Thursday, 27th September, 2018

Thursday, 27^th September, 2018

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET SPEECH ON THE ESTIMATES OF REVENUE AND EXPENDITURE FOR 2019

Mr Speaker: I wish to inform the House that, in accordance with Article 202(1) of our Constitution, the hon. Minister of Finance will tomorrow, Friday, 28^th September, 2018, present to the National Assembly the Budget Speech on the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 2019. In line with Standing Order 83(1), the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure for 2019 will stand referred to the Expanded Budget Committee.

Further, according to Standing Order 83(8)(b), the Expanded Budget Committee consists of the Budget Committee itself and Chairpersons of General Purposes and Portfolio Committees. I further wish to inform the House that the Chairperson of the Budget Committee will preside over the proceedings of the Expanded Budget Committee. The Expanded Budget Committee will commence with a briefing meeting with the Clerk of the National Assembly and consider its programme of work next week, on Monday, 1^st October, 2018. The Expanded Budget Committee will meet at 0930 for the briefing on Monday, 1^st October, 2018.

Thank you.

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MOTION

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS 20, 21 AND 32(1)

The Chief Whip and Acting Leader of Government Business in the House(Mr Chungu): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that Standing Orders 20, 21 and 32(1) be suspended to enable the House to sit from 1415 hours until business has been concluded on Friday, 28^th September, 2018 and that the Vice-President’s Question Time be omitted from the Order Paper.

Sir, the House is aware that, in accordance with its tradition, the hon. Minister of Finance presents the National Budget on a Friday afternoon. However, Standing Orders 20 and 21 provide that the House shall sit from 0900 hours to 1300 hours on Fridays, while Standing Order 32(1) provides for the Vice-President’s Question Time on the same day.

It is in this regard that I move this Motion to suspend the mentioned Standing Orders so that the House can sit at 1415 hours tomorrow, Friday, 28^th September, 2018, to enable the hon. Minister of Finance to present the 2019 National Budget.

Sir, this is a procedural and non-controversial Motion. I, therefore, urge all hon. Members of this august House to support it.

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, I rise to support the Motion which has been moved by the hon. Leader of Government Business in the House. As I rise, I would like to express my anxiety over the many issues that have arisen in the country pertaining to management of resources. We hope that when the hon. Minister of Finance comes to address the House tomorrow, she will address the serious debt crisis which is affecting the nation.

Mr Speaker, with those remarks, I support the Motion.

Mr Chungu: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank all hon. Members for their support.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Question put and agreed to.

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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

PROGRESS ON CONSTRUCTION OF THE KENNETH KAUNDA AND COPPERBELT INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Chitotela): Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity given to me to issue a ministerial statement on the progress made on the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) and new Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport on the Copperbelt.

Mr Speaker, firstly, I wish to express my gratitude to you for granting me this opportunity to inform the House and the nation on the progress that has been achieved in the upgrading and modernisation of the KKIA and the construction of a Greenfield and modern international airport in Ndola.

Mr Speaker, as a Government, we have in place a well-known and articulated aspiration to transform Zambia into a country with state-of-the-art aviation infrastructure. This aspiration and all the others that form part of our development agenda have a firm foundation in the Patriotic Front’s (PF) 2016 to 2021 vision to make Zambia more industrious, prosperous, peaceful, stable, united, democratic and an inclusive society under the motto of “One Zambia, One Nation.”

Mr Speaker, I am pleased to note that during the recent Official Opening of this Session on 14^th September, 2018, His Excellency the President of the Sovereign Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, informed the House and, indeed, the nation on the achievements that our Government has made towards the realisation of the PF vision.

Mr Speaker, may our dear God continue giving His Excellency our Republican President and Party President great strength and wisdom to enable us to continue to steer Zambia in the direction that will result in more positive economic gains in the lives of many Zambian people.

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I, therefore, stand before the House to provide more details on one of the many issues that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia addressed. This issue relates to the Government’s aim to make Zambia an industrious country. In the infrastructure sector, we are supporting the Government’s policy of industrialising the Zambian economy through provision of high quality standard aviation infrastructure.

Mr Speaker, aviation infrastructure, such as airports, plays a vital role in improving transportation services to businesses and individuals. As you may be aware of this fact, the Government embarked on a number of flagship aviation infrastructure projects. Among these are the new terminal and auxiliary facilities at the KKIA and new Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport.

Mr Speaker, I now wish to speak to the accumulative progress that has been achieved under each of the two international airports. After the signing of the contract for the design and construction of the KKIA infrastructure, construction works commenced on 21^st April, 2015 and are expected to be completed on 20^th October, 2019 at a cost of US$360 million.

Mr Speaker, since the implementation started, notable deliverables have been registered with the overall progress currently standing at 75 per cent. The progress under each of the specific facilities is as follows:

passenger terminal building at 80 per cent completion;

presidential pavilion at 81 per cent completion;

control tower (ATC building) at 86 per cent completion;

fire and rescue station is 100 per cent complete;

viaduct is 100 per cent complete;

taxiway extension is at 90 per cent completion;

warehousing facilities are at 90 per cent completion;

warehousing facilities apron is at 90 per cent completion;

hotel is at 73 per cent completion;

shopping mall is at 70 per cent completion;

air traffic control tower is at 85 per cent completion;

office park is at 65 per cent completion;

apron for presidential pavilion is 100 per cent complete;

water tank and pump house is 100 per cent complete; and

terminal aprons are at 72 per cent completion.

Further, Mr Speaker, the rehabilitation and conversion of the existing terminal to domestic flights terminal is yet to commence.

Mr Speaker, I now turn to the Copperbelt International Airport also known as the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport. I wish to inform the House that the contractor for the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport is Aviation Industry of China (Avic) International Holding Corporation. The contract sum is US$379,201,694 with a contract period of thirty-six months. However, a few local contractors have been sub-contracted under the policy of 20 per cent of construction works to be given to local contractors. As regards the scope of works, it includes the design and construction of the following facilities:

passenger terminal building;

hotel;

business complex;

police station;

special garage;

aircraft hangar;

rescue and fire station;

central power station;

garbage incineration station;

sewerage station;

refrigeration station;

fuel filling station;

cargo terminal;

water and sanitation facilities;

air traffic control building;

isolation cargo station;

security check room; and

runway and associated taxiways and aprons.

Mr Speaker, with regard to the design, detailed design and working drawings for the terminal building, air traffic control building, business complex, viaduct and runway, with its associated taxiways and aprons, have been fully completed and approved. The contractor is expected to complete the detailed design for the rest of the facilities by the end of October, 2018.

Mr Speaker, the project commenced on 16^th October, 2017 and is expected to be completed in October, 2020. As regards payments, the total amount certified, to date, is US$130,835,436.10 and the amount paid, to date, is US$119,160,448.10, leaving an outstanding balance of US$11,674,988.10.

Mr Speaker, in terms of construction, the progress achieved under the facilities is as follows:

runway construction is at 70 per cent completion. The major works remaining are the asphalt concrete and the cement concrete on the two turning pads;

the works on the apron are at 15 per cent completion;

the foundation and ground floor concrete and first floor slab for the air traffic control building have been completed. In addition, the column works on the first floor have commenced;

the foundation excavation for the terminal building has been completed and the pad founding casted construction has commenced. In addition, 30 per cent of the column works for the terminal building have been completed;

the piling for the viaduct columns has progressed with thirty out of the forty-four being casted; and

the foundation excavation and concrete footing for the airfield ground lighting substation has been completed.

Mr Speaker, the progress on works has generally been satisfactory and on schedule with the overall progress for all the facilities standing at 20 per cent. The Government shall continue to facilitate, constantly monitor and supervise the works to ensure that the construction of the two airports is on track.

Mr Speaker, the labour force at the construction site is 924 workers segregated as follows:

No. of Workers Nationality

248 Chinese

676 Zambian

In addition to the direct and indirect jobs to be created across the supply chain, the following are the anticipated benefits that will accrue to our economy once construction is complete:

increased revenue and commercial viability of the Zambia Airports Corporation Limited with brighter prospects for future growth;

contribution to human resource capacity development through learning by participation of our many young Zambians involved in the construction process. It is worth noting that the new KKIA upgrade is being supervised by Zambian engineers. We need to appreciate that we have Zambian men and women who are able to supervise such kind of beautiful architectural construction ;

raising the profile of our aviation sector and airport standards;

promoting Zambia as a tourist destination and growth of local tourism enterprises through increased international and domestic tourist arrivals; and

contributing to the viability and prospects of the soon-to-be launched national airline.

Mr Speaker, I also wish to note that the Government’s efforts are not only focused on the two international airports, which are the subject of my ministerial statement. In this regard, the Government has plans to develop and upgrade some of the existing provincial airports and aerodromes so as to improve the facilities and service delivery. Therefore, the management of all the ten airports in the provincial centres has been transferred from provincial centres to the Zambia Airports Corporation Limited because most of the facilities require upgrading and modernising in order to improve their contribution to the aviation industry and tourism sector, among others.

Mr Speaker, I, therefore, wish to reaffirm that the Government, under the able leadership of His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mr Chitotela: ... Republic of Zambia ...

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: ... continues to be committed to improving aviation infrastructure. This is part of the efforts to improve the transport system in line with the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) and the Vision 2030. The Government has the desire, commitment and will to improve the transport system and consequently, the cost of doing business, industrialisation and the welfare of our people in Zambia.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, I want to indicate that the Government will continue with its proactive stance on the development of aviation infrastructure in the country. Further, my ministry will ensure that all current works on construction of all the airports are completed and developed to match international standards.

I thank you, Sir.

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

Mr Nanjuwa (Mumbwa): Mr Speaker, how many Zambian-owned companies have participated in the airport construction project so far?

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, when I issued a ministerial statement the last time, I provided data on the KKIA regarding how many Zambians had been subcontracted and how much money had been given to them.

Mr Speaker, this time, I paid more attention on the new Copperbelt International Airport. There are four companies that have been subcontracted. One of them is M&N Industrial Merchants Limited. Its job is to make the enclosure access road. As the House may be aware, airport construction is a specialised service. The Government does not just award specialised services anyhow. It gives these jobs to people it feels can do them. The other company is Africos Construction & Supplies Limited whose main works will be the earth drainage system. The other works are Africos Construction & Supplies Limited, whose job is to construct the concrete u-shape and open ditch and brickwork. The total amount paid to these local contractors is US$1,231,235.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kasonso (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has touched on developing provincial airports. As he may be aware, Solwezi Airport has two to three flights to Ndola or Lusaka every day. Passengers are currently paying K2 as airport fee due to the lack of modern infrastructure. When will new infrastructure be built at Solwezi Airport?

Mr Speaker: The problem with that question is that we can ask that question for all the districts.

The hon. Minister may answer.

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, in my statement, I stated that all the provincial airports have been taken over by the Zambia Airports Corporation Limited. The Government is coming up with a programme of upgrading and modernising them so that they meet international standards. The Government began with Kasama. It will avail the programme as it is rolled out to Solwezi, Mongu, Mansa, Chipata and the Greenfield airport it intends to construct in Chinsali. At the moment, I can confirm that the Government is working on two airports, one is Kasama Airport and the other is Samora Machel Airport in Mbala. We are demilitarising Samora Machel Airport and turning it into a commercial airport. We will get to Solwezi Airport once we complete the programmes we are implementing.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr A. Mumba (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for that ministerial statement. I am happy that, today, he has recognised that Zambian contractors can actually do good jobs. I would like to draw the hon. Minister’s attention to the jobs that have been created as a result of the construction works. My main interest in the jobs that have been created for the 600 Zambians is the amounts that they are paid as their monthly dues. Has the ministry taken an interest in checking how much the Zambian workers are paid so that as the Government continues to invest so much money in the infrastructure sector, the tax base also continues to be widened?

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I want to further clarify that out of the 924 jobs that are being undertaken on the Copperbelt, Ndola in particular, Chinese management staff is ninety-seven in toto and the number of Chinese skilled workers stands at 151.There are three Zambian laboratory technicians and fifteen Zambians holding positions in management. In addition, there are 351 Zambian skilled workers, while the number of Zambian general workers, who are directly engaged by the contractor, Avic International, stands at 307. This brings the total to 924 workers.

Sir, the salary scales are quite substantial. For example, I can confirm that among the general workers, there is no one whose salary is less than the prescribed minimum wage. The salary is actually three or four times higher than the prescribed minimum wage for general workers. The salaries of those in management are adequate and they also are provided with personal-to-holder vehicles. As a Government, we are comfortable and confident that our Zambian workers are being treated well. That is why they are motivated. As a Minister, I am proud to see that local engineers are able to supervise and ensure that the works being carried out at the KKIA are of a good quality. As Zambians, that is something we should celebrate.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his statement. Upon completion, how long will it take for the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport to break even and start making profits?

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I want to confess that I did not look at the business plan to ascertain how long it will take for the two airports to break even and start making profits. I will look at that and, by leave of this august House, I can come back and share the financial status of the airports. In the case of the terminal building at the KKIA, the takeover will be on 20^th October, 2019. However, regarding how long it will take for the two airports to break even, I will come back to this House and inform the hon. Members. However, what is gratifying and what we need to know is that these two facilities are 100 per cent Zambian-owned. These are properties owned by Zambians for the Zambian people.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I want to appreciate the statement and I wish the hon. Minister luck.

Mr Jamba: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member for Mazabuka Central, let me just deal with that issue there. Can we finish this session first and then I will come back to you (looking at Hon. Jamba).

Hon. Member for Mazabuka Central, you may continue.

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I was saying that I wish the hon. Minister luck. He should bear in mind that the actualisation of the ownership of these installations is dependent on paying back the loans. I listened to his statement attentively. He mentioned the percentages at which each installation is, including that of the hotels and shopping mall. I did not quite hear the hon. Minister clearly on the Presidential pavilion. The statement was pretty much void of what I would term extremely important installations and at what stage they are. One of the installations which I did not hear the hon. Minister talk about in terms of how far the construction has gone is the fire station. If he talked about it, I want to apologise ahead of time. I also did not hear him talk about any medical facility at that airport. This is in view of the fact that higher traffic is anticipated after the construction is complete.

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I appreciate how Hon. Gary −

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, he is not Hon. Gary.

Mr Chitotela: Oh. I appreciate how Hon. Nkombo began by apologising. I will go through the statement again and address the hon. Member’s concerns. The fire and rescue station at the KKIA is at 100 per cent completion. On the Copperbelt, I stated that the construction of a passenger hotel, rescue and fire station, −I am looking for it ...

Mr Nkombo: I can help you look.

Mr Chitotela: Sir, it is under construction. I said that with regard to the design, detailed design and working drawings for the terminal building, air traffic control building, business complex, viaduct and the runway with its associated taxiways and aprons have been fully completed. The contractor is expected to complete the detailed design for the rest of the facilities by the end of October, 2018. The rest of the facilities include a rescue and fire station, a central power station, a garbage incineration station, a sewerage station, a refrigeration station, a fuel filling station, a cargo terminal and water and sanitation facilities.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mukosa (Chinsali): Mr Speaker, what is the value, in percentage terms, of all the sub-contracted works against the total value of the contract for the construction of the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport in Ndola?

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I am trying to calculate the percentage. The total amount on the certified works, according to the statement, is US$130,835,436.10. The amount that has been paid is US$119,160,448.10, while the Zambian sub-contractors have been paid US$1,231,235. If I calculate off-the-cuff, US$1,231,235 as a percentage of US$119,160,448.10 should give us less than 10 per cent. This is for what has been done. I came with a statement for those monies which have been paid to sub-contractors. However, information of the exact figure of how much the sub-contractors have been given in relation to the contract value can be made available after checking.

I want to emphasise that we are going very strong. Going forward, I have in mind the enactment of a law which has been submitted to the Ministry of Justice. In the event that the enactment takes long, I have been discussing with staff in my ministry the possibility of coming up with subsidiary legislation by signing a Statutory Instrument (SI) that will compel all procurement to retain in Zambia not only the value of works but also the value of money amounting to 20 per cent of a contract.

