Tuesday, 16th July, 2019

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Tuesday, 16th July, 2019

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

_______

 

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

 

ACTING LEADER OF GOVERNMENT BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE

 

 Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I have received communication to the effect that in the absence of Her Honour the Vice-President, who is attending to other national duties, the Hon. Chief Whip, Mr Brian M. Mundubile, MP, has been appointed Acting Leader of Government Business in the House from today, Tuesday, 16th July, 2019, until further notice.

 

Thank you.

 

_______

 

OATH OF ALLEGIANCE

 

The following hon. Member took and subscribed the Oath of Allegiance:

 

Mr Bwalya Kanyanta Emmanuel Ng’andu

 

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MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

 

REGISTERED SOCIETIES ANNUAL RETURNS COMPLIANCE

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, before I render my ministerial statement, allow me to be the first to congratulate and welcome the newly appointed hon. Minister of Finance, Dr Bwalya Ng’andu, to the House.

 

Sir, once again, let me thank you for according me this opportunity to render a ministerial statement on the obligation by registered societies to file annual returns in accordance with the law. The Societies Act, Cap 119 of the Laws of Zambia, provides for registration, regulation and deregistration of societies.

 

Sir, I wish to remind this august House that in March 2019, I made a ministerial statement on the need for registered societies to be compliant with the rules and regulations of the Societies Act, Cap 119 of the Laws of Zambia, especially on the filing in of annual returns. These returns are expected to be filed with the Registrar of Societies during the period, 1st January to 31st March of each year.

 

Sir, out of the 22,000 societies registered with certificates of registration, 11,595 remitted their 2018/2019 annual returns and out of this figure, forty-one were political parties. It is of great concern that despite the statement I issued earlier encouraging registered societies to comply with the Societies Act, Cap 119 of the Laws of Zambia, some societies have continued to operate in default.

 

In this regard, out of the fourteen political parties that were earmarked for deregistration in my earlier statement, the Department of the Registrar of Societies on 29th May, 2019, finally cancelled the registration of twelve of these political parties. Ten out of these were cancelled for failure to comply with provisions of the Societies Act Cap 119 of the Laws of Zambia. These parties are as follows:

 

  1. People’s Redemption;

 

  1. National Alliance;

 

  1. National Democratic Focus;

 

  1. United Nationalist;

 

  1. Party for Unity, Democracy and Development;

 

  1. Movement for Democratic Process;

 

  1. Zambia Conservative;

 

  1. Zambia United Development;

 

  1. Zambia Development Conference; and

 

  1. Democratic Assembly.

 

Meanwhile, the cancellation of the registration of the other two political parties was based on the requests from the two parties to have their registration cancelled. These parties are the Heritage Party and Alliance for Better Zambia Party.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this august House and the nation that currently, there is a total of sixty registered political parties of which forty-one successfully filed in their 2018/2019 annual returns. Meanwhile, fifteen political parties were found to be in default as at 31st March, 2019, due to non-remittance of returns. As such, these were served with default notices which gave a twenty-one-day ultimatum in which they should normalise their status, failure to which the process of cancellation was to be initiated. The affected political parties listed below were, therefore, encouraged to engage the department for purposes of settling their penalties or, indeed, normalising their status to avoid unnecessary inconvenience.

 

Mr Speaker, like I promised last time, I will go through the names of the parties that are on default notices and they are as follows:

 

  1. Agenda for Change;

 

  1. National Restoration;

 

  1. Federal Government;

 

  1. Fourth Revolution;

 

  1. Federal Democratic;

 

  1. New Generation;

 

  1. New Labour;

 

  1. National Movement for Progress;

 

  1. Revolutionary Communist;

 

  1. United Progressive People;

 

  1. United Democratic Forum;

 

  • Radical Revolutionary;

 

  1. People’s Democratic;

 

  • Ubuntu Democratic; and

 

  • People’s Alliance for Change.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to state that arising from the action which was taken by the department, two political parties that were deregistered have since appealed against the deregistration. These are; the Zambia Conservative Party and Democratic Assembly Party, and their submissions are being processed by the ministry. However, of the fifteen political parties that were in default, five have, so far, settled their penalties and normalised their status accordingly. These are as follows:

 

  1. National Restoration;

 

  1. United Progressive People;

 

  1. People’s Alliance For Change;

 

  1. New Labour; and

 

  1. Ubuntu Democratic.

 

Meanwhile, with the twenty-one-day ultimatum having elapsed, the department has since gone further to issue notifications of the intention to cancel the certificates of the remaining ten political parties that were in default and have not, to date, normalised their status.

 

Mr Speaker, as regards other categories of societies, the department has commenced the process of cancellation of 500 societies that have not been compliant with the Act. Among them are associations, religious bodies and community service societies. The affected societies will, to this effect, be in engaged in line with the prescribed procedure in the Societies Act on cancellation.

 

Mr Speaker, at this point, allow me, yet again, to take this opportunity to appeal to all registered societies and their branches, through my fellow Parliamentarians, to note that filing of annual returns is not the only obligation that registered societies must comply with but also that they are required to notify the registrar on matters regarding change of office bearers, amendments to their constitutions and changes in physical address which should be done in the prescribed manner. Any changes proposed, therefore, would need to meet the requirements of the Societies Act, read together with the provisions of the constitution of that particular society.

 

Mr Speaker, finally, let me remind all societies that are operating illegally, especially religious organisations, that they are required, by law, to register with the Registrar of Societies in accordance with Section 6 of the Societies Act, Cap 119 of the Laws of Zambia. I wish to warn all those societies operating illegally that once discovered, the law will take its course. I, therefore, appeal to societies to comply with the provisions of the Societies Act, Cap 119 of the Laws of Zambia.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

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

 

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, may I also join the hon. Minister in congratulating Dr Bwalya Ng’andu on his appointment as the hon. Minister of Finance and wish him well as he joins us in this House.

 

Sir, the hon. Minister mentioned that out of 22,000 societies, only about 11,000 appear in his books as duly complying in one way or another to the provisions of the Societies Act. I would like the hon. Minister to provide some sort of legal guidance regarding what constitutes a society. I say so because I am aware and sure that you are also aware that many entities have migrated to register, apart from the Societies Act, as Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) under the NGOs Act, while others register under the Companies Act where they register as companies limited by guarantee. Due to this ambiguity, can the hon. Minister provide guidance on who should register under the Societies Act, Non-Governmental Organisations Act and as a company limited by guarantee?

