee that we will engage the relevant authorities, among them, the Smart Zambia Institute (SZI), with the hope of establishing these platforms which are being proposed by your Committee.

 

Sir, your Committee is also urging the Government to consider creating a Youth Employment Co-ordinating Committee (YECC) in each district whose members should be drawn from various Government and private institutions. In this regard, the ministry will consider the inclusion of provisions for the establishment of the YECCs in the Youth Development Council Act, which is under review.

 

Mr Speaker, furthermore, your Committee is awaiting a progress report on the formalisation of the structures which would promote youth participation, starting with the grassroots in districts and provinces through to the national level. You may wish to note that the ministry is still in consultation with the relevant institutions on how best the Youth Parliament can be established and implemented to promote youth participation in decision-making processes. This is a serious matter which your Committee brought up regarding the participation of our youths in decision-making in this great nation, Zambia.

 

Sir, your Committee further urged the ministry to expedite the process of appointing a new board at the National Youth Development Council (NYDC) to strengthen its governance systems. Your Committee may wish to note that the ministry submitted a Cabinet Memorandum to appoint the NYDC board for approval. The ministry was, then, advised to first review the Act in order to ensure it is in tandem with the current trend in youth development after which the board should be appointed. Definitely, the hon. Members of Parliament will participate in the review by enacting this Bill.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee strongly urged the Government to ensure that it expedites the process of employing staff at district level. It now awaits the progress report on this matter. In this regard, the ministry has in place an approved organisational structure. It is only awaiting Treasury authority to implement this plan. Your Committee also noted the response we gave and awaits a progress report on the acquisition of land in all districts for youth empowerment. Your Committee may wish to note that the ministry has requested for land from all provincial administrations and chiefdoms and is awaiting their responses. Once we have the responses, we will come to this House to update it and your Committee on the progress of the acquisition of this land meant to empower our youths.

 

Sir, your Committee notes the efforts that the Government is putting in place and resolves to await a report on the assessment of the YDF. This is in line with the foreign tour to the Republic of Kenya which your Committee undertook last year. Its recommendation was in last year’s report. I would like to inform the House that the Government took note of that recommendation and engaged the Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis and Research (ZIPAR) to conduct a review of the YDF and a report thereon has been submitted. That report is still being studied and the ministry will disseminate it to your Committee once it has finished studying it.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee resolved to await a progress report on the finalisation and implementation of the Independent Youth Bank (IYB). This too was in last year’s report. Your Committee may wish to know that the ministry is currently working on the recommendations from the ZIPAR report which includes, among others, the consideration of an independent fund manager for the management of the YDF. Your Committee is also awaiting progress reports for matters that were raised last year. Information will be given as the matters are responded to.

 

Sir, your Committee is also urging the Government to expedite the enactment of the Children’s Code Bill and the review of the Juvenile Act. You may wish to note that the ministry, working with the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare, has since incorporated aspects of conventions on international adoptions which were ratified in 2016 after the initial draft of the Children’s Code Bill was worked on. The ministry has since been advised by the Ministry of Justice that the matter will soon be tabled before the Cabinet and Parliament upon being ratified.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee strongly recommended the Government’s need to ensure that an audit is carried out at Chiyota Youth Resource Centre without any further delay and that the matter relating to its operations be resolved by the end of 2018. Your Committee awaits a progress report on this matter. The ministry undertook an audit of the centre and a report to that effect will be availed. However, issues relating to the operationalisation were not resolved because the centre is still under construction.

 

Mr Speaker, further, your Committee strongly urged the Government to enhance its efforts aimed at ensuring that land is allocated to the Lusaka Resource Centre and that the necessary transport is availed to the resource centre without any further delay. Your Committee also urged the ministry to ensure that it liaises with the Office of the Treasury on the possibility of securing funds for procuring vehicles for the youth resource centres across the country. Your Committee awaits a progress report on this too. I wish to notify your Committee that the provincial administration for Lusaka Province has been written to facilitate the acquisition of additional land for the centre. We are yet to get a response from the provincial administration. We have also engaged the Ministry of Finance to consider increasing operational funds for all youth resource centres from 2019 and beyond.