Sir, on the on-going projects, we want to ensure that 20 per cent of the value of a contract, especially for the contractor facilitated projects where money does not even come to Zambia, but is paid to the contractor in the originating country, is given to Zambians so that the money can steer the growth of the economy. That is the only way we can benefit. The Government believes that this economy can grow only when it is fully owned by Zambians.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, just take note of those gaps in your responses so that you can fill them in at an appropriate juncture. This is the second set of gaps that I have noted in your response. I appreciate that some of the questions may not have been anticipated, but your colleagues still need this information anyway.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Jere (Livingstone): Mr Speaker, US$360 million and US$379,201,694 are huge sums of money. I believe that the Government can retain some of these monies through taxes. Are these two contracts taxable or free of tax?

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, did you get the question?

Mr Chitotela: No, Mr Speaker. US$870 million? What is that?

Mr Jere: Mr Speaker, I was saying that there are huge sums of money involved in these contracts. The Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) costs US$360 million while the Copperbelt International Airport costs US$379,201,694. I was asking if the Government could retain some of this money through taxes. Were the two contracts taxed or free of tax?

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, these contracts are being executed in Zambia and the Zambians who are working on those projects are getting salaries which are taxed. The money which is spent on buying equipment is also taxed through value added tax (VAT). Is the hon. Member talking about tax on the contract or tax on the money that is spent in Zambia? Do you sign a contract and then tax it? I do not understand what exactly the hon. Member was driving at, but if he is asking if the money that is coming into Zambia is taxable, then, the answer is yes because it is being spent here and we have various taxes that are applicable in Zambia.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiinga (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, as the completion date for this airport is nearing, what assurances is the hon. Minister giving the House and the nation at large that the Government will not put these airports up as collateral or sell them to the Chinese due to the debt it has accrued?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I want to be very clear that Zambia is our country. Even if we want to politick, there must be a limit to it. We know that international loans are guaranteed and secured by international insurance companies. In this case, this loan is insured by the China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation (SINOSURE). This loan is fully insured. We know that insurance companies come in to pay if you fail to pay back the money that you borrowed and that is how the risks are covered.

Sir, I must emphasise that there is a fight against China. The hon. Minister of Finance indicated the total debt is at about US$9.4 billion and out of that, the money owed to China is less than US$3 billion. Why is it that we are not talking about the countries we owe more than US$6 billion? Why are we following a country that has lent us less than 10 per cent of our gross domestic product (GDP) and accusing it of taking over the country? This is purely political machination because the Chinese Government is assisting African countries to develop.

Mr Speaker, the people in the Opposition are scared because they will have no message to give the Zambian people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: The only thing the Opposition can do is scandalise the Chinese Government so that it can deter the Government from assisting African governments to develop. The Opposition does this so that it will have a message to give the people out there. However, the Zambian people are very alert and know that there is no government on earth that sells a country that it wants to govern.

Mr A. B. Malama: Bwekeshapo!

Mr Chitotela: Why are we talking about the US$2.9 billion that we owe the Chinese as opposed to the huge amounts that we owe the Western countries, which is in excess of US$6 billion? Which country can, then, buy Zambia between the one which it owes less than 10 per cent of its GDP and the one which it owes more than 30 per cent of its GDP? We must not politick because the Chinese Government is interested in seeing to it that African states develop.

Mr Speaker, I was part of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC) and the co-chair, who is the President of South Africa, spoke on behalf of Africa. Out of the fifty-four African countries, fifty-two countries attended this summit with only the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic and the Kingdom of eSwatini not in attendance. Are we saying that the Chinese Government is buying the whole African continent?

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

Mr Chitotela: We know that fear is at play because 2021 is drawing nearer and the Chinese Government is helping the PF Government to deliver what the Zambian people want and this is making our friends panic.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: I have been in the Opposition before and I know that they are running out of a message. They do not know what to tell the Zambian people and the only thing that they can say is that the Chinese Government is buying Zambia. They believe the Zambian people will buy into that, but Zambians will not be bought. This Government is sincere to the core. There is no national asset that has been guaranteed for all the debts that we have been accruing from China.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Chibanda: 10-0!

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Mr Speaker, at one given time, all this money that we are borrowing will have to be repaid to China and other Western countries and all of us will have to pay back in the form of tax.

Sir, there seems to be a line drawn from Lusaka going down to the Southern Province, Western Province and North-Western Province. The hon. Minister has counted quite a good number of airports being constructed on the other side of this line, while there is nothing on the other side of the line.

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Mr Miyanda: But at the end of it all –

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Member, would you ask your question?

Mr Miyanda: Mr Speaker, when will the Government begin to construct airports in these other three provinces?

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, can we follow the hon. Minister very closely. That question has already been answered.

Mr Ng’ambi (Chifubu): Mr Speaker, the construction of ultramodern airport terminals will certainly spur economic activity in Lusaka Province and the Copperbelt Province. The people of Chifubu have already started benefitting through employment at the Copperbelt International Airport.

Mr Speaker, the investment of US$640 million certainly competed with other critical needs in the nation. Would the hon. Minister explain to the House the elasticity of demand for aviation facilities in Zambia and the region to warrant such huge investment.

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, Zambia is poised to be a transport hub in the region. When we started upgrading and modernising the aviation infrastructure, we started with the Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport in Livingstone. We want to grow the tourism sector and we understand the need for us to diversify and grow the economy rather than just talking about it.

Mr Speaker, when I was in secondary school, as far back as 1978, I used to hear the term ‘diversification’ in this Parliament from hon. Ministers of Finance and hon. Ministers of Commerce, Trade and Industry. To date, we have just been talking about diversification.

Mr Speaker, this Government, under the leadership of His Excellency President Edgar Lungu and the late President Michael Sata took the bull by its horns and decided to be practical and not just talk. It looked at the relevant ingredients that were required to gain the status of a transport hub in the region and how to grow the economy. It decided on the need to invest in infrastructure development because that is the precursor for any growth in the economy.

Mr Speaker, I have been arguing with my friends and I have said that one cannot go to settle in Kaputa with US$100 million dollars because the money will be useless as it cannot be used. So, we need to invest where it matters most.

Mr Speaker, we, as a Government, have to realise that for us to grow the economy on the Copperbelt and diversify from mining to other sectors, including agriculture, we need to ease accessibility to the region for both public and private businessmen and women.

Mr Speaker, if people want to invest in Ndola, accessibility to the area is among the things they will look at. How do they go to and from Ndola? Therefore, on the elasticity of demand are basic necessities like water and electricity. We need to invest in transport infrastructure, including aviation, road, marine and any other transport service that will ease doing business in Zambia and attract private investors to set up manufacturing industries.

Mr Speaker, those who are in floriculture and want to grow roses must be assured that they would not have to drive to the airport in Lusaka, but can get to the nearest airport. We are also modernising warehouse facilities to cater for floriculture products so that they can be flown into South Africa and get to be sold in other continents while they are still fresh.

Mr Speaker, this is why we embarked on the modernisation of the aviation infrastructure starting with the tourist capital of Zambia which is Livingstone. We have modernised and put up good facilities that are attracting the landing of bigger planes. We do not look at the region, but the potential and importance to grow the economy.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, considering that the provincial headquarters for the Southern Province was moved from Livingstone, which has an international airport, to Choma, is Choma being considered for the Greenfield that the hon. Minister talked about in his address since these will be contracted in provincial headquarters?

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, yes, we are considering Choma and I must thank the traditional authority that has made land available to the Government for the construction of a modern airport.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker: I will now begin winding down. I will take the last questions from the hon. Member for Manyinga, the hon. Member for Serenje, the hon. Member for Mufulira, the hon. Member for Kabwe Central, the hon. Member for Kasempa, the hon. Member for Ikeleng’i and the hon. Member for Chilanga, in that order.

Mr Lihefu (Manyinga): Mr Speaker, I am aware that the materials that are being used at these major airports are imported. Does the ministry waive tax for these materials as they come into the country?

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we have a schedule of the materials that are exempt from tax. If these materials qualify for exemption under the schedule which is approved by this Parliament, they are exempted. If not, they are taxed.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Kabanda (Serenje): Mr Speaker, considering the huge investment that the Government has made in the aviation industry, what is the trickledown effect to the common man sitting in Serenje?

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, it is the growth in economic activities. We are also certain that once all of this is complete, we will attract both private and public investment that may result into the creation of factories and our people will have employment and disposable income. They will have the power to send their children to school and pay for other social services like medical bills and other necessities. So, the commoner will benefit and the Government will provide schools and clinics in various areas of this country. This is the only way to grow the economy.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Dr Chibanda (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that there is a labour force of slightly over 230 Chinese involved in the construction of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) in Lusaka against 600 Zambians. He may not be prepared for this question but, at an opportune time, I would want him to give us the ratio that was used. Are all the 230 Chinese nationals expatriates? Out of the 600 Zambians, how many skilled workers do we have?

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I prepared for this question and elaborated that there are ninety-seven Chinese nationals in management and 151 skilled workers. There are three Zambian laboratory technicians, fifteen Zambians in management, 351 skilled Zambian work force and 307 general workers.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, I am aware that recently, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government gave the people of the Copperbelt Province many tarmacs in addition to the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe Airport. Lusaka Province and the Copperbelt Province both have beautiful infrastructure, including tarred roads, and each with an airport. So, the people of Kabwe, and Kabwe Central in particular, are wondering when the Government will give them an airport and good tarred roads.

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister has already answered that question.

Laughter

Ms Tambatamba (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, my question to the hon. Minister is very simple. Given the level of sophistication of the two airports that he spoke about, I would like to find out what has been put in the forecast to go towards the US$1 million fire tenders that will have to serve these highly sophisticated facilities. According to the forecast, how many fire tenders will be procured for each of the airports?

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the National Airports Corporation (Nac) has fire service equipment. If you go to KKIA and the Copperbelt International Airport, you will see them. What we are building are fire service terminals where these machines park. I am aware that Nac has been putting in place stringent measures to ensure that the airports are secured. That is why, during construction, we leave some points which we call water drains that work in an event of fire. However, I want to assure the hon. Member that Nac has put in place all the necessary measures to ensure that even fire-fighting equipment is in place to secure this investment.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, I have listened carefully to the hon. Minister’s statement and his response. He has talked about how the construction of the two airports will be of great benefit to our people. I listened to the hon. Member for Kaputa and the hon. Member for Chama South bemoaning their road infrastructure. I have equally bemoaned the state of the Ikeleng’i/Jimbe Road. I would like to find out what the Government prioritises between airport and road infrastructure? If we were to vote, which would become a priority? Would the hon. Minister not think road infrastructure is supposed to be given priority in this country, especially in rural areas, as opposed to airports?

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, this Government places premium on infrastructure development in terms of road infrastructure, aviation infrastructure, marine infrastructure and railway infrastructure. It is only this Government that has launched a robust programme in terms of upgrading and modernising Zambia.

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mr Chitotela: We put premium even on road infrastructure. I want to site an example of the Mwinilunga/Ikeleng’i/Jimbe Road on which the contractor has worked on all the earthwork up to Jimbe. I have driven on that road. The only thing remaining is to start road formation and putting the ‘black top’ so that our in-laws in Ikeleng’i can see the ‘black top’.

Mr Muchima laughed.

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, we have put premium on all infrastructure except different clientele is targeted for the airport sector from the road sector. So, we have not left anybody behind in the development agenda under the PF Government.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mrs Langa (Chilanga): Mr Speaker, first and foremost, I would like to congratulate the Patriotic Front (PF) Government …

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Interruptions

Mrs Langa: … on such infrastructure development as the two big airports, though, of course, it started with Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Airport in Livingstone. I would like to urge the hon. Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development ...

Interruptions

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Mrs Langa: ... to sit together with his colleagues in the Ministry of Tourism and Arts and Ministry of Home Affairs and plan the opening of the big airports so that visa fees may be waived for the people in the region and tourist countries like the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA) in order to increase tourist traffic into …

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mrs Langa: … the two airports.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mrs Langa: We would like direct flights from the USA, England and from Australia …

Interruptions

Mrs Langa: … to make Zambia a regional hub …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mrs Langa: … for flights as it is in Johannesburg.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, …

Mr Speaker: order!

Mr Chitotela: … I would like to thank the hon. Member for Chilanga for that very important question.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Chitotela: Yes, we are working in collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism and Arts and that is why at KKIA, we are building two hotels. The stand-alone hotel has a seventy-room capacity while the transit one has a fifteen-room capacity. We are also putting up a hotel in Ndola. Once we introduce the national carrier, we can sit down and agree on which countries can have visa fees waived off. We have been receiving many requests from other countries, …

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr Chitotela: … including China, which cited Morocco at the FOCAC as a country that opened up a bilateral agreement with the Chinese Government to waive visa fees for Chinese nationals. As a result, the inflow of tourists in Morocco increased from 500,000 to 2,000,000 per annum. You can see how much benefit accrued to our brothers in Morocco in terms of revenue and foreign exchange. So, it is a brilliant idea that once we open the airport and have enough facilities to sit down and see which countries we can engage as regards bilateral agreements on waiving of visa applications so that we can attract as many tourists as possible, but without compromising security.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: The hon. Member wanted you to also confirm whether there will be flights from the countries mentioned.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I can confirm that we have three countries that have indicated to open a direct flight to Zambia before the end of this year. Turkey, Zimbabwe and Tanzania have confirmed. I want to confirm that by the beginning of next year, Zambia will launch its own national air carrier with a view to fly into the United Kingdom (UK) directly from Zambia so that we can −

Dr Kalila: You said the national carrier would be launched in October, this year.

Mr Chitotela: Yes, I hear that we said October, this year. Yes, once the planes come in October, this year, it will take three months for them to get registered. So, we will be able to launch by …

Mr Lusambo: Including China.

Mr Chitotela: … the beginning of the first quarter next year. The national carrier will also fly to China …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: … because we want to maintain strong ties with so many friends. Zambia shares friendships with many nations. So, I would like to inform the hon. Member for Chilanga that we will have those flights.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

I will now allow the point of order.

Mr Jamba: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order.

Mr Speaker, I might sound monotonous, but to be forewarned is to be forearmed. When I came to this House, there was a loud cry for Constitutional reforms. At that moment, the hon. Minister of Justice …

Mr Lubinda: What?

Mr Jamba: … assured the House that he would bring the Constitutional reforms to this House.

Hon. UPND Members: Hammer, hammer!

Mr Jamba: I was reliably told that the hon. Minister of Justice was supposed to present those Constitutional reforms in the last Meeting of the House, that is, the June to July Meeting. To my dismay, I heard some Director in the Ministry of Justice, on Hot FM radio news, announcing to the people that the reforms were ready by May, 2018, when the hon. Minister of Justice who comes to this House has never told us where those reforms are.

One of the major things I was told when I came here is that I am a lawmaker. I am here to make laws, and the Constitution in particular. Is the hon. Minister of Justice in order to allow the Leader of Government Business in the House to say that the House will consider Bills, yet they are not tabled in the House? Is he in order to be seated here, while we are not making laws and then come 2021, we start fighting as we close in on the general elections? Is he in order to come here and just sit?

Sir, I seek your serious ruling.

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister of Justice is in order to be here. However, on a serious note, if you want to find out about the legislative programme, ask a question. The hon. Minister of Justice will supply that programme.

_______

QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

CONSTRUCTION OF A MODERN BUS STATION AND MARKET IN CHAMA DISTRICT

40. Mr D. Mumba (Chama North) asked the Minister of Local Government:

whether the Government has any plans to construct a modern bus station and a market in Chama District; and

if so, when construction works will commence.

The Minister of Local Government (Mr Mwale): Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to construct a modern market and bus station in Chama.

Sir, the ministry intends to commence construction works in 2020, subject to availability of funds.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Tambatamba (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister, please, share with this august House the strategic plan for all modern markets that will be constructed as most of our areas are not yet industrialised. Our livelihoods depend on trading, yet most of our constituencies do not have very safe and credible trading places.

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, yes, I could share that information except that I do not have it now. However, I will find a way of sharing the information with the hon. Member for Kasempa.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chaatila (Moomba): Mr Speaker, every year, hon. Ministers, on the Floor of this House have been indicating when certain projects will commence, just as he has indicated that construction works in Chama will commence in 2020. Is he able to tell the people of Chama North which month in 2020 the works will start so that if he mentions a month like June and the works do not begin then, the hon. Member for Chama North can rise and question him?