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

I will be very slow to allow the hon. Minister to answer that question because I am sure the hon. Member of Parliament for Lukulu East will appreciate that this is a new question. It is a new question that has not only referred to the Societies Act but also other pieces of legislation such as the Non-Governmental Organisations Act and the Companies Act. In order to have adequate responses and legal guidance, more so, legal guidance, it is only fair that the hon. Minister of Home Affairs be given latitude to consult appropriate, probably, Constitutional office holders in order to adequately respond to that question. It is a very important question that is very valid to the discourse, but we have to find a suitable way of responding to it in due course.

 

Mr Kabanda (Serenje): Mr Speaker, some two months ago, if my memory serves me right, the hon. Minister assured us on the Floor of this House that sensitisation has been done, particularly on the concerns which were raised regarding societies which are based in far-flung areas from the administrative centres. Two months down the line, we have not seen or heard much of sensitisation programmes being undertaken in this regard. Can he assure the nation that a lot has been done to sensitise the people who had not been sensitised regarding registration of societies.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you sincerely for the guidance you have provided to my hon. Colleague, the Member of Parliament for Lukulu East, who posed a question earlier on. I cannot add any more to what you have already adequately stated. I also thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Serenje for that very important follow-up question.

 

Mr Speaker, the Registrar of Societies is doing everything possible to ensure that the registered societies are engaged, sensitised and made to understand their obligations. Hon. Members of Parliament can also be very helpful in ensuring that we sensitise the societies to understand their obligations.  They should also be made to understand that where the Registrar of Societies is not present, the institution has delegated its functions to the Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship, which is a sister department under the Ministry of Home Affairs. The Ministry of Home Affairs and the Registrar of Societies are trying our best in this area. I want hon. Members to take keen interest and ensure that those who want to congregate as a church are registered with the Registrar of Societies. Similarly, we, the hon. Members, should ensure that the societies which we have in our constituencies like women’s clubs are registered so that their activities are monitored.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Mbangweta (Nkeyema): Mr Speaker, I would like to congratulate Hon. Dr Ng’andu on his appointment to this difficult job at this difficult time. I would like to find out what the understanding of this problem is by the hon. Minister. There are 22,000 registered societies, but only half of them appear to be complying with the requirements. Does this have to do with the system of complying being difficult? Or is there another fundamental issue which the ministry needs to look at to assist societies with the compliance process?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, the reasons could be many. However, some societies just fail to understand their obligations after being registered. Others may fail to comply because of the long distances they have to cover to the offices of the Registrar of Societies, and so, they find it challenging to get the information they need in order to be compliant. The ministry is working at ensuring that the services of the Registrar of Societies are decentralised and taken closer to the people. The Registrar of Societies also started automating its operations so that it is easier for it to reach out to people in various locations. When I came to this august House last time, I appealed to societies to make sure that they normalise their status and that is why we have given them enough time. However, for other societies, I think –

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order! Hon. Minister, just give me a minute.

 

Hon. Members on the right, support your hon. Minister.

 

You may continue, hon. Minister.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, the ministry is looking at various ways in which it can ensure that the department is able to render its services to societies. Other than that, it is also looking at the possibility of revisiting the law. The Act I am citing here is old. It dates back to 1955. The ministry is looking at reviewing the Act so that it speaks to the current trends. These are some of the things which the ministry is doing in order to make societies such as churches that are registered at the Registrar of Societies compliant. It wants the Registrar of Societies to reach out to the people without any challenges.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

I will get questions from the hon. Member for Mumbwa, hon. Member for Mongu Central and the hon. Member Kanchibiya.

 

Mr Nanjuwa (Mumbwa): Mr Speaker, are there fees charged for submitting annual returns? If so, how manageable are the fees for political parties?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, there are prescribed fees for filing in returns. Once a society defaults, it attracts penalties that are charged for normalising its status. You will recall that last time, I announced some amnesty of some sort which meant that those societies which defaulted were not going to pay the penalties in order for them to normalise their status. The reason the Registrar of Societies has gone further to effect deregistration is that people did not take advantage of the amnesty that was offered. There are fees that are required to be paid when filing in returns, but they are affordable. Certainly, do not register a society if you think you will not engage in activities which will make you compliant to requirements such as paying the prescribed fees. The fees are affordable. It is just that sometimes, people have a tendency of disobeying the law.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Dr Imakando (Mongu Central): Mr Speaker, please, allow me to welcome the brand new hon. Minister of Finance. I hope that the new broom will sweep clean.

 

Sir, for avoidance of doubt, could the hon. Minister confirm that the returns he has talked about do not include financial statements or documents.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, the financial returns that are required to be filed in are much more to do with the activities of the society to show that it is active and operating in line with its own constitution which is deposited at the Registrar of Societies at the point of registration. Certainly, instances where people receive financial support for certain activities also form part of the annual activities because the activities that are undertaken by a particular society such as a political party may be financed through such financial support.

 

Sir, it is permissible for societies to make such information available to the Registrar of Societies. In instances where societies or political parties went to a conference where changes to office bearers were effected, they should spell out that they had such an activity and the cost of the activity. It goes without saying that the returns should also have financial statements of some sort. Even where money was not spent, there is a need to show what was done. It is important for the Registrar of Societies to take stock of all the activities of registered societies of all kinds.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, allow me to also congratulate the new hon. Minister of Finance. At the same time, I would like to appreciate the service rendered to the nation by the former hon. Minister of Finance. I would also like to appreciate Hon. Mumbi Phiri who was with us in this House.

 

Mr Speaker, my question is partly answered by the response that the hon. Minister of Home Affairs has just given. The Societies Act Chapter 119 of the Laws of Zambia provides for better control of registration and supervision of societies. Apart from filing returns, are societies also compliant in terms of holding elections to ensure that the office bearers are elected as per their constitutions? Otherwise, we will see the wamuyayaya syndrome that we suspect the some organisations are using in their operations.

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

What do you mean by “wamuyayaya?”

 

Laughter                                    

 

Dr Malama: Sir, “wamuyayaya” refers to some organisations that operate …

 

Laughter

 

Dr Malama: … with the same leaders for decades without changing them. That is called “wamuyayaya.”

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, first of all, let me appreciate the hon. Member of Parliament for Kanchibiya, Dr Martin Malama, for that very important follow-up question.

 

Mr Speaker, in the statement, I mentioned the requirements that are needed by societies to enable them to register with the Registrar of Societies. Apart from filing the returns, one of the obligations of societies is to notify the Registrar of Societies ...