 

Sir, your Committee strongly urged the Government to ensure that relevant officers are expeditiously employed to manage the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium efficiently and effectively. Your Committee resolved to await a progress report on this matter. You may wish to note that the Treasury authority for employment of permanent staff at the stadium has not yet been granted due to financial constraints. However, the ministry has been working closely with the Public Service Management Division (PSMD) to ensure that appropriate and qualified staff is attached to the facility.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee also touched on the Football Association of Zambia’s(FAZ’s) debt to stadia. Your Committee expressed concern at the failure by FAZ to settle the debt at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

 

“Your Committee strongly urges the Government to immediately take strong measures to ensure that FAZ expeditiously settle the outstanding debt.”

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee may wish to note that FAZ has not yet settled the outstanding debt with Levy Mwanawasa Stadium and a plan has been submitted by FAZ on how it will settle the debt owed to the stadium.

 

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, your Committee expressed concern at the delay by the Government in reviewing the National Sports Council of Zambia, Cap 142 of the Laws of Zambia. Your Committee strongly urges the Government to ensure that the amendment Bill is presented to Parliament before the end of the Second Session of the Twelfth National Assembly and it awaits the report on this matter.

 

 Mr Speaker, your Committee may wish to note that the ministry, in collaboration with the Zambia Law Development Commission, commenced the process of reviewing the National Sports Council of Zambia Act, Cap 142 of the Laws of Zambia and various consultative fora have been put in place. Very soon, we will see the ministry submitting the proposed revised National Sports Council Act to the Ministry of Justice en route to the Cabinet and eventually to Parliament.

 

Mr Speaker, there are a number of very important issues that were raised by your Committee which relate to other ministries. I am sure that, at an appropriate time, we will engage your Committee to respond in detail on the matters it has raised because we feel they are very important for this country and the empowerment of its youths.

 

Thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, I would want to thank the seconder of the Motion, all those who have contributed to the debate and those who had the desire, but were not accorded a chance to contribute. I would also want to thank the Executive, especially the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development, for the responses it has given.

 

With these few words, I thank you.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON HEALTH, COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND SOCIAL SERVICES

 

 

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services for the Second Session of the Twelfth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on 26th June, 2018.

 

Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Mr L. N. Tembo (Kaumbwe): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Dr Kalila: Mr Speaker, I am grateful for this opportunity to present this short report. I, therefore, assume that most hon. Members of this august House have read it and, in particular page 25, which highlights, at least, twenty-three recommendations on non-communicable diseases.

 

Sir, this presentation is, therefore, just to highlight some of the salient features and broadly introduce all the important issues of non-communicable diseases. Your Committee considered two topical issues. That is:

 

1. Zambia’s response towards non-communicable diseases; and

 

1. the progress that the country has made with regards to Social Cash Transfer Programmes in Zambia.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee also considered the Action-Taken-Report of your previous Committee of the First Session of the Twelfth National Assembly.

 

Sir, in doing its work, your Committee sought both written and oral submissions from various stakeholders and undertook a tour to Central Province, Lusaka Province and the Southern Province.

 

Mr Speaker, non-communicable diseases are chronic diseases that are none infectious by nature, meaning one cannot contract them from another person. They present a global crisis. Your Committee learnt that an estimated 36 million out of 57 million deaths that occurred globally were as a result of non-communicable diseases and primarily due to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic respiratory illnesses, diabetes and most of these occurred in lower and middle income countries, such as Zambia, and also within the reproductive age groups of thirty to seventy years.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee learnt that this double burden of infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases is also equally on the increase in Zambia and is a major barrier to development. Your Committee also learnt that non-communicable diseases contribute to health inequalities, which means that substantial gains which have been made in economic growth, health and living standards are being eroded by them.

 

Mr Speaker, in 2014, for example, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated that non-communicable diseases accounted for 23 per cent of all deaths in Zambia, 80 per cent of which were due to four main ones. It was also disturbing to learn that these non-communicable diseases were increasingly affecting the younger population unlike in the past when the elderly were mostly affected.

 

Sadly, Sir, these diseases are prevalent in the productive age group of thirty to sixty years and contribute significantly to premature deaths. This means that in Zambia, an adult person is more than ever likely to die from a non-communicable disease. Reports also suggest that the causes of these non-communicable diseases are risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, alcohol and unhealthy diets. Lack of physical activity or sedentary life styles, as we sometimes call it, also contribute –

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

(Debate adjourned)

 

______

 

MOTION

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

The Vice-President (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

_______

 

The House adjourned at 1911 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 28^th June, 2018.

 

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