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, I cannot commit to a month. I have committed to a year in which the market and bus station will be constructed. Between now and that time, there will be a lot of planning and procurement processes, and that is what may inform the particular month in that particular year.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the ministry has an inventory of which district has what type of market, whether it meets the standard or where there is a deficit and the need to construct markets as per standard of the country.

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, indeed, the ministry has that information. It knows where there is a need to construct markets as a matter of urgency and where the construction can wait until 2020 or 2021. The ministry has all that information available because local authorities submit reports to it.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwila (Chimwemwe): Mr Speaker, the construction of modern bus stations is one business area best suited for public-private partnerships (PPPs). Instead of the ministry waiting for 2020, would it not consider allowing Chama District Council, in particular, and other councils in Zambia to use PPPs as this could reduce pressure on the ministry and its budgeting process?

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, we have encouraged the private sector to work together with municipal councils or municipalities to provide markets or trading places through PPPs. However, we have noticed that the private sector is more interested in constructing markets through PPPs along the line of rail. There is so much interest in Lusaka and we get enquires every day. However, the private sector is reluctant to invest in areas such as Chama that may not be lucrative. In such places, people would have to invest a lot of money and, maybe, wait for a good number of years before they could get returns on their investment and that is where, we, as a Government, come in to aid such councils. However, indeed, we are encouraging PPPs in all the districts.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, why should we believe what the hon. Minister has said that come 2020, a bus station and new market will be built in Chama? On the Floor of this House, he had indicated to this House that Kalingalinga Police Post would be spared and that no construction works would take place until another place was found. However, if one went there now, one would see that there are on-going construction works for a shopping mall at the place where Kalingalinga Police Post is situated.

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the developer constructing a shopping mall in Kalingalinga undertook the works based on the fact that he would not demolish the old post police until a new one had been built. Yes, a shopping mall is being constructed, but the old police post has not been demolished. It will not be demolished until a new police post is constructed. This is what is obtaining as of today.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, we are talking about Chama North.

Mr Ngulube: Why should we believe you?

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, I should be believed because I had said that Kalingalinga Police Post would not be demolished until a new one is constructed and this is what is happening. Therefore, even in the case of Chama, I should be believed. I said that the ministry intends to start construction works subject to the availability of funds. We have a plan and wish list, but the Treasury will have to provide funds for us to be able to carry out that work.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Phiri (Mkaika): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister had promised the people of Katete to construct a market in Katete. To date, there is nothing. Does the assurance that the hon. Minister has made to the people in Chama apply to Katete as well considering the year is ending?

Mr Speaker: You are really stretching matters.

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, I still stand by the response I gave in the case of Katete. The Germans will fund the construction of a market in Katete. I gave figures last time and that still stands. With the help of the German Government, the ministry will construct the market. That is why I did not want to give a particular month because if I did, the hon. Member would now be pinning down on the particular month. However, I said that the ministry will construct the market this year and we are on course. We will construct markets in a number of districts with funding from the German Government. Therefore, we will construct the market, as we will in Chama, because we have not abrogated the promise that we made.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Speaker: I will take the last three questions from the hon. Member of Parliament for Chinsali, hon. Member of Parliament for Chembe and lastly, the hon. Member of Parliament for Mufulira.

Mr Mukosa (Chinsali): Mr Speaker, what measures has the hon. Minister put in place to ensure that the moment the construction of this bus station and market in Chama South commences, assuming it does in 2020, there will be no delays like it happened in Chinsali where the construction of a bus station started in 2012 and is not near completion six years down the line?

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, we have pushed this project to 2020 because we want to deal with the backlog of all markets that are under construction such as the one in Chinsali. We have just disbursed funds for Mwense, Mansa, Mpika and Kasama market and a few other markets. In the last two months, we have released some money because we want to clear all these and embark on new ones. That is why we are giving ourselves up to 2020 to deal with this market.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Dr Kopulande (Chembe): Mr Speaker, since the hon. Minister answered the question on Kalingalinga, may I ride on that to ask if he can lift the veil on the developers and tell this House who the developer of the Kalingalinga project is.

Mr Speaker: We have a question here.

Hon. Government Member: Bonus, Sir. Bonus!

Mr Speaker: It is about whether the Government has any plans to construct a modern bus station and a market in Chama District; and if so, when construction works will commence. So, all supplementary questions should be premised on this question. I know there were many things said, but let us follow the rules of the House.

Dr Chibanda (Mufulira): Mr Speaker, may I find out from the hon. Minister why his ministry did not consider Chama market when over 200 markets will be built across the length and breadth of this country after the infernos in the markets.

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, first of all, allow me to clarify that we do not have over 200 markets to be constructed. I think in the last the statement I gave, I updated the House that there are more than sixty markets to be constructed and that we are looking at raising US$200 million. We have a list of districts in which these sixty markets will be constructed. I think for Chama, we will wait until 2020 for us to find some extra money. We can only construct sixty out of the 116 districts that we have in the country at the moment. So, other districts will have to wait until we have money to construct markets there.

Thank you, Sir.

________

MOTIONS

MOTION OF THANKS

(Debate resumed)

The Minister for Muchinga Province (Mr Sichone): Mr Speaker, when business was interrupted yesterday, I had actually concluded my day’s debate by saying that, besides leadership being a calling, there are certain things that need to be done for those of us who want to be leaders and, probably, lead this country at that level.

Sir, we have seen a trend in this country whereby people who aspire to lead, drive the development agenda and also work on the welfare of the people in this country have actually been using hate speech to sell themselves. My words were that if we are going to use hate speech in this country to sell ourselves for political expediency, anything can happen to this country. We have seen countries where even if they pretend to have recovered from atrocities committed by perpetrators of hate speech, to date, they still have a lot that they are battling with.

Mr Speaker, I would like to urge all those who are expressing bad sentiments to desist from doing so because bad sentiments are very detrimental. Bad sentiments affect this country beyond politics. We have seen that the incidents that have happened in between this month and last month can be attributed to sentiments expressed which, to a large extent, have even contributed to the bad performance of the Kwacha on the market.

Laughter

Mr Sichone: Who does not know that an economy is, to a large extent, sentimental? It is very sentimental.

Mr Speaker, immediately investors discover that there is no confidence internally, there are conflicts internally and people perceiving a country to be corrupt, they will shy away from investing in such a country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: Sir, like I said yesterday, if one is a successful businessman and he/she wants to go beyond business and become a leader of a country, why not use that success to show his/her leadership so that many people can follow and, obviously, want to be successful like him/her?

For instance, if someone is successful in ranching, why can he/she not use that skill of ranching …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Belemu: That is a wrong example!

Interruptions

Mr Sichone: … to motivate the young people and others of this country that would want to invest in this field? Then, others will realise that here stands a leader. He/she has been successful in this and that and they can also be the same as opposed to using hate speech.

Prof. Luo: It takes you nowhere!

Mr Sichone: Mr Speaker, we have heard of threatening incidents where land has been grabbed from poor people somewhere in Namwala …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: … and you start to wonder. If somebody, indeed, aspires to be a leader, how does he get out of his way to grab land from poor people?

Hon. Opposition Member: We have land!

Mr Sichone: A leader like President Edgar Chagwa Lungu stands for the poor …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: … regardless of whether they belong to different political parties. It is very sad. Mr Speaker, I would say that there is quite a lot that we need to learn amongst ourselves on how we should provide leadership to the nation.

Mr Speaker, allow me to comment on the China/Zambia relationship. Recently, the House could have learnt about the twinning between Muchinga Province and Jiangxi Province of China. I must mention that it is so unfortunate that both local and international media carried stories which were negative.

Sir, whilst in China, we visited several places, including a place called Ganzhou, …

Interruptions

Mr Sichone: … not Guangzhou, but Ganzhou, where we met some people from the West at a hotel. Within ten minutes of being with those people, we heard so many bad things about China. One of my colleagues decided to ask them what they were doing in China if so much of what they perceived to be bad was going on. They said, “ This is where the money is.” They said they were in China working for an institution which was making motor vehicle body parts.

Mr Speaker, what I am trying to say is that the people who are manufacturing the hate speech and all the falsehoods about China are the ones who are in the forefront surviving and begging from China.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Sichone: Mr Speaker, China has a very successful governance and economic model. It has managed to move over 300 million people out of poverty to above the poverty datum line. This is the only county on earth which has done that. We have seen countries from the West which benefited from slavery. Apart from getting our forefathers as slaves, they came back to colonise Africa, amassed so much wealth and became very powerful and rich, yet as we are speaking, their economies are nose-diving. The question, then, is: Who should be our helper in this case?

Sir, as a country, we are anticipating to move people from poverty. So, in this endeavour, there is no way we can actually even meander about the whole thing. We are supposed to get support from the successful economies and from people who have successfully moved people from abject poverty to above the poverty datum line.

Mr Speaker, the twinning of Muchinga Province with Jiangxi Province of China entails that the economic opportunities that Muchinga has and those of Jiangxi Province shall be mutually shared. We will have exchanges in terms of investment, relations and culture. One culture I would want to embrace from Jiangxi Province is that of hard work.

Sir, above all, allow me to thank you for giving me this chance to debate.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, we are now moving to the Frontbench. I have been supplied a list of hon. Members from the Frontbench. It is quite a long list, but I would like as many, if not all, to debate because today is our last day of debate. We need to wind down this particular Motion in readiness for the events tomorrow. To signal the debate from the Frontbench is the hon. Minister of Lands and Natural Resources.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources (Ms Kapata): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you for according me this opportunity to add my voice in thanking His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for his speech at the Official Opening of the Third Session of the Twelfth National Assembly, which was delivered on Friday, 14^th September, 2018.

Mr Livune: Question!

Ms Kapata: Ukafwa na question mark.

Mr Speaker, some hon. Members on your left debated that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia should have press conferences.

However, Mr Speaker, leadership has different styles. Some leaders are dictators, while others are democrats. Our President is democratic. His leadership style is that of going to where the people are as compared to having press conferences at State House. Therefore, nobody will dictate to His Excellency the President on how he should speak to the people of Zambia. He speaks to the people of Zambia by going to different provinces. He is on record visiting almost every province and district, as it stands today, whilst commissioning various developmental projects.

Ms Mulenga: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata: Sir, he has been to provinces where they did not vote for him. However, I want to thank the people of the North-Western Province and Western Province because they appreciate the leadership of His Excellency the President. They have now changed and are voting for the Patriotic Front (PF) …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata: … because of the good leadership exhibited by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia.

Ms Mulenga: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, others concentrate on name-calling and when they hold press conferences, one cannot tell whether they are human beings. He cannot smile, he is so frustrated, annoyed and behaves like a wounded buffalo.

Ms Mulenga: Hear, hear! Wounded buffalo!

Laughter

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, our President will not go that direction.

UNPD Members: Policy!

Mr Speaker: Order!

You may continue, hon. Minister.

Ms Kapata: Sir, all that the people on your left do is show bitterness and denial …

Hon. Government Members: Hare, hear!

Ms Kapata: … of acceptance of the results of the 2016 General Elections, which took place almost two years ago.

Ms Mulenga: Hear, hear! We are still hammering even now!

Mr Speaker, they have gone on …

Hon. Opposition Members: Mukula!

Ms Kapata: Who is saying mukula?

Laughter

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, the people on your left have not given the Zambian people any hope or alternative.

Mr Speaker: Order!

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, I was very reluctant to interfere with your debate. I am now addressing the entire House because this is a matter of practice. His Excellency the President came before us and deposited a speech in which he outlined several policy measures that his Government intends to pursue, especially in the coming year, and what has been achieved so far. We are here to debate the speech and its content. As for the left, especially, you should be augmenting that speech by highlighting issues for the attention of the Frontbench which has portfolios that it is managing. The Frontbench should highlight how it will manage those portfolios in relation to the speech by His Excellency the President ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: You should be highlighting how you are going to manage those portfolios in relation to the speech by His Excellency the President. That should be your focus. Also, our masters are listening outside. They want to know where we are going. They want to know where we are taking them. So, please, take that into account as you debate.

Hon. Minister, continue.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I want to thank you for the guidance. I was just trying to react to the many issues that the people on your left brought up.

Mr Livune interjected.

Ms Mulenga: We have a right to respond.

Ms Kapata: Yes, we have a right to respond.

Mr Speaker: Order on the left!

Continue, hon. Minister.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President also talked about propaganda and it looks like some people in this House, especially those on your left, are more interested in propaganda related to issues on social media. They just take things out of proportion and, in fact, are the ones who generated the propaganda on the issue of having sold the international airport –

Mr Belemu: Policy.

Mr Speaker: Order on the left!

Continue, hon. Minister.

Ms Kapata: That is very bad propaganda. There is also the demeaning of partners to Government, such as the Chinese Government. We cannot be where we are as a country without the Chinese Government’s input. I want to commend Hon. Mbulakulima and take his debate as my own. He actually told the House the history and relationship that has been in existence between Zambia and China.

Mr Speaker, I now revert to my ministry. Indeed, we need to support His Excellency the President in his quest to see a Zambia in which every citizen has access to safe and clean water, food, decent housing, electricity, quality education, health services and decent jobs. This call by His Excellency the President means that every one of us must put in our best in our areas of operation. Together, we can do it and build a better Zambia without leaving any one behind.

Mr Speaker, in his address to this august House, His Excellency the President articulated what the Government is doing in addressing all five developmental pillars in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP). This goes to show that the Government is committed to delivering on its promises. Under the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, we have delivered on our promises, despite the Opposition on your left choosing to be blind to things that are just openly in front of their eyes. Most of them drive their cars on the tarred roads that the PF Government has constructed. However, they still come here to denounce the development that has taken place.

Mr Speaker, I wish to commend the PF Government for being committed to facilitating access to clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy for our people. The results are there for all to see, as the country has recorded significant reduction in load-shedding. Small businesses in markets are booming because there is no longer load shedding.

Mr Speaker, production of clean and safe energy needs to be supported as it will contribute to protecting the country from pollution and to reducing negative effects of climate change.

Mr Speaker, I applaud the PF Government in its quest to promote the rights of persons with disabilities. In this regard, the call by His Excellency the President for the civil society and everybody else to mainstream disability in all programmes should be taken seriously.

Mr Speaker, the Youth Empowerment Programme highlighted by His Excellency the President in his speech needs to be commended by all well-meaning Zambians. Supporting the youth is a recipe for sustainable development. This programme needs to be supported, particularly, by the Executive, including the Opposition leaders on your left. We shall rally behind His Excellency the President and ensure that this programme records more success in the coming years.

Mr Speaker, we should commit to supporting His Excellency the President in promoting gender equality. Indeed, women need to be supported in their endeavour to have access to education, health nutrition, justice, land and social and economic opportunities.

Mr Speaker, I will be quick to mention here that we, as women, are our own enemies. Just last weekend, we attended a meeting which was very important to us as female hon. Members of Parliament. The topic was on cyber crime and most of us are victims of cyber crime. Alas, we missed an opportunity to fully discuss this matter. When we got into that meeting, people forgot that we went there as female Parliamentarians and not as hon. Members of Parliament from the United Party for National Development (UPND), PF or Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD). We were supposed to speak as a single voice as women, but we missed the opportunity because in there, people became petty and partisan. Issues of women cannot be taken lightly and should be tackled with the seriousness that they deserve. We should tackle them together, as women, because united we stand. If we go to such fora divided, …

Mrs Simukoko: We will never achieve anything.

Ms Kapata: … then, I think there is no need for us to say that we need to be counted as women. The fighting on cyber crime starts with us women. However, that meeting became political and some of us had to restrain ourselves from reacting to what our colleagues were saying for fear of being labelled a somebody who is always fighting people.

Laughter

Mrs Simukoko: Fight them.

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, for some of us heading Government institutions with the responsibility of collecting non-tax revenue, the call for a smart Zambia is a welcome move. An electronic (e) payment system for the Public Service will, indeed, enhance transparency and minimise leakages in the collection of non-tax revenue. We totally commit ourselves to this cause.