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order on the left and right!

 

Mr Kampyongo: … when there are changes regarding the office bearers of political parties or, indeed, any other society. What happens is that a particular society or political party will have its constitution in which it prescribes how it intends to effect changes of the office bearers. This is the constitution which is read together with the Registrar of Societies Act. However, you would find that in most cases, societies or political parties ignore their own constitutions when it comes to the issue of office bearers. This is the reason Article 60 was included in the supreme document, the Constitution, which is yet to be operationalised. This Article prescribes the requirement by political parties to have intra-party democracy and ensure that the change of office bearers is done democratically. I mentioned that there was an attempt to come up with a Political Parties Bill so that political parties can be provided for, exclusively because, at the moment, they are put together with other societies.

 

Mr Speaker, just like the hon. Member said, there are fears that some people are staying in leadership of certain societies or political parties in perpetuity. There is also another growing tendency by people wanting to register political parties or societies using proxies. The Registrar of Societies deals with what it receives as documentation. So, if person “a” is sent by person “b” to register a political party, the Registrar of Societies will not make or work on assumptions, but deal with the documents provided.

 

Sir, there are many cases of people claiming ownership of political parties when they are not reflected in documents which are filed at the Registrar of Societies. These are some of the challenges we are trying to deal with through the law. The National Dialogue Forum (NDF) decided to put aside the Political Parties Bill in the changes that were proposed in the Constitution. However, we shall go ahead to make sure that the Societies Act is revisited in order for the Act to speak to the current trends.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

_______

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

WESTERN PROVINCE CANALS

 

457. Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

  1. what the total number of canals in the Western Province is, district by district;

 

  1. whether there is an annual canal dredging programme countrywide; and

 

  1. if there is no such programme, why.

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Chitotela): Mr Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to congratulate and welcome the newly appointed hon. Minister of Finance to the House.

 

Sir, the total number of canals in the Western Province is 221, broken down per district as follows:

 

                     District                                                Number of Canals

 

                     Senanga                                               30

 

                     Mulobezi                                             06

 

                     Kalabo                                                 08

 

                     Limulunga                                           50

 

                     Nalolo                                                 30

 

                     Sesheke                                               08

 

                     Mwandi                                               04

 

                     Sikongo                                               10

 

                     Kaoma                                                 08

 

                     Mongu                                                 42

 

                     Lukulu                                                 07

 

                     Mitete                                                  05

 

                     Between Mongu and Kalabo              13

 

                     Total                                                  221

 

Mr Speaker, there is a countrywide annual canal dredging programme implemented by the Dredging Unit that is under the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development.

 

Sir, the programme exists, as I have stated above.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Prof. Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister elaborate a little more on the annual canal dredging programme. Please, give us more details.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the ministry spent about K3 million in the first half of 2018. This year, a 12 km stretch of canals in Limulunga District was worked on by the Dredging Unit that is under the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development. Further, 80 km of mechanical dredging will be undertaken this year on the Makoma/Luanginga canal in Sikongo District.

 

Mr Speaker, I will restrict myself to answering questions on the canals in the Western Province only. The ministry has worked on a 12 km stretch of the Limulunga/Mongu Canal. They are different because of limited finances. It had planned to work on about 250 km stretch of the canals last year, but it ended up working on only 137 km in all the provinces across the country. This year, the ministry has worked on about 35 km.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

I will have the hon. Member for Kantanshi and then I will close with the hon. Member for Sioma.

 

Mr A. C. Mumba (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, I would like to welcome the new hon. Minister of Finance.

 

Sir, the hon. Minister indicated that the ministry could not finish working on all the 250 km stretch of the canals because of limited resources. To what extent has the Dredging Department been affected owing to the fact that the ministry had procured dredgers worth over US$9 million, which have not been supplied and worse still, that money has disappeared? To what extent have those dredgers that have not been supplied affected this exercise?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the effect has been great because of a lack of equipment. We have been using manual dredging where we were supposed to use mechanical dredging. The plan was that once all the dredging equipments had been delivered, each district where there are canals was supposed to receive a mechanised amphibian dredging machine to work on the canals. 

 

Mr Speaker, to set the record straight, it is not the whole amount of US$9 million that has gone missing. The ministry consulted the supplier and it was informed that about US$4.2 million has gone missing. The rest of the money was transferred to the manufacturer of the dredger. The Ministry of Transport and Communications and other law enforcing agencies have been engaging the supplier so that they can conclude and have the equipment delivered. However, there has been a considerable effect due to non-mechanical dredging equipment. Nonetheless, we have not relented, but proceeded to use manual dredging where we do not have equipment.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Ms Subulwa (Sioma): Mr Speaker, I did not hear the hon. Minister mention Sioma or Shan’gombo. Could he clarify.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, according to the data that we have acquired from the provincial water engineer in the Western Province, there is only Senanga, Mulobezi, Kalabo, Limulunga, Nalolo, Sesheke, Mwandi, Sikongo, Kaoma, Mongu, Lukulu and Mitete districts. The ministry was informed that there are thirteen canals between Mongu and Kalabo. At the time these were being undertaken, I do not know whether or not the two mentioned districts were captured. However, the information we have received is that there are 221 canals in the above-mentioned districts in the Western Province. Therefore, Sioma and Shangombo are not part of these districts.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

I will allow the hon. Member for Kalabo Central to ask the question.

 

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, the livelihood of people in the Western Province is solely dependent on these canals in which the Government does not seem to have much interest. The hon. Minister said that there were thirteen canals between Mongu and Kalabo. Is there any place which is non-Mongu or non-Kalabo where those canals are?

 

I seek clarification on this issue.

 

Mr Speaker: The non-area.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, there is no non-area. This is a clear demonstration that these canals are servicing two districts, which are Mongu and Kalabo. The thirteen canals are conjoined by Mongu and Kalabo while eight canals are purely for Kalabo and forty-two are purely for Mongu.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

CHADIZA DISTRICT CHIEFS’ PALACES CONSTRUCTION

 

458. Mr S. Tembo (Chadiza) asked the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs:

 

  1. when the construction of palaces for the following chiefs in Chadiza District will commence:

 

  1. Chief Zingalume;

 

  1. Chief Mwangala; and

 

  1. Chief Mlolo;

 

  1. what the total cost of the exercise is; and

 

  1. what the time frame for the completion of each palace is.

 

The Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (Mr Sichalwe): Mr Speaker, currently, the Government is constructing the chiefs’ palaces in phases. In this regard, the construction of palaces for Chief Zingalume, Chief Mwangala and Chief Mlolo in Chadiza District will be implemented in the subsequent phases.

 

The estimated total cost of the palaces will be determined once the procurement process of the construction has been done.

 

The estimated time frame within which it is to be completed will be determined subject to my answer to part (b) of the question.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

KITWE CITY COUNCIL HOUSING UNITS

 

459. Mr Mwila (Chimwemwe) asked the Minister of Local Government:

 

  1. what the total number of housing units owned by Kitwe City Council was, as of  January, 2019, in the following categories:

 

  1. high cost;

 

  1. medium cost; and

 

  1. low cost;

 

  1. what the average cost of rentals for each category is;

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to sell the housing units to sitting tenants; and

 

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

 

The Minister of Local Government (Mr Mwale): Mr Speaker, the total number of housing units owned by Kitwe City Council is seventy-three, categorised as follows:

 

Category                     No. of Housing Units

 

High cost                        9

 

Medium cost               41

 

Low cost                     23

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order on the right!

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the average cost of rentals for each category is as follows:

 

         Category         Monthly Rent (K)

 

High cost140

 

Medium cost70

 

Low cost20

 

Mr Speaker, the Government is still making consultations on whether or not to consider selling the housing units to sitting tenants.

 

The process has not yet commenced due to various factors, among them, financial challenges to undertake a valuation exercise.

 

The housing units will only be sold once the factors under consideration have been addressed.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

HEALTH POSTS CONSTRUCTION

 

460. Ms Tambatamba (Kasempa) asked the Minister of Health:

 

  1. when the construction of the nine health posts in Kasempa Parliamentary Constituency under the 650 Health Post Project will be completed;

 

  1. what the cause of the delay in completing the project is;

 

  1. who the contractor for the project is; and

 

  1. what the total cost of the outstanding works is.

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Mr Speaker, allow me to use this opportunity to congratulate the new hon. Minister of Finance and welcome him to the House.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Chilufya: Sir, the construction of the nine health posts allocated to Kasempa Parliamentary Constituency under the 650 Health Post Project will be completed within the contract period of eighteen months and this translates to before the end of 2020.

 

Sir, the cause of the delay in completing the project is the termination of the contract of the previous contractor working on this project in 2015. Unfortunately, there were no works until the new contractor was engaged.

 

Mr Speaker, the new contractor is Jaguar Overseas of India and the total cost of the remaining works of the overall contract sum to complete 201 health posts in the North-Western Province, Luapula Province, Northern Province and Muchinga Province is US$15,250,000. We expect all the remaining works in the four provinces to be completed within the contract period of eighteen months.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Tambatamba: Mr Speaker, exactly how much is the construction of the nine health centres for Kasempa worth? How much has been allocated for the nine health centres in Kasempa?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the exact amount is not a simple division of the sum total by the number of health posts because variables differ and the distance to the facilities and the terrain differ as well. There are many other variables which are technical. Therefore,  the cost of one health post will differ from the cost of another health post depending on various variables that have to do with construction. Thus, I cannot tell you the exact amount of the nine because even the cost of the nine health posts themselves are not uniform.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr A. C. Mumba: Mr Speaker, my concern is that since I came to this House, the ten health posts in my constituency are still at foundation level while some of them only have little structures. The hon. Minister has consistently been asked when the health posts will be completed. Last time, he mentioned that the Zambia National Service (ZNS) would come in, then there was an issue of counterpart funding and now he has only mentioned health posts for Luapula Province, the North-Western Province and Muchinga Province. When will the health posts on the Copperbelt Province be considered so that we tell our people at what phase we are? As it stands, we have been assuring them that they posts will be constructed, but no contractor has come on site. Could the hon. Minister clearly tell us when this will be done?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the challenges of the contractor on the Copperbelt Province are totally different from the challenges of the contractor who was hired to build in the four provinces I mentioned. On the Copperbelt Province, the challenge was that the Government did not raise the counterpart funding for the contractor to continue with the works. As part of mobilisation of resources for the four provinces, the Government also managed to raise resources which it was supposed to raise as counterpart funding. As we speak, the issue of counterpart funding which delayed the project on the Copperbelt Province has been resolved and works have equally resumed.

 

Sir, within the same contractual period of eighteen months, the people of the Copperbelt Province will have all the health posts that have been earmarked for construction.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Mr Speaker, the construction of the 650 health posts is a very big problem in rural areas. Like the hon. Member who spoke before me said, the hon. Minister has come to the Floor of the House to talk about this before and now, he has just talked about the four provinces. Is he able to bring a schedule to this House of how the ministry and the contractors intend to finish this project in the remaining provinces, including the one which has been mentioned by Hon. Tambatamba? Is he able to come to this House within the shortest period of time so that the hon. Members of Parliament from these provinces we have mentioned do not come and ask the same questions?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the schedule which was made by the contractor which we were supposed to bring to Parliament, like I promised last time, had to be revised because of delays in the release of the resources. Therefore, the time frames changed and the ministry could not give out that schedule.

 

Sir, the contractor is just revising the framework with the technical team and as soon as they finish, it will be brought to Parliament to be distributed to the hon. Members.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Tambatamba: Mr Speaker, this is the same place where the hon. Minister officiated at a ceremony for the groundbreaking of a mini-hospital in Nkenyauna. The people of Nkenyauna in Kasempa are awaiting their mini-hospital, whose construction the hon. Minister committed to in September last year.

 

Sir, next to Nkenyauna is one of these health posts in Kantenda which is yet to make progress. Only the pillars have been built and the same applies to Kizhiba and in Senior Chief Kasempa’s village. Only the pillars have been built since May and there is no follow-up activity. Surely, this is one low-hanging fruit which could be given to the people so that those in Nkenyauna who are waiting for their mini-hospital could have a clinic at Kantenda. Does the hon. Minister have a monitoring or supervision plan in place to ensure that the dates that he has given for the people of Kasempa to hang on to will be respected and achieved?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, maybe, I should make it very clear that even as I speak about a revised schedule, the works have commenced in the North-Western Province and some health posts in the province have been completed. For instance, in Chavuma, the health posts have been completed and the works in Mwinilunga are also at a very advanced stage. However, the contractor obviously has to design a schedule and he cannot be in all places at the same time because he has to manage his costs and his work plan. I would like to assure you that the contractor has mobilised in the North-Western Province and except now, there are some slight changes on the dates he was supposed to be in certain parts of the province, but that has not derailed the works which have already begun.