Mr Speaker, even as we embark on our national titling programme, we hope that people out there will respond positively by coming to the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources so that they can get their much-needed title deeds.

Mr Speaker, on the issue of timber, we intend to start harvesting timber in this country and invite people to a public auction. We will invite other countries to come into Zambia to buy our timber at a public auction. We will no longer export our timber in its raw form. Our timber should be exported after value addition.

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kapata: ... I wish to reiterate the quote by His Excellency the President that:

“I urge all stakeholders at the community, district, provincial and national levels to take the necessary steps to integrate our national values and principles in all aspects of life.”

Mr Speaker, this is very important for the nation to make progress. A nation without values and principles is a lost one.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Local Government (Mr Mwale): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity, and I hope that you will allow me to give clarification on insurance of the fire tenders soon after I finish delivering this speech, because I had said that I would come to the House to clarify that matter.

Mr Speaker, let me start by congratulating His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for his not only eloquent but also inspiring address to this august House.

Mr Livune: Question!

Mr Mwale: In the same vein, I wish to thank His Excellency for the appropriate choice of theme of the address which is “Working Together to Achieve Vision 2030.” The Ministry of Local Government is playing a key role in ensuring the attainment of the Vision 2030 through the delivery of municipal services to our citizens in a decentralised manner. In doing so, the ministry provides a platform on which our inspiration to build a strong and dynamic industrial nation that provides opportunities for the well-being of all our people is guaranteed.

Mr Speaker, in the current decentralisation dispensation, access to quality municipal services and the provision of infrastructure development as well as the general well-being of our people is a key focus of the Ministry of Local Government, as the nation goes towards devolution of functions from the centre to the local authorities. I wish to thank His Excellency the President for his continued effort in ensuring that we allow services to get as close to the people as possible. This will only be achievable once we strengthen our local government system. Therefore, I am indebted to His Excellency and the Patriotic Front (PF) Government for its effort in achieving this goal.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency emphasised the need for us to ensure implementation of programmes and projects stipulated in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP). Key to my ministry is the focus area on reducing development inequalities. Under this focus, the ministry is striving to improve the quality of life in both urban and rural areas so as to reduce the existing development gap. The ministry is committed to upgrading the unplanned settlements in all major cities in the country starting with Lusaka. More than 70 per cent of the urban population lives in these areas and it, therefore, goes without saying that once we manage to upgrade these areas, we will create opportunities for the majority of the city dwellers in accessing socio-economic services and prevent communicable diseases, such as cholera. This is one of the aims of the ministry and its achievement will contribute towards achieving the Vision 2030, through the 7NDP.

Mr Speaker, in addition to upgrading unplanned settlements, the ministry is responsible for constructing and maintaining urban and feeder roads. These are key to the development of our country as we aspire for a prosperous middle-income status by 2030. In rural areas, feeder roads are key infrastructure in enhancing economic development and closing in the development inequality gap that exists ...

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order on the left!

Mr Mwale: ... between rural and urban areas as well as between one rural area and another. The Ministry of Local Government, therefore, will endeavour to open up rural areas through construction and rehabilitation of feeder roads in an equitable and fair manner throughout the country.

Mr Speaker, I wish to thank His Excellency for creating more districts as a way of bringing services closer to the people. This is reducing development inequalities, especially for the rural areas. Residents of these places will see development of socio-economic infrastructure, such as roads, schools and hospitals which they have never had since Independence.

Mr Speaker, His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, in his address, stated that the Government is committed to facilitating industrialisation as part of economic diversification. This is key to the development of our nation and achieving the Vision 2030. The ministry will, therefore, continue to facilitate the provision of land for construction of industries and trading facilities in order to enhance the Government’s effort to industrialise and diversify the economy. To this end, the ministry will strive to ensure that every council prepares an Integrated Development Plan (IDP) in accordance with the Urban and Regional Planning Act No. 3 of 2015 and the 7NDP. The IDP will facilitate the delivery of land for investors who want to invest in Zambia and, therefore, contribute to diversification through industrialisation, as espoused by His Excellency in his address.

Mr Speaker, as I wind down my debate, allow me to seize this opportunity to clarify one issue that I promised to clarify in my debate, which is the insurance of fire trucks. On Tuesday –

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, for the time being, I would rather we focus on the President’s Address. The reason is simple. If you address that issue now, your colleagues will be denied the opportunity to ask questions or to seek clarification as it were. So, you will arrange with the Clerk so that you can come back, at an appropriate juncture, to explain this issue properly. However, if it relates to the President’s Speech, you are free to do so. If you want to specifically deal with that question, namely what the insurance value was, that will have to be on another day.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, much obliged.

Sir, with these few remarks, I thank you.

Thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Katambo): Mr Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the speech delivered by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, during the Official Opening of the Third Session of the Twelfth National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, in his speech to this House, which was so inspiring, His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, highlighted key national issues related to the agriculture sector which I would like to focus on. His Excellency the President made reference to the Seventh National Development (7NDP), as the main vehicle for the attainment of the country’s Vision 2030. In the 7NDP, agriculture remains one of the key sectors for achieving economic diversification, poverty reduction and job creation. The potential of the sector in the form of land and water resources needs to be harnessed for the sector to take its rightful place in national economic development.

Mr Speaker, in order for the agriculture sector to flourish, the focus of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is to increase production and productivity, promote diversification and improve food and nutrition security of our population. In this regard, the Government is committed to continue investing in the key drivers of agriculture growth and development. Some of the key drivers of agriculture development include:

efficient extension service provision;

public research and development;

irrigation development; and

input and output agriculture markets.

Mr Speaker, I will now highlight what the Government is doing to harness these key drivers in order to grow the sector. The Government remains committed to providing efficient and effective agriculture extension services. In this regard, it aims to reduce the farmer to extension worker ratio from 1,140:1 to the recommended 400:1. In 2018, over 500 extension officers have been recruited so that farmers have increased access to extension services. We are also cognisant of the fact that having extension staff requires requisite resources to be made available for them to carry out their duties.

The Government strives to ensure that the requisite resources are made available for these officers to perform their duties effectively. In order to support extension services, the Government has been procuring transport for extension staff. Last year, over 250 motor bikes were procured. This year, a further 150 motor bikes are to be procured.

Mr Speaker, we have continued to invest in agriculture research and development. Public sector research and development is a key driver for growth in the sector because it makes available extensive agriculture technologies to resource poor farmers by offering them for free or at a minimum cost. This year alone, agriculture research has released, at least, sixteen new crop varieties. This is a clear demonstration of the PF Government’s commitment to investment in this area. These research products would not have been produced if the Government did not put in place the requisite facilities.

Sir, between November, 2017 and January, 2018, the country experienced a prolonged dry spell which ultimately resulted in reduced crop production and productivity. In order to mitigate the growing threat of climate change, the Government is constructing irrigation schemes across the country. Worth noting are schemes at Chisamba, Momboshi, Chirundu at Lusitu and Mufulira at Musakashi which are expected to bring over 300 hectares of land under irrigation once completed. An increase in areas under irrigation will not only increase production but will also facilitate crop diversification.

Mr Speaker, the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) is one of the major programmes that the Government is implementing, as a Government. The programme targets over a million farmers. Despite the challenges, FISP has been successful in ensuring that farmers have increased access to agriculture inputs. In the 2017/2018 Farming Season, we achieved an 80 per cent success rate in farmers accessing inputs. Further, FISP has seen a growth in private sector participation in input markets.

Sir, currently, there are over 5,800 agro dealer outlets registered with the programme which has created 23,000 jobs. I must say that we, as a Government, have scored success to have created 23,000 direct jobs from FISP alone. If we are to add indirect jobs, the number could be higher. This, indeed, is a systematic way of implementing the programme. This clears the issue raised by Hon. Prof. Lungwangwa who said:

“If they do not vote for us, they cannot benefit from the programme.”

Mr Speaker, this programme is not selective. Hon. Nkombo also described it as defective in comparison with the Budget. This is an effective tool to serve our vulnerable but viable farmers.

Sir, we remain committed to increasing private sector participation in input and output markets. This will ensure that farmers can buy their inputs and sell their agricultural produce. Therefore, when the private sector offers a higher price for maize than the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), it is an indication that the private sector is willing to develop agriculture markets. Further, the Government seeks to develop markets for different agriculture commodities to stimulate agriculture diversification among our farmers.

Mr Speaker, the desire to attain agriculture diversification is not for the Government alone. I, therefore, call upon all of us, hon. Members in this august House, to promote agriculture diversification in our constituencies. We need to change the mindsets of our people towards agriculture production. We are the ambassadors of the Agriculture Diversification Agenda which will improve food security and nutrition. It is clear that this Government is making an effort in increasing agriculture production and productivity to promote diversification. In addition, we will continue to promote value addition of agriculture commodities in order to develop a sustainable agriculture sector.

Sir, as I conclude, let me echo the statement that His Excellency the President issued in this august House:

“The hope of our nation rests, in greater part, with us the honourable Men and Women in this august House. We have the greatest power in our land. The power to shape the destiny of our country, the power to translate the dreams and hopes of our people into reality.”

Ms. Mulenga: Hear, hear!

Mr Katambo: Mr Speaker, if we do not participate and support the Government’s efforts in developing our country, all our aspirations will not become a reality for our people. Hence, we need to work together to achieve the Vision 2030, that is, to become a prosperous middle income nation without leaving anyone behind.

I thank you, sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Higher Education (Prof. Luo): Mr Speaker, I want to start by passing condolences to our colleague who died in a road accident and also to welcome our new hon. Member of Parliament for Kasenengwa Parliamentary Constituency.

Sir, I want to further acknowledge the inspiring speech delivered to this august House on Friday, 14^th August, 2018, at the Official Opening of the Third Session of the Twelfth National Assembly under the theme “Working Together to Achieve Vision 2030.”

Mr Speaker, the speech by his Excellency the President was not only well delivered by a learned lawyer by the name of His Excellency the President of this Republic, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, but also contained issues that have set the pace, especially for us in the Executive. He articulated the fact that the Patriotic Front (PF) has an ambitious transformation agenda which we will continue to pursue in making Zambia a great country and a prosperous middle income country.

Sir, His Excellency the President followed this up with a vision that the PF has of Zambia being a prosperous middle income nation by 2030. He further said:

“We aspire to build a strong and dynamic industrial nation that provides opportunities for improving the well-being of all our people and embodies values of socio-economic justice.”

Mr Speaker, despite this beautiful vision that His Excellency the President put before us, it was very interesting to listen to our partners on your left speak with a lot of bitterness and anger. It showed that they are not ready to work with our Government and also, that they are not ready to embrace our vision.

Sir, I want to quote what one of the most celebrated leaders of the world, Nelson Mandela, said before he walked out of prison. He said:

“As I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn’t leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I’d still be in prison.”

Mr Speaker, as my colleagues were responding to this great speech by His Excellency the President, I was wondering how many of them are still imprisoned because of the anger and bitterness which they exhibited. Holding grudges does not make anybody strong, but it makes one continue with bitterness.

Mrs Simukoko: Hear, hear!

Prof. Luo: Sir, accepting reality does not make you weak, but it sets you free.

Ms Mulenga: Hear, hear!

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, they should not imprison themselves. Instead, they must free themselves.

Mrs Simukoko: Bondage of Satan.

Prof. Luo: Sir, many times, I have said that one of the biggest problems in Zambia is that we suffer from a disease called CCJ, which stands for complaining, criticism and jealousy.

Mrs Simukoko: Apo pene!

Prof. Luo: Sir, from this debate, I can see that we probably need to bring some spectacles −

Mr Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

Prof. Luo: Madam Speaker, before business was suspended, I was saying that one of our major problems in this country is the disease that we suffer from called CCJ, which stands for complaining, criticism and jealousy. Even a child can see that Zambia is no longer the same. It does not require spectacles for one to see the massive development that has taken place in Zambia in the last seven years and how the country has been transformed.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Prof. Luo: Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President, in his speech, invited all of us to work together but, clearly, our colleagues on the left have declined the invitation. Let me inform them that they are doing this at their own peril.

However, let me mention the fact that there are three very important principles in life which are to say ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ and having love for other people. We have an obligation to our people to learn that the only way that we, the hon. Members, can love our people is by taking development to them. This was said in the President’s Speech. The PF has shown this by taking development even to areas like Dundumwezi which did not vote for President Lungu.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs Simukoko: Very good man!

Prof. Luo: Madam Speaker, people should thank us where we have done well ...

Hon. Opposition Member: Question!

Ms Mulenga: You lose nothing!

Mrs Simukoko: They are village Buffaloes!

Prof Luo: ... and those of you who have wronged others should say sorry. I think that is important.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Prof Luo: Madam Speaker, we cannot continue debating based on innuendo, gossip and social media. This is the reason the PF Government has decided to invest in education. His Excellency the President of this Republic articulated the many colleges, universities, trade schools and skills centres that are being built because we, as a Government, want to change our approach to life as opposed to saying “What is this I heard?” People at our level cannot be bringing gossip to this august House.

Madam Speaker, our ministry will transform the education sector so that it reflects our ethics and value systems. If I am going to talk about something, it should be something that I have read. We want to promote the culture of reading and we believe that increasing education infrastructure and raising the bar from just primary and secondary education to university education will transform us and ensure that our mindsets change.

Madam Speaker, how can education free us from gossip and innuendos? The Ministry of Higher Education has increased the number of scholarships accessible to our people. How I would love to, maybe, extend some scholarships to some hon. Members so that we raise the bar in education.

Hon. Members: Give us, imwe!

Prof Luo: Madam Speaker, this is why the ministry is singing about investing in research. We have ensured that there is more investment in research in our contributions to the debate on the Budget in the last few years. This issue of talking about things that are not backed by evidence and things that cannot be measured must come to an end.

Mrs Simukoko: Hear, hear!

Prof. Luo: Madam Speaker, research sets opinions because they are based on facts and evidence.

Madam Speaker, why are we investing in trade schools? This is to help our children to not spend time loitering on the street and being part of this global movement of gossip and innuendos by ensuring that they get skills, organise their lives and set up their own businesses and put money in their pockets.

Madam Speaker, education in Zambia must be seen as gold. Small countries like Singapore, Japan and South Korea have done so well because they invested in education, science and technology.

Madam Speaker, there was a lot of debate about China. We should feel ashamed. We should, in fact, emulate countries like that. When they were sent to study in America, they did not just come with certificates on their shoulders, but they copied the technology. They went back to their country and implemented the technology that they had learnt. What we should be asking in this august House is: How can we learn from a country like that? How can we get hold of that technology and transport it to Zambia so that, as Zambia becomes to a prosperous country, it will be backed by modern 21^st Century technology and education.

Hon. Mulenga: Hear, hear!

Prof. Luo: Madam Speaker, university education is the future of this country and all of us who have not had an opportunity to get this kind of education should go and introspect it and apply it to the various universities that we are talking about in this country.

Madam Speaker, I want to spend some time talking about the investments in nuclear science by the PF Government under His Excellency the President of this Republic.

Madam Speaker, when our nuclear centre gets established and all the young men and women we have sent across the world to be educated come back with first degrees, master’s degrees and doctorates in philosophy (PhDs) in nuclear science, this country will not be the same because this knowledge will advance the diagnostic services in health, especially that, at the moment, Zambia is faced with many cases of cancer and nuclear science is critical in the diagnostics and treatment of cancers.

Madam Speaker, agriculture will not be the same again because we will be able to contribute to activities such as seed multiplication in agriculture and we will never ever say that we do not have seed because we will be able to diversify the different types of seed in this country.

Madam Speaker, as regards energy, even in the face of climate change, this whole country will be lit because of nuclear science.

Madam Speaker, those people who are saying that the Government cannot have this land for that purpose are wasting their time because the PF Government is in a hurry to develop this country and secure the future of our children and their children.

Madam Speaker, as His Excellency the President put it, there is a lot to be done. We do not have the luxury of time. So, we cannot sit back here and waste our time. We need to work. For those who want to remain behind, waya-waya-washala-washala!

Mrs Simukoko: Shaleni bane!

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mulenga: Elo ama wild buffalo tayenda bwangu. Yalakokola ukufika.

Mrs Simukoko: Shalenipo.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: We are waiting for you to translate waya-waya-washala-washala.