 

Sir, the assurance to the hon. Members is that the funding issue has been resolved and there is a new contractor who is already mobilised in the North-Western Province. Some health posts have been completed and even handed over. Ichikwanka bachimwena kumampalanya, ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kampyongo interjected.

 

Dr Chilufya: ... this means that what will save you is seen from past examples. Performance is the basis on which to judge individuals. So, you can judge the Patriotic Front (PF) by its performance in the health sector by looking at the many deliverables in the North-Western Province, including the health posts and hospitals. Kasempa is a big beneficiary of the programme.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: I will take the last three interventions from the hon. Member for Zambezi West, hon. Member for Kabompo and hon. Member for Kanchibiya.

 

Ms Kucheka (Zambezi West): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister, please, stick to Kasempa. He is now giving answers for all places –

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Zambezi West, have you assumed my role?

 

Laughter

 

Hon. Members: Ema Speaker aya!

 

Mr Speaker: Do you have a question?

 

Ms Kucheka: Yes, Sir.

 

Ms Kucheka: Mr Speaker, is the construction of the nine health posts going to be completed in eighteen months or is it only a few of the nine health posts that will be completed?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, all the health posts will be completed within the contractual period of eighteen months.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo):  Mr Speaker, I appreciate that the construction of 650 rural health post project has been going on for close to seven to eight years. I appreciate that funding and a new contractor has been secured. However, the challenge at the sites in the North-Western Province is that sub-contractors have a challenge to mobilise money to construct the sub-structures before the main contractor comes with the fabricated materials to complete the project. I am told that sub-contractors are being denied advance payments. Is there a way the hon. Minister can intervene to ensure that sub-contractors are availed the necessary advances in order to speed up the works and complete them within the eighteen months contractual period?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, this project has not taken eight years. It started in 2014. So, it is just under five years old. Out of the 650 health posts, more than 400 plus have already been completed. The project could have been completed had it not been for those challenges I mentioned.

 

Sir, regarding sub-contractors and main contractors, the main contractor signed contracts with Zambian sub-contractors to undertake the civil works. The Ministry of Health is a third party to that contract, and it may not interfere in that contract between the sub-contractors and the main contractor. However, in good faith, and in the spirit of ensuring that the project is not derailed, we get involved when sub-contractors raise issues that require the Ministry of Health to engage the main contractor. Otherwise, we are not party to the third party contract between the main contractor and the sub-contractors.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, before I ask my question, allow me to commend the Patriotic Front (PF) Government for the great job they are doing in infrastructure development, including in the health sector. Like Kasempa Constituency, Kanchibiya Constituency is vast, with places such as Mulonga, Mwelushi and Munkuta. These areas are only accessible in the dry season. Would the hon. Minister ensure that these areas are given priority so that construction is unhindered by the rainy season?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, one of the reasons that the ministry had to re-programme after the delayed funding was to accommodate areas that get cut off during the rainy season. Areas where geographical access is a challenge during the rainy season have been taken into consideration and that is why we are moving teams to these areas. Therefore, I would like to reassure the hon. Member of Parliament that there will be team mobilisation in those areas soon.

 

Sir, in Muchinga Province, there are, at least, three teams working in three to four districts undertaking civil works, and some of them have even started erecting super structures. My assurance to the House and the nation is that the construction of the 650 health posts is on course and that this is a critical investment in our universal health coverage agenda, which is meant to create access to primary health care services for the people of this country. The Government will not relent until it delivers on it. This project is only part of the broader infrastructure expansion programme, and the Government will continue building other health posts, mini-hospitals, hospitals and tertiary hospitals.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

VUBWI DISTRICT PIPED WATER PROVISION

 

461. Mr W. Banda (Milanzi) (on behalf of Ms Miti (Vubwi)) asked the Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to provide piped water to Vubwi District;

 

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

 

  1.  if there are no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection (Dr Wanchinga): Mr Speaker, let me start by joining my hon. Colleagues in welcoming and congratulating the new hon. Minister of Finance, Dr Bwalya Ng’andu.

 

Mr Speaker, let me preface my answer to this question by giving context to it. In 2011, the Government declared a number of new districts in the country and, among them, was Vubwi District. The Government saw it fit to ensure that all the new districts have water supply, and so, a programme to provide water to the new districts was put in place.

 

As regards the cluster of districts to which Vubwi District belongs, an amount of K7.8 million was allocated and given to Zambezi Drilling and Exploration Company to construct water schemes in Vubwi and Sinda districts in the Eastern Province, Nsama in the Northern Province and Shiwang’andu and Mafinga in Muchinga Province. This is the context to the question.

 

Mr Speaker, like I said in the preamble, the Government has plans to provide piped water schemes in Vubwi District as part of the broader programme which I referred to.

 

Sir, the Government will implement the plans to provide piped water to Vubwi District in the fourth quarter of 2019 upon receipt of funds from the Treasury. I should add here that this programme has already begun in Vubwi, and one commercial borehole has already been drilled in the district.

 

Mr Speaker, like I have already said, the plans are already there, and the programme is being implemented to provide a robust water supply system in Vubwi District.

 

I thank you, Sir.

NALOLO POLICE POSTS CONSTRUCTION

 

462. Mr Imbuwa (Nalolo) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to construct police posts in the following wards in Nalolo Parliamentary Constituency:

 

  1. Ukolo;

 

  1. Kamba; and

 

  1. Shekela;

 

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

 

  1. if there are no such plans, what immediate measures are being taken to reduce cases of cattle rustling which are rampant in the constituency.

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, the Government has no immediate plans of constructing police posts in Ukolo, Kamba and Shekela wards in Nalolo Parliamentary Constituency. However, considering that Nalolo is now a new district, and does not have a police station, the Government will prioritise construction of a police station and houses for police officers in line with the policy of providing essential infrastructure in all the newly created districts.

 

Mr Speaker, as indicated in (a) above, the Government has no immediate plans of constructing police posts in the affected wards. I encourage the area hon. Member of Parliament to consider working with the local police command to try to see how he can use the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to put up police posts in these three wards which require police services, just like we always do.

 

Mr Speaker, the Zambia Police Service, working with the neighbourhood watch, has been undertaking patrols in all the three wards, periodically. These patrols have reduced cattle rustling in all the three wards. In order to consolidate security in the three wards, vehicles for operations will be allocated to the Zambia Police Service in the concerned area once the ministry receives the operation vehicles.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Imbuwa: Mr Speaker, can the hon. Minister indicate when we are likely to receive those vehicles considering the fact that usually, cattle rustlers go to an extent of giving notices to cattle farmers before they pounce on their cattle.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member that some of the cattle rustlers are notorious, and in some cases, they have terrorised our farmers with impunity. I know that the police command in the Western Province has been having challenges in terms of transport. That is why the Government is doing everything possible to see to it that before the end of this year, it  sends some vehicles to enable police officers to protect the cattle for our farmers in the Western Province and Nalolo, in particular. I think the hon. Member of Parliament has also seen the commitment and the progress that is being made in the construction of the police station and ten staff houses on the west bank of Nalolo. The Government also intends to upgrade the police post which is on the east bank of Moyo so that the vast area can be managed by police officers, effectively.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister, in trying to answer the question posed by the hon. Member for Nalolo vis-à-vis the construction of some police posts required there, referred to the Constituency Development Fund (CDF), which is his usual answer. The people of Nalolo are willing to use their CDF for projects.

 

Mr Lubinda interjected.

 

Mr Lufuma: I have been in contact with them. Please, just take it easy, hon. Minister.

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

 Hon. Member for Kabompo, you do not have to respond. You may continue, please.

 

Mr Lufuma: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister is in the Executive. We are waiting and we will continue to wait for the CDF that he wants us to use on various projects. Is the hon. Minister in contact with his counterpart in the Ministry of Finance to ensure that the CDF he is talking about is released to assist him and Nalolo to have the mentioned project done?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I appreciate the follow-up question by the hon. Member for Kabompo.

 

Mr Speaker, I have kept referring to that because most hon. Members of Parliament whom we have worked with as a ministry, have done it before. In places where hon. Members of Parliament have done it, police services have been provided immediately. We have, of course, been in contact with our counterpart, the Ministry of Finance because we are one Government. I know that the hon. Minister of Finance and the Minister of Local Government are very committed, and that is why they have …

 

Mr Mwale: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kampyongo: … revised the guidelines on how to manage the CDF. Therefore, I can assure the hon. Member for Nalolo that when he receives the CDF, we can partner and implement that project. However, that does not mean that the Ministry of Home Affairs will tilt back. Like I have said, the Government is prioritising the completion of the police station and police houses in that area. That area is vast because it consists of the east bank and west bank. We also intend to upgrade the police post which is on the east bank. Senior officers will be sent there. I know that the police post has a chief inspector now, but the ministry will send a senior officer, the assistant superintendent, as a way of upgrading the police post in Moyo in order to increase the staff strength to do the necessary patrols.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, I appreciate the hon. Minister’s response that the ministry is considering putting up a police station and providing transport for the police officers in Nalolo. Nalolo is more like Kabinga Chiefdom. The great Zambezi River passes through Nalolo. I know Nalolo very well because my licholocholo, mbonyi ya siloko comes from there.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Malama: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister considering giving a boat or any other form of water transport so that many areas can be accessed in Nalolo?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I appreciate the question posed by the hon. Member for Kanchibiya. The terrain of his area is similar to that of Nalolo. However, whether the ministry should consider getting a boat or not would depend on the demand from the division. We have a competent command in Commissioner Lungu and his team. If they see the need for a boat whilst they are waiting for a vehicle, we can consider such a request. For now, our plan is to send some vehicles for the division out of which they will send some vehicles to Nalolo for the operations of the Zambia Police Service there.

 

Mr Speaker: I will take the last three questions from the hon. Member for Lubansenshi, hon. Member for Namwala and hon. Member for Kasempa.

 

Mr Mwamba (Lubansenshi): Mr Speaker, in his attempt to answer the question, the hon. Minister said that the police are in the meantime using neighbourhood watch groups to provide security in Nalolo. Are the members of the neighbourhood watch groups professionally trained?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, to set the record straight, I did not attempt, but answered the question. I gave a response to the question.

 

Mr Speaker, in community policing, members of a community are encouraged to come together to help the Zambia Police Service maintain peace and protect property in communities. It is one way of making members of a community responsible for their own security and that of their property. Therefore, what happens is that when people identify those that are trustworthy to take up community policing, also known as Community Crime Prevention Unit (CCPU) officers, the police conduct some sort of induction or orientation courses on how they should operate. They are taught the dos and don’ts. They are also taught how to manage issues.

 

More importantly, Mr Speaker, information sharing is critical because in some areas, like the hon. Member stated earlier, there are notorious characters who even have the audacity to notify farmers that they are coming for their animals. If there is a group of community members, they can come together and see how they can notify the police and see how they can help the farmer protect the animals from these criminal individuals. Therefore, we ensure that they undergo some orientation courses that are run for these people who work in the communities to supplement the efforts of the Zambia Police Service.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, cattle rustling is not rampant only in Nalolo but also the whole country. We have been talking about this problem without any solution being provided. Would the hon. Minister not consider coming up with stiffer punishment for cattle rustlers, such as making it a non-bailable offence, because it has been going on without any solution?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I agree that the issue of cattle rustling is not synonymous with Nalolo alone but alsoother parts of the Western Province and Southern Province. There have been interventions before such as crack squads specifically assembled to deal with these cases swiftly or to respond swiftly to calls from farming communities. We shall continue to revise ways of policing these areas in order to protect our farmers.

 

As to whether we should consider stiffer punishment, this is a collective responsibility that all of us in here, as legislators, have. If we think that we need to pass a piece of legislation for the police to enforce, we have a collective responsibility to do so. The hon. Member can propose to the appropriate Committees of this august House to see if we can come up with a piece of legislation, which then the police service can enforce to curb cattle rustling which has been a challenge for some time.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Ms Tambatamba: Mr Speaker, like the people of Nalolo who are reaching out to the hon. Minister to come to their aid, the people of Ingwe in Kasempa are in the same position. For them, even the little that they had, which was a police post and the police officers who were there have been removed. Can the hon. Minister assure the people of Kasempa in Ingwe that these police officers will be redeployed so that they too enjoy the security that other parts of the country are enjoying?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I think I have been generous in giving responses away from the substantive question. I have given bonus answers. If the hon. Member cannot wait to file a question, I would invite her to come to the Ministry of Home Affairs and engage us so that we see how we can deal with that particular concern in her area. Our doors are open and we will be at her service.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

SUSPECTS JUMPING BAIL COUNTRYWIDE

 

463. Mr Chiyalika (Lufubu) to ask the Minister of Justice:

 

  1. how many suspects, countrywide, jumped bail in 2018;

 

  1. how much money was forfeited to the State due to jumping bail; and

 

  1. how the money at (b) was utilised.