Mrs Chonya: Go, go, go. Remain, remain.

Laughter

Prof. Luo: Madam Speaker, it is go, go, go and remain, remain behind.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Laughter

Madam First Deputy Speaker: As Members of the Executive are aware, a list of hon. Ministers to debate has been provided to us and we are, therefore, following this list and not the names or ministries that are appearing on the consul.

Ms Mulenga: Give us the list so that we know.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The next hon. Minister to debate is the hon. Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mulenga: Where is the list coming from?

The Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs (Rev. Sumaili): Madam Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to stand before this august House and pass a vote of thanks to his Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on his speech to the House and the nation on the Official Opening of the Third Session of the Twelfth National Assembly on 14^th September, 2018. The theme of the speech was, “Working Together to Achieve the Vision 2030.”

Madam Speaker, allow me to congratulate His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia on the speech which was delivered so eloquently and with great passion. The speech is inspirational and gives hope to the people of this great nation.

Ms Mulenga: Hear, hear!

Rev. Sumaili: This well-thought-out speech speaks to the core of the spirit of the nation and brings out our aspirations, as a people, to build the Zambia we want.

Ms Mulenga: Hear, hear!

Rev. Sumaili: Madam Speaker, the theme could not have come at a better time than this when the nation is yearning and seeking unity. The theme of the speech, “Working Together to Achieve the Vision 2030” is anchored on national unity and agreement among the people of Zambia. Our developmental pilgrim to 2030 demands selflessness and sacrifice for the common good. The God Almighty will only release a blessing upon our nation when we are together.

Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President stressed tolerance and unity among leaders. The Government will continue to engage political parties and other stakeholders. It is important that we continue talking to each other.

Members of this august House are part of the governance system and structures and carry so much power. We should be aware of the power and influence that we carry. Therefore, we should not speak carelessly. Negative speech and falsehood should not be associated with national leaders, including the hon. Members of Parliament, regardless of our beliefs and inclinations. Our talk must be honourable. We are part of the governance structure of this country. Leaders should not underrate the power of the tongue as life and death lie in the power of the tongue. Let us speak the truth and not be agents of falsehood and destruction …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Rev. Sumaili: … because your tongue can ignite a fire. We are accountable for the words that we speak. My ministry will continue engaging political parties to promote values that bind us together, as Zambians. This is in line with our ideals as a Christian nation and, indeed, our cultural values.

Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President also stressed the need to be patriotic. We need to treasure and love our country. We need to defend our country against any malicious propaganda on the state of the nation. As leaders and patriotic citizens, we should offer advice and practical solutions to the challenges that the country may be facing.

Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President emphasised the importance of national values, principles and ethics in national development. He stressed the need to strengthen our governance system through mainstreaming of national values and principles in all spheres of life, whether public or private. He urged all stakeholders at community, district provincial and national levels to take the necessary steps to integrate our national values and principles in all aspects of life.

Madam Speaker, I am glad to report that progress has been made by the ministry in mainstreaming these values and enlarging our geographical catchment through decentralisation into provinces.

Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President stressed the need to view the scourge of corruption ...

Mr Mwamba: Hear, hear!

Rev. Sumaili: … not just as a crime but also a morally reprehensible act. Therefore, corruption is a serious problem. It is from this perspective that His Excellency the President takes the fight against corruption seriously …

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Rev. Sumaili: … and wants to maintain the independence of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) so that it operates professionally. Morality demands that we accept that corruption is a cancer and destroyer of the nation. We need to look at acts of corruption with shame and remorse. The fight starts with each one of us.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, shame is unparliamentary.

Rev. Sumaili: We need to look at the act of corruption …

Mr Mawere: With regret.

Rev. Sumaili: …with regret and remorse. The fight starts with each one of us. Let us educate the people on the negative effects of corruption. We also need to be systematic and strategic as we institutionalise this fight.

Madam Speaker, I call upon hon. Members of Parliament to support efforts aimed at strengthening the ACC, through legislation, so that it can effectively deal with the cancer before it is entrenched in all spheres of life and erode the moral fibre of our society.

Madam Speaker, the ministry is committed to the promotion of integrity and good governance in the promotion of national values, principles and ethics, and it is working with various institutions that include Government ministries, political parties, traditional leaders, churches, civil society and families, among others.

Madam Speaker, achieving our Vision 2030 goals demands that our developmental and transformational agenda be anchored on these values and on hard work. The miracle money that we hear about is not real. We all need to work hard.

Madam Speaker, the issue of immorality is serious and needs to be dealt with at all levels, starting with the family, schools, both higher and general education, and the entertainment industry, among others. Through legislation, sexual perversion that is contrary to our cultural and Christian beliefs can be dealt with.

As I conclude, Madam Speaker, let me, again, congratulate our hard-working and focused leader, His Excellency the President, …

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

Rev. Sumaili: … for courageously steering this nation into the path of prosperity.

May the Lord God Almighty continue to bless the nation of Zambia.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mwamba: Quality.

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Chitotela): Madam Speaker, I thank you, once again, for the opportunity to contribute to the speech that was ably delivered by His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the President of the Sovereign Republic of Zambia on 14^th September, 2018.

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to raise on the Floor of this august House today and make a contribution to the debate on the speech of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, during the Official Opening of the Third Session of the Twelfth National Assembly.

Madam Speaker, let me start by appreciating other hon. Members of Parliament who have debated the President’s Address before me. It is truly wonderful to see how some hon. Members of Parliament have positively contributed to the debate, while others have opposed it. I wish to state that the speech is, indeed, progressive and inspiring to the Zambian people as it articulates the country’s transformative agenda. This agenda is transformative in nature in that it is meant to address the main socio-economic challenges the nation is facing today by offering economic and social policy initiatives that will provide a favourable environment for the implementation of these strategies. The speech has, therefore, laid out the policy direction and programme priorities of the Government.

Madam Speaker, let me elaborate further why I am on the Floor of this august House today as Minister responsible for housing and infrastructure development. I will focus my contribution to the debate on the speech on the issues that relate to the mandate of my ministry. With this in mind, my debate will mainly cover the pillars of economic diversification and job creation, and reducing developmental inequalities to which the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development contributes significantly.

Madam Speaker, undoubtedly so, the choice of the theme “Working together to Achieve Vision 2030” is most appropriate in our particular circumstances as we aim at transforming the country into a prosperous middle income country through accelerated economic programmes without leaving anyone behind, even the people of Mitete.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: The theme is anchored on the developmental strategies that the PF Government is currently implementing which seek to improve the living conditions of Zambians across the nation irrespective of their socio-economic status, region and political affiliation. Today, we are putting up district infrastructure in Mitete.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: To this end, the ministry has taken bold and decisive steps to actualise this vision.

Madam Speaker, arising from this, the ministry is playing a critical role in implementing strategic programmes in the provision of appropriate infrastructure in line with the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP), which seeks to contribute to the attainment of the set objectives in the national development plan.

To this end, our focus will be on delivering infrastructure that is anchored on the transformative agenda, as underscored in His Excellency the President’s Speech. This will be done through the following programmes, among others:

improving roads, housing, railway, aviation, health, education and marine infrastructure in order to facilitate the desired level of economic transformation and private investment; and

addressing the infrastructure deficits, especially in rural areas, so as to reduce developmental inequalities.

Madam Speaker, ultimately, all these measures will have intense positive effects on the welfare of the Zambian people which have been at the helm of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government priorities and guiding principle for the pro-poor policy. It is, thus, the obligation of this Government to set priorities and to provide an enabling environment to support infrastructure development which is a catalyst for economic growth.

Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia informed the nation about wanting a Zambia which posterity will be proud of, a Zambia that will be a beacon of prosperity in Africa, a Zambia that will be admired not only by Africa but also the whole world. Translating this call to action for us in the housing and infrastructure sector, prosperity entails increasing the infrastructure stock base, adhering to specifications and set standards as well as having infrastructure which is resilient and adaptable to climate change. We all know that improved infrastructure provides a strong foundation for economic growth of the nation. Arising from this, the decision by the PF Government to invest in infrastructure development requires the support of all the Zambian people.

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: Therefore, for us to continue developing infrastructure in the country, we must always endeavour to work in harmony and build on our successes.

Madam Speaker, in this regard, we will continue to implement the Flagship Road Infrastructure Programme in line with His Excellency the President’s directive, which is the Link Zambia 8,000 km Road Project. We will also continue implementing Phase II of the Lusaka 400 km Road Project, the Copperbelt Township Road Project, the National Road Tolling Programme and the Zambia Township Road Project. In addition to the key roads highlighted by His Excellency the President, other roads that are being worked on include:

road rehabilitation works for the Chingola/Solwezi Road with Solwezi Township Roads;

upgrading of the Chipata/Chadiza/Katete/Vubwi Road, including the Chipata to Feni Road;

upgrading of Nchelenge/Chienge/Kaputa/Lunchinda Road;

upgrading of Mwenda/Kawambwa/Kala Road;

upgrading of Samfya/Musaila/Lubwe/Kasaba/Luwingu Road;

upgrading of Kalabo/Sikongo Road;

upgrading of Manyinga/Mwinilunga/Jimbe Road;

upgrading of Mporokoso/Kaputa Road; and

upgrading of Muyombe Road, and many other roads that I have not mentioned.

Other infrastructure development projects that are under implementation, particularly in the newly created districts across the country include, but are not limited to, the construction of thirty-three administration blocks, twenty-eight post offices, thirty-three civic centres with associated infrastructure, sixty-four high cost houses, 660 low cost houses, 520 medium cost houses and twenty-five police stations with 250 houses. We are also constructing provincial headquarters in Chinsali District, Choma District and Solwezi District in Muchinga Province, the Southern Province and the North-Western Province respectively. The overall objectives of this programme is to provide adequate office and staff accommodation to officers in the newly created districts thereby, bringing services closer to the people in line with the Decentralisation Policy. Once completed, these infrastructure projects will deliver significant economic and social benefits to the country, including direct revenue generation as well as support to local and regional economic activities and trade.

Madam Speaker, the goal of the PF Government is to transform Zambia into a transport hub for the region and beyond. Therefore, in line with the Presidential directives, the ministry will ensure that the construction of the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport (KKIA) and the Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe Airport are completed in record time, and according to specifications. In addition, we will continue implementing other on-going infrastructure projects as follows:

district and specialised hospitals;

secondary schools, trades institutes and universities;

housing units in both old and new districts;

administration blocks, police stations and post offices; and

other public infrastructure across the country

Madam Speaker, the focus is to complete all the projects that are above 80 per cent complete. This is not to say that we will neglect other commitments or projects that are below 80 per cent complete. These projects are financed under the domestic resources mobilised. The programmes that I have just outlined in reaffirming the President’s pronouncements are, indeed, significant in scale and require considerable fiscal resources while ensuring macroeconomic stability, as indicated by His Excellency the President in his speech. To anchor macroeconomic stability, these programmes are scoped carefully. Further, the ministry recognises the need to efficiently apply the limited resources on priority programmes with the highest impact. This will be achieved by aligning some programmes and resources to the prioritised programmes in order to deliver the desired outcomes, both economically and efficiently.

Madam Speaker, this is not just a Government matter, but one all of us are familiar with. These are programmes that we have put in place. It is, therefore, a shared responsibility and requires the support and commitment of all Zambians. However, the Government will continue to do its part to provide an enabling environment for the implementation of these interventions and this will need our support in order to successfully implement them even though those with dissenting views may not agree.

Madam Speaker, in his address to the nation, His Excellency the President reminded us about the developmental inequalities in our country which he described as a challenging situation and urged all of us to double our efforts so as to reduce these inequalities. As you may be aware, an outstanding nation is not just economically vibrant but also needs to be socially inclusive, that is, a place that embraces diversity, where different people mix easily and have equal opportunities to participate in the development agenda of the nation.

Unfortunately, Madam Speaker, there are some regions where people think other people cannot go. If you look around us, this is not always the case in many areas. Often, urban areas look better than rural areas resulting in inequalities in the area of infrastructure. Even in urban areas, there are developmental inequalities in terms of infrastructure between urban and peri urban areas. In this respect, the ministry will prioritise the programme to upgrade slums and will formalise unplanned settlements.

Madam Speaker, in an effort to contribute to economic diversification and job creation, it is gratifying to state that the ministry, with the support from the World Bank, has commenced the implementation of preliminary activities for the mass rehabilitation of primary feeder roads across the country, under the Improved Rural Connectivity Project. Indeed, this programme will unlock the potential of the agriculture sector and tourism sector and promote trade in rural areas as we diversify the economy of our country.

Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to respond to some issues raised by hon. Members of Parliament.

Madam, the hon. Member for Mitete stated that if we are to look at achieving the status of being a middle-income country by 2030, then, we must not borrow. I was at sea. There is a need to realise that for any development to take place, there is a need to borrow. However, what is required to be talked about is how to apply the borrowed money on investment that will have a high rate of return so that we can repay the loan and grow our company. For example, we can connect the people of Mitete to other places so that when they harvest, they can transport their goods and services nearer to the market.

Madam Speaker, it is surprising to find an elected representative, who is supposed to lobby for money for developmental projects to benefit his people, criticising the Government and saying that it does not need to look for money for development. Yet, in the same breath, the hon. Member is asking the Government to open up areas like the Western Province by working on roads such as the Katunda/Lukulu Road. One begins to wonder whether we are really representatives of the people. We need to distinguish between politicking and speaking for the people who sent us to this House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: We can play politics, but at the end of the day, hon. Members must know that, after the five-year period, they will stand to account for what they will have done for the people of Mitete, Chadiza or Shang’ombo because people will ask us what we will have done for them since being voted for. We will not go back to them and say that we went to Parliament to politic.

Madam Speaker, again, I was at sea yesterday as I listened to the former Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr Situmbeko Musokotwane, misleading the nation by stating that Zambia is at the brink of auctioning State-owned assets to the Chinese.

Madam, again, I was at sea to hear a former Cabinet Minister abrogating international relations standards by mentioning foreign states. He alleged that China had taken over assets from the Republic of Djibouti and other states in the Middle East. When I checked this assertion, I discovered that no country in the world has ever sold its assets to China in exchange for debt relief because that is not a principle of China. It is not among the things that China has done. As stated by the hon. Minister for National Guidance and Religious Affairs, as hon. Members of Parliament and leaders, we need to account for every word that we speak.

Madam, I have observed that when many hon. Members begin to debate, they start debating with the corruption song. We have had three Governments. We saw the United National Independence Party (Unip), we saw the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and now we are seeing the Patriotic Front (PF). Therefore, we know the Government which has had the highest cases of corruption because it failed to deliver to the expectation of the Zambian people.

Madam Speaker, there is no way we will be derailed. We are delivering to the expectation of the Zambians. The only thing is that the Opposition wants is distract the attention of the PF Government and the civil servants from implementing Government programmes so that, tomorrow, they can use it for political expediency. We are more clever and intelligent. We know that what they are doing is mere politicking. The Zambian people are looking for development and are scared of the people who are speaking in favour of developmental inequalities.

Madam Speaker, there is a lot of agriculture potential in Kaputa or Chama. People are involved in agricultural activities and grow a lot of rice. However, their produce cannot be transported to the market for people to have value for their labour if there is no proper road network to connect them from Kaputa to Mporokoso, which is less than a distance of 200 km, yet it takes almost two days to travel that distance. Therefore, when we talk about opening up new areas and developing Zambia, people want to talk about corruption because they want to scare us from implementing new developmental projects, but we have said no.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, when I was growing up, my father used to say ‘kumanda takwaba chongo. This means that there is no noise in the grave. Noise can only be heard where there is activity. Elyo necongo cababombwe, tacilesha insofu ukunwa amenshi.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chitotela: This means that the noise of the frog will not scare the elephant from drinking water.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Justice (Mr Lubinda): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you most sincerely for according me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion of Thanks for the Exposition of Public Policy contained in His Excellency the President’s Address on the occasion of the Opening of the Third Session of the Twelfth National Assembly. In so doing, let me join the others in registering my heartfelt condolences to the families and constituencies of the late Hon. Victoria Kalima and Hon. Mwene on their passing. Let me now seize the opportunity to congratulate our latest acquisition in this House, Hon. Sensio Banda, who was recently elected by the noble people of Kasenengwa.