 

The Minister of Justice (Mr Lubinda): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that there was a total of 660 suspects who jumped bail throughout the country in 2018, as follows:

 

         Province                                              Number

 

         Central                                                  62

 

         Copperbelt                                            20

 

         Eastern                                                  33

 

         Luapula                                                 27

 

         Lusaka                                                 195

 

         Muchinga                                                6

 

         Northern                                                16

 

         North-Western                                      73

 

         Southern                                                44

 

         Western                                                 42

 

         Bail Pending Appeal                           142

 

         Total                                                    660

 

Mr Speaker, those who were on bail pending appeal and, therefore, not allocated to any province were 142 giving the total number of 660.        

 

Mr Speaker, a total of K920,000 was forfeited to the State as a result of suspects jumping bail. The forfeited money is part of Government’s revenue and it is deposited in the consolidated fund also known as Control 99. Also, it is accordingly disbursed and utilised as part of the National Budget.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, for the sake of others who may not be able to ask, I have heard this legal term of ‘jumping bail’ many times. Could the hon. Minister kindly explain what is involved in jumping bail.

 

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, I am sure the hon. Member is not asking for himself, but for many people not only in the House but also outside the House. Jumping bail is referring to people who after being arrested go to court, ask not to be detained, but be granted bail, and appear in court coming from their homes, but when they are required to appear in court, they do not appear. That act, in itself, is what is referred to as jumping bail.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

 

LIMULUNGA DAY SECONDARY SCHOOL COMPLETION

 

464. Mr Kundoti (Luena) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

  1. when the construction of Limulunga Day Secondary School will be completed;

 

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

 

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

 

  1. when the school will be opened.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, the construction of Limulunga Day Secondary School is earmarked for completion on 31st December, 2019, all things being equal.

 

The delay in completing the construction of Limulunga Day Secondary School is due to financial constraints.

 

The total cost of the project is K56,383,908.09.

 

The school is scheduled for opening in the first quarter of 2020, all things being equal.

 

 I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kundoti: Mr Speaker, often times, we have been told that all projects that are 80 per cent complete will not stall, but will be completed. The hon. Minister is now saying that all things being equal, the project will be completed in December 2019. The Limulunga Day Secondary School is above 80 per cent complete. To hear the phrase “all things being equal” baffles me and makes me lose hope, but I do not want to lose hope because the school is above 80 per cent complete, including the teachers’ houses. Could the hon. Minister assure the people of Limulunga District that the school will definitely be completed by December 2019, as he has put it.

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, I am using the term “all things being equal” because as the hon. Member stated, clearly, this school is above 80 per cent complete. It is among the priority projects that the Government intends to complete. Furthermore, I am privileged to superintend over a council of hon. Ministers to look at projects which are above 80 per cent complete.

 

Mr Speaker, I will be issuing a ministerial statement very soon to show which projects the Government is targeting to finish by the end of this year. Limulunga Day Secondary School is one of the schools which it is planning to open in January 2020. The Government owes the contractor an amount of K16.2 million and that is the reason I am saying, “all things being equal.” Once the Treasury releases the funds to the council of hon. Ministers, a substantive amount of money allotted to the Ministry of General Education. This is to ensure that the projects which are almost complete are done and Limulunga Day Secondary School is one of them.

 

So, I used the terminology because we are depending on the Treasury to release the funds. If the funds are released in the third quarter, the contractors will be paid. The contractors will be remobilised and they will move on site to start works. If not 31st December, 2019, the project may finish in January 2020. Our hope is that in the first quarter of 2020, this school should be opened.

 

 I thank you, Sir.

 

MINING COMPANIES GOVERNMENT AGREEMENTS

 

465. Mr Simbao (Senga Hill) asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

 

  1. whether there were any development agreements between the Government and mining companies as of February, 2019;

 

  1. if so, with which mining companies the Government had the agreements;

 

  1. what the duration of each agreement was;

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to renegotiate the agreements; and

 

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

 

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Musukwa): Mr Speaker, there were no development agreements between the Government of the Republic of Zambia and any mining company as of February 2019. The House may wish to know that all development agreements were nullified under the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2008.

 

Sir, there is no development agreement between the Government and any mining company.

 

The question of duration at this point then falls off because there are no plans to renegotiate and there is no implementation period.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Dr Kopulande (Chembe): Mr Speaker, before I raise a question, allow me to congratulate an old colleague, a fellow Rhodes scholar, now making two Rhodes scholars in the House, Hon. Bwalya Kanyanta Emmanuel Ng’andu on his appointment to the auspicious Office of hon. Minister of Finance. I will leave Prof. Lungwangwa to come and describe him in terms of what that means.

                  

Mr Speaker, the mining industry is the dominate industry in our economy. As at today, this sector of our economy is in foreign hands. Does the Government have any plans to localise the ownership of the mining sector so as to ensure that this major sector is controlled by the citizens of this Republic?

 

 

Mr Musukwa: Mr Speaker, I was looking for your protection because I saw that this was a completely new question, …

 

Laughter

 

Mr Musukwa: … but I have noted that you have allowed it, so I am compelled to answer.

 

Mr Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member of Parliament for Chembe that the mining sector is a huge economic sector for our country, and it is largely controlled by foreigners. The policy of the Government is to continue to allow investors both local and international to dovetail in the mining industry and continue running the mines under private sector-driven initiatives.

 

Mr Speaker, we already have an opportunity at this occasion when we are dealing with the issue of the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM). The Government is looking for investors. We are looking at an opportunity for Zambians to form a consortium and declare their interest in running the mine. As we speak, nine investors have expressed interest in KCM, and I have been looking forward to seeing a local consortium come on board or indicate that it is interested in buying 15 per cent, 16 per cent or more shares in the company. Last week, I heard some Zambians say “that they want the Government to ask them to participate in the purchase of KCM. We will not ask anyone, we want Zambians to volunteer to become part of this process.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, I would like to congratulate Dr Bwalya Ng’andu. I am not a Rhodes Scholar, but I welcome him to the House.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Simbao: I also want to congratulate Hon. Bwalya Chungu on his appointment.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Simbao: Mr Speaker, at the time these agreements were being nullified, were there any that were still running? If so, did it cost the Government any money?