Madam Speaker, by all measures, His Excellency the President’s Address was elaborate and he ably spoke about the importance of working together to achieve Zambia’s vision of becoming a prosperous middle-income country by 2030. Vision 2030 envisages a diversified and inclusive economy. That a conducive governance environment is a sine qua non of attaining this vision is incontrovertible. In this regard, His Excellency the President was absolutely on firm ground to stress the importance of creating a conducive governance environment for a diversified and inclusive economy.

Madam Speaker, as you have guided, my debate will centre on aspects of His Excellency the President’s Address under my portfolio. This will be centered under the heading ‘Creating a Conducive Governance Environment for a Diversified and Inclusive Economy.’ More particularly, I will focus on the programmes and activities my ministry is undertaking in enhancing good governance, the rule of law and access to justice.

Madam, in paragraph 125 of the address, His Excellency the President stated that:

“A Conducive governance environment centered on transparency and accountability, inclusive democratic system of governance, the rule of law, human rights and Constitutionalism, are imperative to any nation.”

In the area of enhancing democratic governance and fostering co-operation and dialogue among political parties, the ministry has been working closely with a variety of stakeholders, such as the Zambia Center for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID). For instance, through the ZCID, various political parties were consulted in the development of the Political Parties Bill.

Madam Speaker, at this point, allow me to commend the political parties that invested a lot of time in establishing the ZCID. It may be recalled that eleven years ago, the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the MMD were in the forefront of establishing the ZCID. Those political parties deserve to be commended for establishing that institution and keeping it alive to date. Beyond that, I would like to commend the UPND for chairing the ZCID for seven long years in the eleven years of its existence. What is expected of the leadership of the UPND is to galvanise its members, including the hon. Member of Parliament for Kafue, to respect the ZCID because it is their creation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: The Patriotic Front (PF) recognises the value that a platform that brings political parties together plays in galvanising those political parties and, through them, the people of Zambia. It is folly of anyone who was involved in the establishment of such an institution to throw stones at it with the intention of destroying it. There is value in building and those who spend time destroying what they have built ought to be counselled.

Madam, it is, therefore, the hope of the Ministry of Justice for all of us to continue to foster the existence of our creation, the ZCID. We, in the Ministry of Justice, shall continue to interact with all political parties through the ZCID.

Madam Speaker, in addition, the Ministry of Justice has been working closely with the Ministry of Home Affairs in the development of various important Bills, including the Political Parties Bills, which I talked about earlier and has also been reviewing the Public Order Act. These efforts are a firm demonstration of the Government’s commitment to working together to achieve the Vision 2030 by creating a conducive governance environment through the promotion of intra-party democracy as well as harnessing the culture of inter-party dialogue.

Madam, those who have been in this House as long as you and others have been will attest to the fact that never in the history of Zambia has the process of law drafting been as consultative as it has come to be under the leadership of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: It will be recalled how His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has been insisting on embracing the political parties themselves in formulating laws that affect them. The hon. Minister of Justice has no intention of departing from that instruction. We will continue to consult. Even those who do not want to be consulted will be consulted.

Madam, His Excellency the President addressed this House on the topical subject of corruption and reiterated the Government’s unwavering commitment to the fight against corruption. One need not be a rocket scientist to appreciate the debilitating effects corruption has on society. Attaining the prosperous middle income country status by 2030 would at best be a pipedream if corruption is allowed to thrive in our country. It is no wonder, then, that this Government has placed a premium on the fight against corruption. For its part, my ministry is working closely with the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) in the formulation of a Revised National Anti-corruption Policy that will address corruption holistically.

His Excellency the President indicated that this fight is ours together and is not necessarily about settling scores or name-calling. This is a fight that we owe to current and future generations of this country.

In that regard, Madam Speaker, your Government is investing in systems that reduce opportunities for corruption. As His Excellency the President indicated, in many spheres of Government management, we are introducing electronic (e) systems. These are systems that are more transparent, reliable, reduce red tape and opportunities for bribery calling and offering and corrupt opportunities. Together, let us put laws and systems in place that shall, indeed, curb corruption.

The Ministry of Justice is currently looking at the anti-corruption laws and other laws that affect the leaders of this country. Our Constitution compels particular office bearers to make annual declarations of assets and liabilities. Therefore, I would like to pose a question to us, the drafters of the Laws of Zambia. How many of those officers do actually make those declarations with the Chief Justice, as is required by law? The second question is: How many of those who make those declarations make genuine and honest declarations?

Madam Speaker, the last time I checked, those declarations that are filed in and put in envelopes that nobody looks at could as well be love letters written and filed on the pretext of being declarations. Has the time not come for us to reform and to strengthen those laws? You may recall that the then Chairperson of the African Parliamentarians Network Against Corruption (APNAC), standing on the other side on your left, proposed amendments to the law to oblige the verification of those declarations so that we move away from rhetorical declarations to actual declarations. It was also proposed that those declarations not only be verified once but every time that they are made.

Madam, I want to solicit support, especially from those who cry the loudest about corruption, to join us in this crusade. Let us reform the law. Let us ensure that each and every one who receives payment from the State and interacts with the State’s decision-making processes is held truly accountable. They must be held accountable not only now but also in the future.

Madam Speaker, when my colleagues come to contribute to the Budget debate, I would like to hear support for this initiative. We, in the Government, are ready. What we need is the support of our colleagues on your left. I enjoin my brothers and sisters to move away from using corruption purely as a song to win political mileage. Let us instead demonstrate that we are willing to walk the talk. We must be the first ones to put our hands on the table and say, “We are clean”. Only, then, shall we inspire others to join us in the fight against corruption.

Mrs Simukoko: That is the only way.

Mr Lubinda: Madam, my fellow hon. Minister is saying we cannot do it any other way. I want to say that what we have done this far has cast a bad light on our country. We have sung so much against corruption without taking any action to a point where we are being perceived as a corrupt lot, yet there are many who are clean. I have no doubt that all of us are capable of living clean lives. We just have to put in our will and work towards that.

Madam, in the short time that is remaining, I would like to go back to His Excellency the President’s statement on the need for us to reform the Public Order Act. I will combine that with the issue of the Constitution. A question was raised this morning: When is the hon. Minister coming with the Constitution Amendment Bill?

Hon. Government Member: This afternoon.

Mr Lubinda: This afternoon. Thank you.

Madam, again, because of the nature of His Excellency’s will to consult, in May, this year, this Cabinet had already approved the Constitution Amendment Bill, 2018. However, the political players, using their platform, asked His Excellency to slow down with the publication of the Bill. We have been waiting for our colleagues to say they are ready. With your permission, in the course of the next two weeks, I will come to this House to explain to it and the country at large the Government’s decision on the long-awaited publication of the Constitution Amendment Bill.

Madam, with your permission, again, next week, I intend to come to this House to explain the process that this Government wishes to adopt in amending the much-talked about Public Order Act. The Government is doing this cognisant of what the His Excellency the President has aptly said, that is, we shall govern this country without leaving anyone behind.

Madam, in concluding, I would like to say that democratisation must not only be outside, but also it must be inside. On this call, I would like to commend the UPND. I am sure that this sounds cynical, but I am serious about it. You may recall that several times, I have lamented the fact that in a grouping of fifty-seven people, seventeen from one region were leading the fifty-seven. I am glad that my clarion call has been responded to, and I want to commend Hon. Dr Musokotwane on his well-deserved appointment as Whip. I think that the Whip deserves facilities. Provide an office for him so that he can be effective in marshalling people, including those on this side. I also hope that it is not only going to end here, but also hope that the party shall be a leading example of those who learn from others in democratising their parties. I would like to see democracy in our parties, especially in those parties that have representation here. Let them be democratic. They cannot cry “democracy” when they are undemocratic. So, well done, UPND, ...

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Lubinda: ... and we expect more from you.

Madam, I want to end by reiterating that I hope this is not a fluke. I hope democracy in all our political parties is something that I shall see for years to come. Let me join His Excellency the President in asking God to bless this great nation.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare (Mrs O. Phiri): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity. I also thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for giving me this opportunity to serve as Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs O. Phiri: Madam Speaker, it was delighting to hear from His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, during the Official Opening of the Third Session of the Twelfth National Assembly. The speech was on the transformation agenda that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has continued to pursue in making our great country, Zambia, a prosperous middle-income country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs O. Phiri: Madam Speaker, my ministry is in total agreement with the theme “Working Together to Achieve Vision 2030”, as it promotes social solidarity and unity in our communities without leaving the poor, sick or persons with disability behind to whom the Government remains committed to uplifting their livelihoods.

Madam Speaker, it is worth noting that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia urged all financial institutions to complement Government efforts by lowering lending rates. Indeed, this will enable small and medium enterprises, including the women’s clubs which the Government registered under my ministry, to easily access finances and positively contribute to national development.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs O. Phiri: Madam Speaker, it is gratifying that a lot of progress is being made to promote a smart Zambia and achieve universal coverage in telecommunication countrywide. The installation of communication towers across the country will not only improve access to communication, but also other services, such as mobile banking services in the country. These towers are promoting the use of electronic platforms by a large population, including the poor. This also provides an opportunity for my ministry to explore various mobile payment solutions for the programmes that it is implementing in communities. The improved network coverage will also enhance operationalisation of the single register of beneficiaries which my ministry has been building to ease the selection and targeting process across all social protection players.

Madam Speaker, it is also pleasing to note that the Social Cash Transfer Scheme has continued to be effective in contributing to poverty reduction ...

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

Mrs O. Phiri: ... as well as income redistribution, especially in rural communities. The continued scale-up of the programme demonstrates the Government’s commitment towards reducing poverty and vulnerability in our country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs O. P. Phiri: It also promotes a people-centred inclusive development agenda. In this regard, the ministry remains committed to ensuring that there is effectiveness and efficiency in the provision of social protection services.

Madam Speaker, His Excellency announced that the Government will increase the coverage of the Food Security Park Programme from 27,650 beneficiaries in the previous farming season to 80,000 beneficiaries in the 2018/2019 Farming Season. This is delighting as it will result in more vulnerable and viable farming households in communities becoming food secure. This will provide opportunities for the ministry to implement complementary services to households that are receiving social cash transfers through an initiative called Cash Plus. The aim of this initiative is to guarantee that more beneficiaries of the social protection programme graduate to other sustainable livelihoods.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Business was suspended from 1810 hours until 1830 hours.

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the chair]

Mrs O. Phiri: Madam Speaker, before business was suspended, I was about to say that the Girls Education and Women’s Empowerment and Livelihood (GEWEL) Project, which the Government has been implementing among the three ministries, namely the Ministry of General Education, Ministry of Gender and my ministry has continued to ease the access to finances by vulnerable women. It is gratifying that, in 2017, 12,445 vulnerable women in eleven districts were empowered with business skills as well as provided with grants of K2,000 each and that by the end of this year, an additional 21,000 women in thirty-one districts will be supported. This truly demonstrates the Government’s commitment towards empowering women and promoting gender equity in our beloved country, Zambia.

Further, under this project, the Government has also retained 15,082 girls aged between fourteen and eighteen years in schools. This will go a long way in bridging the gap between women and men, girls and boys and ultimately, realise the aspirations of a prosperous middle income country, as espoused in the Vision 2030.

Madam Speaker, the Government’s commitment to the promotion of the rights of persons with disabilities, especially through mainstreaming of disability in all our programmes, is critical to the inclusive development agenda. Several measures which have been undertaken, such as promoting the inclusion of sign language and Braille in various institutions, expanded use of ramps and elevators in public buildings, will promote independent living among persons with disabilities.

Madam Speaker, furthermore, the waiving of duty on the importation of modified vehicles for persons with disability goes a long way in easing the mobility of persons with disabilities, thereby uplifting their livelihood.

Madam Speaker, just like His Excellency called upon the private sector, faith-based organisations and the civil society to mainstream disability in all their programmes, my ministry would like to indicate that the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) has since established an inspectorate which will monitor compliance levels with the provision of the Persons with Disability Act No. 06 of 2012.

Madam Speaker, the expansion of social security coverage to the informal sector, through the National Pension Scheme Authority (Napsa) will, indeed, go a long way in providing cover to the informal economy workers who, in case of any risk, would depend on social assistance interventions being provided by my ministry. However, with these measures, the pressure of caring for the poor and vulnerable population in our community will be lessened.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs O. Phiri: Madam Speaker, the promotion of formation of co-operatives by local communities, indeed, provides equity opportunity to the women clubs under the ministry. This enables more women to derive optimal benefits by integrating them into various value addition chains. The ministry will, therefore, explore the inter-ministerial linkages with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry using the cluster approach of the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP).

Madam Speaker, I am happy to note that the Government, under the able leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, is investing in the development of socio-economic infrastructure such as roads, schools and hospitals. This will importantly assist enhancing the welfare of the majority of Zambians. Additionally, the prioritisation of the rehabilitation and maintenance of primary feeder road networks will also provide easy access to markets for the farming communities in the hard-to-reach areas. This, indeed, will mitigate the perennial post-harvest losses suffered by farmers and will, thus, ultimately contribute to reducing poverty and vulnerability.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs O. Phiri: Madam Speaker, it is pleasing to note that the Government has continued to provide loans and scholarships to learners at all levels of our education system. This helps the poor and vulnerable learners have access to education at all levels, including at tertiary level. The more poor learners are accessing these loans and scholarships, the more opportunities of cutting the inter-generational transfer of poverty which has been persisting over time. The ministry will, therefore, continue to work with the Ministry of General Education and Ministry of Higher Education, especially in the identification of poor and vulnerable learners.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mrs O. Phiri: Madam Speaker, the decentralisation process, which is making steady progress, will bring social protection services closer to the communities. The ministry is one of the devolved ministries whose presence is also at community level through community development assistants and community welfare assistance committees. The ministry, therefore, welcomes those innovations as effective and efficient ways of service delivery.

Madam Speaker, the automated cash flow management system which the Government will implement will, indeed, enhance service delivery in the area of justice, ...

Mr Livune: Question!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr O. Phiri: ... which includes the administration of juvenile justice. The ministry supports the administration of juvenile justice by conducting investigations on behalf of the court. This innovation will contribute towards addressing the challenges faced by dispensing justice to the citizenry.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, the ministry echoes the theme of the speech of His Excellency the President which is “Working Together to Achieve Vision 2030” for we can only achieve this aspiration if we are working together, including those of us in this august House.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Mr Livune: Question!

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Musukwa): Madam Speaker, I am very grateful for this opportunity you have given me to discuss His Excellency the President’s speech under very difficult conditions. I had even given up.

Laughter

Mr Musukwa: Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on this Motion on the speech by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, delivered during the Official Opening of the Third Session of the Twelfth National Assembly.

First and foremost, allow me to congratulate His Excellency the President on the inspiring and visionary speech to this august House and the nation at large whose theme is “Working Together to Achieve Vision 2030”. I will not delve into the many issues that most of our colleagues from the left brought up. I will ride on the advice of my friend, Hon. Livune, who asked the leadership to be rational and consider that most of the issues that were raised were mere politicking.

Madam Speaker, as referred to by His Excellency the President in his speech, mining has continued to record positive growth, as evidenced in the increased copper production during the first half of 2018. Copper production increased by 10.7 per cent from 371,000 metric tonnes in 2017 to 410,000 metric tonnes in 2018. The continued positive growth of the mining sector increases its prospects to continue contributing to the country’s economic diversification, as evidenced by the numbers.

Madam Speaker, as you are aware, a vibrant mining sector is critical for the country to achieve economic development and diversification. For that reason, my ministry, in line with the President’s Speech, has anchored the development of the sector on three parts:

mining is the major foreign exchange earner, accounting for 70 per cent of Zambia’s foreign exchange. Therefore, its role in stabilising and maintaining foreign exchange rates at reasonable levels cannot be disputed. A stable and reasonable foreign exchange rate is important for the growth of the mining sector and also has a multiplier effect in other sectors, such as manufacturing;

mining is one of the major sources of the much-needed Government revenue required to invest in other priority sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and energy. Government revenue is also needed to invest in social sectors to create a conducive climate for economic development. The performance of the sector, therefore, has to be enhanced for the Government to continue to collect adequate revenue from investment in other sectors; and

mining is a source of raw materials that provide market for most manufactured goods. In this regard, a growing industry not only for copper but also other minerals, such as gemstone and industrial minerals, provides the basis for the growth of other sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction and energy, just to mention a few.

Madam Speaker, let me now highlight the developments in the mining sector in relation to a resilient and diversified economy, as espoused by His Excellency the President in his speech.

As pointed out clearly by His Excellency the President, diversification within the mining sector is being enhanced. Minerals, such as gemstones, construction materials and industrial minerals, have been ignored for a long time. Therefore, the Government has created a platform that places a higher premium on these minerals which will galvanise miners into paying attention to them and lead to many people being employed in this sector. The Government will endeavour to work to ensure to leverage other minerals apart from copper, such as cobalt, gold, building materials and other base metals, so as to contribute towards the buoyant economic diversification and job creation agenda of the PF Government.

Madam Speaker, in order to achieve a buoyant economy supported by the mining industry, the Government has continued to ensure that geological mapping and mineral resource surveys remain key in the mining industry. In this regard, as outlined by the President’s Speech, geological surveys remain cardinal for the growth of the mining industry. The mining industry, therefore, will continue to focus on geological and geochemical mapping in strategic areas such as Kasama, Luapula Province and the Northern Province with the support of our co-operating partners. In this regard, considerable field work in this area has been achieved.

Madam Speaker, with regard to the mineral resource survey for non-traditional minerals, a preliminary survey for gold was undertaken in Petauke, Vubwi and some parts of Rufunsa. The Government of the Republic of Zambia envisages developing gold trading areas in these areas to create a platform through which our people, especially the small-scale miners, will be grouped in co-operatives through the Ministry of Commerce and Trade and Industry for skills development. In line with the President’s Speech, what the Government has done is empower the local people to procure processing facilities which will be placed in strategic areas to support the small-scale miners.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Musukwa: With this improved availability of geological information, the ministry will stimulate interest in geological exploration which will be used as a basis for development. Most of our people who are priding in the exploitation of gold are being short-changed because they have been using hand methods and that is why the Government would like to provide a platform through co-operatives.

Madam Speaker, in order for the Government to collect maximum revenue from the mining sector, it will continue the two critical programmes that are being hosted by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development, which are the monitoring and regulation of the mining industry. To ensure that the country continues to maximise the benefit of copper mining, the ministry has continued to implement the Minerals Production Monitoring Programme. This is a project that is sponsored by our co-operating partners whose main thrust is to ensure that there is oversight from production to processing up to export. In short, at the click of a button, from our various strategic points, including the head office, we are now able to know the level of production from all the key mining industries.

Madam Speaker, the initiative to monitor production online is now being extended to small-scale mines. We think that with these strategic interventions, tax leakages that have been propelled by non-compliance to production and reconciliation will be averted.

Madam Speaker, most of our people in the mining industry are small-scale miners. Therefore, the Government will continue to encourage them to develop into medium-scale miners and eventually to large-scale operations. We think that once our small-scale miners are strategically empowered, they will be able to develop into large entities.

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development continues to see huge challenges in the mining sector mostly in large-scale operations which are held by foreigners or multi-national companies. In order to create stability in the industry, small-scale local players must integrate and operate the industry together with our colleagues.

Madam Speaker, in order for the Government to foster sustainable economic development, it needs to ensure that it addresses key issues which are always vexing our people and these include, but are not limited to:

(a) the lack of or inadequate skills required to manage the environmental, social, health and safety issues. Others are skills in entrepreneurship and business, market analysis and financial literacy;

(b) limited access to the market;

(c) lack of access to financial capital; and

(d) access to efficient mining and processing technology.

Madam Speaker, I wish to reiterate His Excellency the President’s clarion call for our people to ensure that they participate in the exploitation of our resources so as to create a win-win situation between the investor and the local people, and more importantly the host communities where mining takes place.

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that recently, we hosted an international conference on the artisanal and small-scale mining and quarrying management and one of the outcomes of the conference was that the programme which was scheduled to end in October, this year has been extended by the European Union (EU) for another three years. It is largely because of the good leadership of the Patriotic Front (PF) and His Excellency the President that the EU has further extended the sponsorship of this programme for three years.

Madam Speaker, another milestone in this area is that for the first time in the partnership with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Development Programme, the United Nations (UN) and the African Guarantee Fund, the ministry organised a workshop and brought together all the financial institutions and co-operating partners. These partners are now willing to fund the operations of small-scale mining entities from production, processing to the sale of minerals.

Madam Speaker, my speech will be incomplete without touching on value addition to minerals. For the country to derive maximum benefit from the exploitation of our mineral resources, there should be increased value addition. The ministry has commenced a study to establish input to the mines that can manufacture locally using local materials. This will be followed by a strategy of local content in order to stimulate manufacturing plants and supplies to mines and other industries.

Madam Speaker, the Government has continued to urge big mining houses to deliberately ensure that they support our local contractors and suppliers by deliberately building capacity among them and ensure that they succeed in the exploitation of our mineral resources.

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development and, indeed, the mining sector continue to grow, as evidenced by the increase in copper production. Further, there are mines that have continued to expand where serious upgrading programmes have been going on. A case in point is the Mopani Copper Mines Synclinorium Plant, including other expansion programmes at the same mine, which has actually been completed and awaits official launch.

Madam Speaker, mining is an operation that needs huge investment before returns can be seen. Therefore, while the Government will endeavour to ensure that it collects maximum tax to support its development agenda on road construction, education, health and other infrastructure, it will continue to provide a buoyant fiscal mining tax regime which will promote investment. In this regard, the Government is determined to provide a fiscal mining regime which is simple, reliable and predictable that will ensure a win-win situation for the investor and the local people.

Madam Speaker, the huge discrepancy that exists between communities where these mining operations take place and the wealth that the mining houses exhibit can no longer be tolerated. To this effect, the Government is determined to ensure that it creates parity so that our people benefit from our God-given resources.

Madam Speaker, the Government will continue to prudently run and manage the mining industry in the best interest of its people and country.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Ms Mulenga): Madam Speaker, I wish to thank you for according me this opportunity to make my contribution to the debate on the speech presented by His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, the President of the Republic of Zambia, during the Official Opening of the Third Session of the 12^th National Assembly on Friday 14^th September, 2018.

Madam Speaker, from the outset, allow me to congratulate His Excellency on his well delivered speech to this august House. The speech is very inspiring as it evidence based and gives a very clear vision and strategic direction to the nation. I find it unfortunate that our colleagues on the left have to politicise everything, even well-intended messages to the people of Zambia.

Mrs Simukoko: Shame!

Ms Mulenga: Madam Speaker, let me also join His Excellency the President in expressing gratitude to you, Madam and your Deputy and members of staff of the National Assembly for the efficient and able manner in which you have presided over the business of the House.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mulenga: May I take this opportunity to appreciate the valuable contributions from all my fellow hon. Members of Parliament in the last session. I also thank them for their contributions to the Motion that we are considering.

Madam Speaker, allow me also to join His Excellency the President and other hon. Members of Parliament who spoke before me to pass my condolences to the Kalima and Mweene families and the people of Kasenengwa Constituency and Mangongo Constituency, respectively, for the loss of our two beloved colleagues. We shall forever remember their valuable contributions to this august House.

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, it is Mangango. We do not have a constituency by that name.

Ms Mulenga: Madam Speaker, it is a very difficult word.

Hon. UPND Members: Aah!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Try to say it correctly.

Ms Mulenga: Mangango. ( Ms Mulenga laughed)

Madam First Deputy Speaker: That is right.

Ms Mulenga: I also wish to congratulate the new PF hon. Member of Parliament for Chilanga Constituency, Mrs Maria Langa and the Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament for Kasenengwa Constituency, Hon. Sensio Banda, for their election victories in the just-ended by-elections.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mulenga: This shows the confidence the people of Zambia continued to place in the PF Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Livune: Question!

Ms Mulenga: Madam Speaker, from Independence, Zambia has been focusing its attention on economic diversification and job creation to address the problems of economic shocks created by over dependency on copper. The PF Government has identified livestock and fisheries to be among the key sectors to drive the economic development and job creation agenda and to lead our beloved country and its people to economic prosperity by 2030.

Madam Speaker, over the last eight years that the PF Government has been in power, the nation has seen considerable progress in livestock and fisheries production, including other players in the fisheries and livestock value chain. This development can be seen by the numerous developmental projects, both in the urban and rural areas. In this regard, the theme of the President’s Speech “Working Together to Achieve Vision 2030” is apt.

Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President opened his speech on page 1 by reminding all hon. Members of this august House that the nation’s hope rests in the House and that we have the greatest power to change the destiny of the people in our constituencies. Indeed, we have the power to shape the destiny of the people and translate their hopes into reality. It remains up to us, both the PF and the Opposition, to explain to our people the good progress the PF Government has made towards achieving Vision 2030. Evidence is there for all of us to see and appreciate, and we have to work together to attain the vision.

Madam Speaker, under economic diversification and job creation, and in particular on page 11, His Excellency the President stated that fisheries grew by 61 per cent from 10,500 metric tonnes between January and June 2015 to 16,910 metric tonnes over the same period this year.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mulenga: Madam Speaker, let me remind our colleagues on your left that numbers do not lie.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mulenga: Yet, our colleagues choose to ignore facts and take on a path to mislead the Zambian people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mulenga: Madam Speaker, allow me to put on record the sound economic policies that the PF Government has put in place to achieve this positive growth record that was reported by His Excellency the President.

Madam Speaker, I will begin with aquaculture development. Under aquaculture development, you will recall that His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of this great Republic launched the US$50 million Zambia Aquaculture Enterprise Development Project (ZAEDP) in November, 2017. The objective of the project is to build institutional capacity for fish, fingerling and feed production, provide support to the private sector in developing the aquaculture value chain and establish fish feed plants, hatcheries, and freezing and processing facilities. The key activities under the project are promotion of cage fish farming on Lake Mweru, Lake Kariba, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Bangweulu as well as along the Kafue River at Kasaka and in other water bodies of the Western Province. Through this project and the Agriculture Production and Market Enhancement Project, the Government has procured and assembled 170 fish cages and 280 fish pens to the lagoons and other water bodies of the Western Province, Lake Mweru, Lake Luapula, Lake Bangweulu, Lake Kariba and Lake Lusiwashi in Central Province.

Madam Speaker, the good policies of the PF Government have increased private sector participation in fish feed production. Two fish plants, Skretting and Aller aqua, have been established in Siavonga by Kariba Harvest and Yalelo. Additionally, the ministry has engaged the private sector in the establishment of fishery hatcheries in every province. The ministry has received calls from proposals and will soon start disbursing funds for the establishment of hatcheries.

Madam Speaker, the ministry is also working in collaboration with the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC) to provide loans to farmers for aquaculture development. These loans are aimed at boosting production of fisheries and other facilities in the aquaculture value chain.

Madam Speaker, in the history of this country, it is only this Government that has tangibly identified youth and women as key drivers in the economy. As part of the Aquaculture Development Fund, the ministry is training 200 women and youths in aquaculture fish value addition and aquaculture as a business at Mwekera. This training will be conducted every year for the next five years and it is expected that 1,200 fish farmers will be trained by 2022. The graduates will be linked to the Aquaculture Seed Fund which my ministry has established and is managed by the CEEC. These loans will be provided to the graduates at a subsidised rate with the Government taking up part of the risk. A total of US$23.7 million will be disbursed to beneficiaries along the aquaculture value chain.

Madam Speaker, a total of thirty-four districts with high aquaculture potential are targeted. However, any innovative project outside these districts will be considered. During this period, the subsector will create over 1,000 jobs in the entire aquaculture value chain. All these are part of the Government’s efforts to promote entrepreneurship skills, working together with women and youth and putting more money in the pockets of the Zambian people.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Mulenga: In the area of livestock development, Madam Speaker, on page 11, His Excellency the President stated that the livestock sector has continued to show a positive growth trend over the two years. Again, numbers do not lie. Allow me to outline the sound economic policies that the PF Government has put in place to achieve this positive growth record. The positive record has been attained by implementing programmes such as livestock stocking and restocking, enhancing animal disease control, creation of livestock service centres, and construction and equipping milk collection centres. This made it possible to achieve this positive growth trend in 2018.

Madam Speaker, the growth has a positive impact of the livelihood of the people, especially in rural areas, and has impacted positively on incomes, food security and nutrition. Allow me to now update the House on the achievement of the livestock sector in 2018.

Madam Speaker, the ministry is promoting, among other programmes, artificial insemination in order to improve livestock production and productivity. A number of satellite artificial insemination centres have been established countrywide. The ministry is still in the process of completing and operationalising remaining artificial insemination centres. The major challenge of operationalising all the eighteen satellites artificial insemination centres countrywide is the limited capacity of the National Artificial Insemination Plant in Mazabuka to supply liquid nitrogen to satellite plants. However, the ministry is in the process of finalising a contract to install the nitrogen liquid plant at the National Artificial Insemination Centre in Mazabuka to improve the supply of liquid nitrogen to the eighteen satellite artificial insemination centres.

In the area of animal disease control, Madam Speaker, under animal health, the ministry continued with animal disease prevention and control programmes across the country in 2018. To this effect, work on dip tanks is continuing. In addition, construction of regional laboratories in Ndola, Mongu, Solwezi and Kasama is ongoing.

Madam Speaker, the ministry continued to conduct surveillance for Diseases of National Economic Importance (DNEI) and management disease to prevent the occurrence of these livestock diseases. The major livestock and fish diseases under surveillance include East Coast Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease, contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia (CBPP) and African Swine Fever. The ministry has completed a total of 225 dip tanks, seventy-two new and 153 rehabilitated. Works are still ongoing for the remaining 235 dip tanks of which 143 are new and ninety-two are under rehabilitation.

Madam Speaker, the ministry, working in collaboration with the Central Statistical Office (CSO), undertook the 2017 Livestock and Aquaculture Census. Data collection was concluded in February, 2018. Once concluded, the results of the census will guide the informed policy formulation that will facilitate growth and development. Currently, data cleaning and analysis are underway. This will be followed by report writing and dissemination of the results. The process will be completed before the end of 2018.

Madam Speaker, in order to enhance fisheries and livestock extension service delivery, the ministry was granted authority to employ 250 extension officers. The most critical positions, especially at provincial and district levels, were filled. Though the number is still very low, the ministry is still in consultation with the Ministry of Finance with a view to employ more extension officers.

Madam Speaker, in 2018, the Government created partnerships with the private sector to improve fisheries and livestock market information systems and the development of functional markets. This is essential for sustained higher production, enhancement of aquaculture value chains, raising of farmer incomes and reduction of poverty. The ministry is working closely with the private sector, through the Goat Task Force and the Government of Saudi Arabia, to create a market linkage for the export of goats and sheep to Saudi Arabia. The country will soon commence the export of goats and sheep to Saudi Arabia.

His Excellency the President in his speech on pages 18 and 19 outlined the jobs that have been created in 2018. I do not know why hon. Members of the House deliberately decide to ignore facts and choose the path to mislead the House and the nation. Let me refresh our colleagues on the left in case they may have skipped pages 18 and 19. His Excellency the President stated that:

“This year alone, a number of companies have come on board. These include the new US$500 million Cement Plant in Chongwe District, creating 1,000 jobs, a US$35 million first ever tile manufacturing plant in Lusaka, which has created over 150 jobs as well as the US$20 million Aquaculture Investment Plant in Siavonga District which is employing over 600 people. The plant is also providing a market for maize, wheat and soyabean farmers. Other investments are Foresticol Fertilisers Zambia Limited in Kabwe, so far employing over 200 people and the Zambia Fertilisers Manufacturing Plant in the Lusaka South Multi-facility Economic Zone which has created 300 jobs. The US$850 million investment by the China Non-ferrous metals at the South Ore Deep Mining Project in Kalulushi has resulted in over 1,000 jobs for our people.”