 

Mr Musukwa: Mr Speaker, at the time the development agreements were being nullified, there were several of them which were running. As you are aware, development agreements were put in place in order to protect both the investor and the Government. The primary reason for nullifying these development agreements is that they were lopsided to the advantage of foreign investors at the expense of the Government. That is why the Government moved in and ensured that these development agreements were nullified by the Mines and Minerals Development Act of 2008. In terms of the cost profile, there are some mining houses that contested this decision and the processes were disposed of at the courts of law. In fact, up to now, we could have one or two mining houses which we are discussing in terms of closing this matter at arbitration.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

CHINSALI DISTRICT YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMMES

 

466. Mr Mukosa (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development:

  

  1. whether the Government has any youth empowerment programmes in Chinsali District;

 

  1. if so, what programmes are earmarked for implementation in 2019; and

 

  1. if there are no programmes, why.

 

The Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development (Mr Mawere): Mr Speaker, allow me to also join the hon. Members of Parliament in congratulating our two brothers, Hon. Bwalya Chungu and Hon. Bwalya Ng’andu, on their new positions.

 

Mrs Simukoko: Warriors!

 

Mr Mawere: For both being warriors, yes.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, the Government has plans for youth empowerment programmes in Chinsali District. These programmes are as follows:

 

  1. skills development through the Chinsali Youth Resource Centre;

 

  1. skills training under Robert Makasa University under the Ministry of Higher Education;

 

  1. youth innovators programme earmarked for Chinsali through empowering youths with start-up kits;

 

  1. youth resettlement schemes through empowering youths with land and related start-up kits at Mwange in Mporokoso and Kanchibiya districts;

 

  1. youth Information Communication Technology (ICT) empowerment schemes through empowering of youths with start-up kits to establish ICT businesses;

 

  1. Supporting Women’s Livelihood (SWL) programme;

 

  1. the Social Cash Transfer Scheme;

 

  1. under the Ministry of Agriculture, we have programmes earmarked for youths in the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) marketing;

 

  1.  under the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, we have an empowerment programme earmarked for the youths;

 

  1. the bursary under the Ministry of Higher Education; and

 

  1. under his office, as an hon. Member of Parliament, he has the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) which is also at the disposal of the youths in Chinsali.

 

Mr Speaker, part (c) of the question falls-off because we have plans to these activities.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, –

 

Mr Mbulakulima: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, I rise on a very serious point of order. You know that I have never stood on any point of order before. Today, I am worried. Is the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development in order to call the non-confrontational, peace-loving Bwalyas as warriors ...

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mbulakulima: ... when they are not fighters?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mbulakulima: They are innocent, non-confrontational peaceful people. He said the two warriors.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mbulakulima: Mr Speaker, are they warriors? I need your serious ruling.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: My ruling is that I will excuse …

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: … the hon. Minister of Youth, Sport and Child Development for giving that impression. I think he meant to address them as they are known.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: I am sure there are certain impediments he could not overcome in the process.

 

Laughter

 

May the hon. Member for Chinsali, please, continue.

 

Mr Mukosa: Mr Speaker, when the hon. Minister answered part (b) of the question, where I asked if there are some programmes earmarked for implementation in 2019, the hon. Minister said that there was a programme called youth empowerment kits. Is he going to give any youth empowerment kits in 2019?

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, that is definitely one of the empowerment programmes we have planned for 2019. Once it comes to fruition, Chinsali will be one of the districts that will be considered.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Dr Malama: Mr Speaker, thank you for your ruling as it has addressed the wonder I had when I heard the hon. Minister mention the word “warriors.”

 

Laughter

 

Dr Malama: Mr Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister mentioned Kanchibiya District when answering the question on youth empowerment. Could he elaborate.

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, I referred to Kanchibiya as one district where the Government would want to settle youths who want to go into agriculture. We have a resettlement scheme in Kanchibiya and Mwange in Mporokoso. The Government is definitely willing to help the youths who are interested in the farming business and they will be taken to either Kanchibiya or Mwange in Mporokoso and other places.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: I will have the last two interventions from the hon. Member for Chama South and the hon. Member for Kasenengwa.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to congratulate the new hon. Minister of Finance and the new provincial hon. Minister for the Northern Province as well as the new Chief Whip.

 

Sir, the youths in Muchinga Province, Chama South in particular, hear about the youth empowerment programmes but have never benefitted from them. Is the hon. Minister in a position to share with the hon. Members and the people of Chinsali and Chama if you have any youth empowerment programmes earmarked for the empowerment of our youths this year so that we can stop asking such questions?

 

Mr Mawere: Mr Speaker, the Government is well versed with all the information on youth empowerment programmes. The Government tends to rely heavily on the district and provincial administrations and other structures in these areas to spread the information. The hon. Members of Parliament and the youths in these districts can visit the nearest youth resource centres and provincial or district administrations to get this information. Those who feel they need to come to Lusaka should feel free to visit the line ministries I mentioned such as the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the Ministry of Higher Education, including the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development, and we will explain fully the youth empowerment programmes that are earmarked for 2019.

 

I thank you, Sir.

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY MR SPEAKER

 

SECOND REPORT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY REFORMS AND MODERNISATION COMMITTEE

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, before we proceed with our business, I wish to make an announcement. In terms of Article 89(2) of the Constitution of Zambia, I wish to provide as follows:

 

“The National Assembly or a Parliamentary Committee shall not exclude the public or the media from its sittings, unless there are justifiable reasons for the exclusion and the Speaker informs the public or media of the reasons.”

 

Hon. Members, the Parliamentary Reforms and Modernisation Committee is classified under the National Assembly of Zambia Standing Orders, 2016, as a House-keeping Committee of the House. In this regard, Standing Order No. 152(1) and (8) states as follows:

 

“152. (1) There is hereby established the Parliamentary Reforms and Modernisation Committee comprising the Second Deputy Speaker and nine other members appointed by the Standing Orders Committee.

 

  1. The debate on the report of the Committee shall be held in camera.”

 

Hon. Members, the reason for this provision is that the Parliamentary Reforms and Modernisation Committee deals with in-house matters hinging on the powers, privileges, procedures and practices, organisation and facilities of the Assembly.

 

It is in view of the foregoing that I now direct all members of the public and the media to leave the House. I further direct that broadcasting of the proceedings on Parliament radio and television and other media be suspended during the debate on the report of the Committee.

 

I thank you.

 

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Debate in-camera from 1626 hours until 1748 hours

 

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The House adjourned at 1948 hours until 1430 hours Wednesday, 17th July, 2019.

 

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