Madam Speaker, the PF Government is confident that more of such investments will come on board this year to create more employment. My constituency has not been left out. Over 1,000 jobs have been created for the people of Kalulushi and the surrounding towns by the US$850 million investment by the China Non-ferrous Metals at the South Ore Deep Mining Project. Indeed, the PF Government is working together with the people of Zambia to deliver on its campaign promises and has made tremendous progress in attaining Vision 2030. I, therefore, urge all hon. Members of Parliament to use their power to tell the people of Zambia the good policies the PF Government has put in place and that no one shall be left behind.

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Minister of Tourism and Arts (Mr C. Banda): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the debate of the speech by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on the occasion of the Official Opening of the Third Session of the Twelfth National Assembly whose theme was “Working Together to Achieve Vision 2030”.

I wish to begin by saying that the speech by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, was very inspiring. It was a very well-thought-out speech, giving a lot of hope to the development of our country. It is a pity that some of our colleagues in this House decided not to hear the good message which His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa, brought to the House on that day. The consolation, however, is that the nation listened and agreed with his wide counsel to this House.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Banda: Madam Speaker, in support of the speech delivered by His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, I wish to reiterate that globally, tourism has been identified and used by many countries, especially developing countries like Zambia, as a potent strategy for economic upliftment, community development and poverty reduction. Studies have also shown that tourism contributes, at least, one job opportunity out of every ten jobs created at any given moment around the world and that it is the mainstay of the economies of some countries, even in Africa.

Madam, as His Excellency the President noted in his speech, Zambia has great potential to be the tourism hub of the Southern African Region and beyond. The Government will continue to pursue this as a vision, through the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, and we take it as a challenge to fully unpack Zambia’s tourism potential for the benefit of our people and the country at large.

Madam Speaker, regarding the tourism sector growth, as His Excellency the President outlined in his speech, the Government will continue to harness every effort to build on the sector’s achievements recorded in 2017 of 6.1 per cent. This will be done by expanding tourism’s offerings by including the hosting of meetings and events, and by opening up of new tourism areas to diversify both the product and tourism destinations in the country. It is envisaged that this will, in turn, improve tourist visitor experience and satisfaction, promote return visits and increase Treasury earnings and benefits from tourism for our people countrywide. Alongside this vision is the need to make Zambia’s tourism more competitive in the market place by ensuring high quality standards and cutting edge packaging of tourism services and products.

We have already started receiving the rewards of our tourism promotional efforts, as His Excellency the President outlined, in that new renowned hotel brands, such as the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel in Lusaka, the Neelkanth Sarovar Priemere Hotel in Lusaka, which is opening shortly, and the Holiday Inn Garden Court in Kitwe, have started entering the Zambian tourism market. It is further envisaged that as we increase our efforts to incorporate Electronic (e)-Tourism platforms in the way we conduct tourism business, we will experience a surge in tourist arrivals and receipts.

Madam Speaker, it is widely acknowledged that tourism is a catalyst for development that spurs extended impacts beyond its mandate. The flipside of this is also true, that is, tourism benefits from growth advances made in other sectors such as the road sector, telecommunication, agriculture and others such as immigration, transport, to name but a few. I can confirm that the current development gains being made in other sectors of this country’s economy are, and will continue to impact positively on the growth of tourism and should be greatly commended and encouraged.

Madam, let me give an example of the Ministry of Health. I was very disappointed that two of our colleagues who debated did not acknowledge the fact that health tourism exists in Zambia. I want to tell them that health tourism does exist in Zambia. We have the best Cancer Diseases Hospital in the region, being visited now by both the people of Zambia and people around the region. That is what constitutes health tourism. Therefore, I want my colleagues to know that health tourism, as His Excellency the President mentioned, does exist in Zambia and is contributing to the growth of tourism in the country.

Madam Speaker, the tourism sector has continued to register positive growth in Zambia’s economy mainly due to a diverse tourism product offering as made reference to, but also coupled with enhanced high yield, yet low-cost marketing strategies that the Zambia Tourism Agency (ZTA) has put in place to enhance visibility and promote the destination. These marketing strategies include the following:

Web-site Marketing

Madam, a highly interactive website has been designed to meet the needs of the international and local visitors, who look for information on this platform. As a destination, Zambia has been made visible to the global market to the greatest detail. It has become imperative for Zambia to make adequate electronic marketing and booking facilitation for both international and local travelers to be able to complete travel arrangements online.

Social Media

The 21^st Century Generation has fully embraced the technological era just by the click of a button on their smart phones. As social media becomes increasingly expressive, consumers are able to increasingly influence other consumers with their opinions and experiences. The ZTA has continued to use social media as a low-cost marketing tool to expose Zambia’s tourism offerings to the world.

Product Exposure to International Tourism Buyers and Media

Madam Speaker, the agency has leveraged on the Zambia Travel Expo (Zatex), whose profile includes exposure of international buyers and media to Zambia’s tourism products. The take out from Zatex is endorsements of the destination and also published media articles and videos on the destination.

The Livingstone International Culture and Arts Festival (Licaf)

This is another product that the ministry is using, which is aimed at promoting Livingstone, in particular, and Zambia, in general, with a focus on marketing our cultural heritage to both our long-haul and regional traveller. Licaf has become a truly international cultural and arts festival attracting diverse tourists into Livingstone.

Despite these new thinking marketing activities, the ministry, through the ZTA, has continued to use traditional marketing strategies although on a lower scale due to limited funding. These include participation at the International Tourism Board (ITB) Berlin in Germany. In 2018, Zambia participated as a convention and culture partner. The ITB is a leading international travel trade show attended by over 110,000 trade visitors …

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

Mr C. R. Banda: … with over 186 countries in attendance. Zambia also enhanced her presence at the World Travel Market (WTM) Africa in Cape Town and at an indaba in Durban respectively.

Madam Speaker, other traditional marketing strategies the country has continued to exploit include advertising, which is done in both local and international paid for channels. These include both cable networks and print materials, which include television, newspapers, ravel magazines and radio and offering effective marketing tools for both international and domestic tourists.

Madam Speaker, restocking of wildlife is a priority to the Ministry of Tourism and Arts in ensuring that safari and photographic tourism are promoted, thereby encouraging growth in the tourism sector because tourism in Zambia, as was outlined in the speech by His Excellency the President, is nature based. It is for this reason that the Ministry of Tourism and Arts is encouraging the establishment of the private and community game ranches. Currently, there are over 100 privately run game ranches and just three community game ranches in the country. The outlook of community game ranches is expected to change and grow as traditional leaders have expressed interest in establishing community game ranches or conservancies.

Madam Speaker, recently, three of our traditional leaders expressed willingness to set aside part of their land for community game ranching. The Ministry of Tourism and Arts will facilitate and provide technical support to communities that want to establish game ranches.

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Tourism and Arts has welcomed the declaration of South Luangwa National Park, as was mentioned in the President’s Speech, as the first international sustainable wildlife park by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO). This has added value to the unique selling points that Zambia enjoys such as, ‘Zambia the most peaceful country in Africa’, the largest mammal (bat) migration is observed in Kasanka National Park, the second largest wildebeest migration in Southern Africa is seen in Liuwa National Park, the largest hippopotamus population density in the world is found in Luangwa River, the Bangweulu Swamps houses the largest black lechwe population in the world, ‘Zambia, the home of the Victoria Falls’, and the Kafue lechwe is endemic to the Kafue Flats in Zambia. The Ministry of Tourism and Arts will ensure that Zambia benefits from the declaration through enhanced marketing and increased efforts in protecting and managing the park.

Madam Speaker, my ministry supports the views expressed by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on the growth in the tourism sector of which the arts and creative industry are part of. The rolling out of digital migration to fifty-five out of sixty-three digital transmission sites has immensely expanded opportunities for creative entrepreneurships in the music, audio-visual and other forms of arts. Digital migration has given many film-makers an opportunity to showcase their products in a manner that creates value for broadcasters, jobs and incomes to many youths across the country.

The Ministry of Tourism and Arts, through the National Arts Council (Nac), has engaged the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting to create platforms that will strengthen acquisition of local content and capacity development in the film sector. Platforms such as the Multichoice Talent Factory, Sotambe Film Festival, Lusaka International Film and Music Festival and Zambia Television and Radio Awards and many others will be key in furthering the agenda of the Government to transform the creative sector.

Madam Speaker, I must point out though that the lack of social security for artists is a major issue that has undermined the Government’s efforts to establish the welfare of artists in Zambia. However, through the directive that has been given to us by His Excellency the President, through his speech, the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, through Nac, has prioritised, in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP), working with partners such as the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to increase the levels of formalisation of the sector so that artists and creatives are rewarded for their creative work. With the majority of our artists operating in the informal sector, it is important that we formalise the operation of those who are ready to strengthen benefits that come with formalisation.

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, I wish to state that the address to this august House by His Excellency the President has set the tone for all the sector contributions to growth and development of our economy and country at large. In particular, it has set the tone for the tourism sector’s contribution to the country’s overall development agenda. Zambia is poised for robust growth in both domestic tourism and international arrivals as many travellers are looking for new destinations with unsoiled tourism products.

Mr Speaker, the Government has already shown commitment on tourism development through the introduction of a smart Zambia, through platforms such as the Electronic (e)-Visa application, and payments, the expected launch of Zambia Airways 2014, which will make the destination more accessible to travellers. With the robust infrastructure development throughout the country, coupled with Zambia’s own brand identity of hospitality and peaceful people, the future can only be better for the tourism industry.

Madam Speaker, in supporting His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s speech, again, I can only say, working together, we can achieve greater benefits from the tourism sector and from all sectors of the economy of our country for the benefit of our people.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The next on my list is the hon. Minister of Labour and Social Security. However, hon. Minister, in order for us to have enough time to wind up this Motion, you will have to speak for less than ten minutes.

Can you do that, please.

The Minister of Labour and Security (Mrs Simukoko): Madam Speaker, I sincerely thank you for according me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the speech of His Excellency, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Madam Speaker, from the outset, allow me to join other hon. Members of Parliament who have debated before me in congratulating His Excellency the President on delivering such an inspirational speech. The President’s Speech was well-articulated and provided short and long-term practical solutions to national development. The speech interpreted the aspirations of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government and impressed upon each of us to rally behind his vision and ensure that programmes are implemented. It, therefore, remains the responsibility of hon. Members of this House to ensure implementation of the pronouncements made by His Excellency.

Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to be part of the team that is working tirelessly with His Excellency the President in ensuring that we take this nation to the next level of development. I ‘retaliate’ that, as the PF Government, we have a huge responsibility bestowed on us –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Now, I have an opportunity. The word is “reiterate” and not retaliate.

Continue, hon. Minister.

Mrs Simukoko: Madam Speaker, sorry. I am not English.

Laughter

Mrs Simukoko: Madam, I reiterate that, as the PF Government, we have a huge responsibility bestowed on us by the people of this great nation and we will not fail them in meeting their expectations. I have followed the debates on the President’s Speech to this House with keen interest. I am afraid that the level of speculation and hate speech by some quarters of society is, indeed, very worrying. If not checked, this will not only erode public confidence but also discourage potential investors, thereby adversely affect our country’s social and economic development. It should be placed on record that the intentions of the Government are good. The debt the Government has accrued can be seen in the various development projects currently being implemented across the country. The hon. Members of this House have been calling upon the Government to take development to all corners of this country. This is exactly what it is doing. For this reason, the PF Government will not be distracted by a few individuals who are bent on gaining political mileage and expediency on propaganda and unsubstantiated issues. We will continue directing our energies towards achieving the goals that we have set in the national development plans.

Madam Speaker, it is the desire of every hon. Member of this House to see every citizen having access to safe and clean water, food, decent housing, electricity, quality education, health services and decent jobs. Therefore, I cannot agree any further with His Excellency the President that regardless of our political affiliation, we all need to work together to achieve the goals and aspirations of our nation. Ultimately, it is about transforming Zambia and making it a better place.

Madam Speaker, I would like to describe His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia’s Address as a conduit for enhanced inclusive growth and development. From the speech, one would observe that His Excellency the President laid a foundation upon which the country will claim its long-awaited and desired status of becoming a prosperous middle-income nation by 2030. As a long-term plan, the Vision 2030 will only be achieved if we all work together. It is very gratifying to note that, in his speech, His Excellency the President addressed the current developments unfolding in the economy while pointing to what the future holds for Zambia. This is what a hard-working and visionary leader is expected to do. We can take a leaf out of this gesture by His Excellency the President.

Madam Speaker, I am also pleased to note that the President’s Speech highlighted the priorities of the country, as outlined in the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP), which contains strategic development areas, namely economic diversification and job creation, poverty and vulnerability reduction, reducing developmental inequalities, enhancing human development and creating a conducive governance environment for a diversified and inclusive economy. These are the pillars which are critical to changing the development trajectory of this country.

Madam Speaker, allow me to state that the Government is aware of some key developmental challenges the country is faced with today, including high unemployment and poverty levels. However, we should not despair as the Government is working in earnest to address these and other challenges the country is faced with. The resolve of the Government is to better the lives of all Zambians as per its party manifesto.

Madam, in line with the 7NDP, the diversification agenda which the country has embarked upon has already started bearing fruits in terms of job creation. I wish to reiterate His Excellency’s statement that to attain our Vision 2030, we must diversify our economy and create jobs. The Government is working towards achieving a prosperous middle-income economy that offers decent work employment opportunities for all Zambians of different skills and backgrounds by taking advantage of opportunities for economic diversification and growth.

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to note that because of the conducive environment and increased private sector participation, a good number of jobs have been created in key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, tourism, construction and manufacturing. We are delivering on our promise of not only creating more jobs but also ensuring that the jobs we are creating are decent.

Madam Speaker, pursuant to this commitment and in line with His Excellency’s Speech, I wish to inform the House about the efforts of the Ministry of Labour and Social Security is making in meeting the aspirations of our hard-working leader and, indeed, the Zambian people. As a ministry, we are enforcing labour laws to promote the decent work agenda in the country. Our resolve is to ensure that the workers are operating under conditions that promote social justice and human dignity. To ensure that the laws are in conformity with the current demands of the labour market, the ministry is in the process of comprehensively reviewing the labour legislation by consolidating various pieces of labour legislation into the Labour Code. A Bill on the Labour Code will soon be submitted to Parliament.

Madam Speaker, as the House may be aware, the Government has revised the minimum wages for various categories of workers such as domestic workers, shop and general workers. The revision in the wages has brought relief to our hard-working workers who have remained vulnerable to wage distortions and exploitation by some employers in the country, some of whom are seated here. The ministry will, therefore, intensify labour inspections to ensure compliance with this law. The Government’s commitment to improving the living standards and working conditions cannot be overemphasised. The objective of the Government is to protect the most vulnerable workers in Zambia in order to allow them to live decent and acceptable livelihoods. This is key in reducing poverty vulnerabilities and developmental inequalities in the country.

Madam Speaker, I wish to reiterate His Excellency’s pronouncement on the extension of the social security coverage to the informal sector. This is a measure that is well-intended to secure the wellness and lives of all Zambians in their old age. Through the ministry, the National Pension Scheme Authority (Napsa) has already introduced the pension scheme targeting domestic workers, bus and taxi drivers, marketeers, artists, traders and small-scale farmers. It is good a testimony that we have a caring Government which means well to the people of Zambia.

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr D. Mumba (Chama North): Madam Speaker, thank you for this opportunity, once again, summarise the debate on this very important Motion. From the outset, let me thank the hon. Members and Cabinet Ministers who have debated.

However, before I summarise, I have a few remarks which I would like to put on record.

Hon. Opposition Members: Aah!

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You are winding up debate. You had your chance to debate.

Mr D. Mumba: Madam Speaker, His Excellency the President brought the policy direction to this House, but there was evidence that some debates were what I would call anecdotal. Anecdotal in the sense that –

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Wind up debate on the Motion.

Laughter

Hon. Member: Thank everybody.

Mr D. Mumba: Thank you for your guidance, Madam Speaker.

I thank everyone who has debated and those who debated silently.

I beg to move.

I thank you, Madam.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Question put and agreed to.

ADJOURNMENT

The Acting Leader of Government Business in the House and Chief Whip (Mr Chungu): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

_______

The House adjourned at 1942 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 28^thSeptember, 2018.

____________

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