Thursday, 9th July, 2020

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Thursday, 9th July, 2020

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

_______

 

RULING BY MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER

 

POINT OF ORDER RAISED BY MR D. LIVUNE, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR KATOMBOLA PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY, AGAINST DR M. MALAMA, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR KANCHIBIYA PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY, ON HIS ALLEGATION THAT MEMBERS OF THE UNITED PARTY FOR NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT (UPND) WENT AROUND THE COUNTRY DEMEANING THE PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS ON CLIMATE CHANGE TO THE HOUSE ON FRIDAY, 13TH SEPTEMBER, 2019

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members will recall that on Tuesday, 25th February, 2020, while the House was considering the Ministerial Statement on the Flood Situation in the Country, delivered by Hon. O. P. Mwansa, MP, Minister in the Office of the Vice-President, and Mr K. A. Mbangweta, Member of Parliament for Nkeyema Parliamentary Constituency, was on the Floor, Mr D. Livune, Member of Parliament for Katombola Parliamentary Constituency, raised the following point of order:

 

“Sir, before His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Lungu, came to this House to talk to us about climate change, over which we all agreed with him, the United Party for National Development (UPND) brought a Motion to this House after consultations with its leadership, including Mr Hakainde Hichilema. It is on record that we, the Members of the UPND, moved a Motion on the Floor of this House on climate change and told our hon. Colleagues on your right side that climate change is real. His Excellency President Lungu just agreed with the UPND when he came to address the House.

 

Mr Speaker, it is now a trend by Hon. Dr Malama to bring up the issue of climate change and purport that the UPND does not agree with that fact. On the contrary, Hon. Dr Malama is one of those who voted against the Motion that the UPND brought to this honourable House. Is Hon. Dr Malama in order to continuously bring up this same issue and mislead the nation, thereby bringing confusion in this House when we, on your left side, agreed with His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Lungu, Mr Hakainde Hichilema and even with you, Mr Speaker, and the whole House on climate change? Hon. Dr Malama continuously brings this matter up to mislead the nation. Is he in order, when your records show that he is one of those who do not believe that climate change is real, because he voted against your noble Motion?

 

Sir, I seek your ruling whether he is in order to continue to play simple the issue of climate change.”

 

The Hon. Mr Speaker reserved his ruling on the point of order to enable him to examine the verbatim record.

 

Hon. Members, the point of order by Mr D. Livune, MP, referred to a question to Her Honor the Vice-President by Dr M. Malama, MP, on Tuesday, 25th February, 2020. The verbatim record for Tuesday, 25th February, 2020, reveals that Dr M. Malama, MP, asked the following question:

 

“Mr Speaker, Her Honour the Vice-President has come to this House today to talk about the effects of climate change. I remember that on 13th September, 2019, His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, came to address this House. The theme of his speech was “Accelerating Sustainable Development for a Better Zambia amidst the Impact of Climate Change”, and the nation heard him. However, the hon. Opposition Members seated on the left of the House went around the country demeaning that important address. Since this is a very serious issue to the people of Zambia, what advice does Her Honour the Vice-President have for the United Party for National Development (UPND) leadership to ensure that it does not unnecessarily criticise well-intended messages from the Executive?”

 

Hon. Members, the point of order raises the issue of an hon. Member’s duty to ensure that the information he/she provides to the House when debating is factual, verifiable and can be substantiated.

 

Hon. Members, several authorities on Parliamentary Practice and Procedure and our own Standing Orders do attest to this requirement.

 

Hon. Members, you will also recall that we have, in the recent past and on several occasions, guided the House on the importance and requirement of hon. Members to ensure that the statements they render on the Floor of the House are factual, verifiable and can be substantiated. Therefore, I will not belabor this point. However, in his question that gave rise to Mr D. Livune, MP’s point of order, Dr M. Malama, MP, indicated that the hon. Members of the Opposition went around the country demeaning His Excellency the President, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu's Address to the House. In this regard, the Office of the Clerk wrote to Dr M. Malama, MP, requesting him to substantiate this statement. In his response, Dr M. Malama, MP, referred to statements on the President’s Address, which were posted on the UPND leader’s Twitter account.

 

Hon. Members, as many of you are aware, evidence obtained from social media is inadmissible because it is difficult for the House to authenticate it. Therefore, I will not dwell on this matter any further concerning evidence from social media.

 

Dr M. Malama, MP, further referred to the debates of Mr B. Kambita, MP, and Mr G. G. Nkombo, MP, on the President’s Address, which were in the following terms: 

 

  1. Debate by Mr B. Kambita, MP, on the President’s Address on Tuesday, 24th September, 2019 read as follows:

 

                "Mr Speaker, the President's Address to this august House was premised on the theme ‘Accelerating Sustainable Development for a Better Zambia amidst the Impact of Climate Change,’ and this is stated on page 3, paragraph 11 of the speech. Unfortunately, we have not seen that better Zambia in Zambezi East, and blaming climate change for the numerous failures of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government will not help matters."

 

  1. Debate by Mr G. G. Nkombo, MP, on the President’s Address on Friday, 27th September, 2019, read as follows:

 

                "Madam, I did warn that we should stop hiding our fingers. Ever since the President came to address this House, the issue of climate change has remained a song and it now sounds like a mosquito in my ears. Everything is about climate change. I think we should stop that and try to find solutions."

 

With regard to the debates by Mr B. Kambita, MP, and Mr G. G. Nkombo, MP, the Office of the Hon. Mr Speaker checked the Hansard and verified that, indeed, the hon. Members debated in the manner indicated by Dr A. Malama, MP.

 

Hon. Members, in his point of order, Mr D. Livune, MP, complained that it had become a habit for Dr M. Malama, MP, to state that the United Party for National Development (UPND) and its leadership do not support the fight against climate change. His complaint is against the background that the UPND is on record as having tabled a Motion in support of the fight against climate change, which was debated by the House on that day. Hon. Members, a search in the Hansard revealed that, indeed, Dr M. Malama, MP, has, on several occasions, suggested that the UPND does not support the fight against climate change. The following excerpts of Dr M. Malama, MP’s debates support the preceding propositions.

 

Firstly, on 26th September, 2018, while the House was debating the Motion of Thanks, Dr M. Malama, MP, stated as follows:

 

"Sir, I want to thank Hon. Dr Musokotwane, Member of Parliament, and many others who acknowledged that climate change is an important issue. However, there is a leader of a minority Opposition party who demeaned the President’s Speech while being flanked on the right by a retired Sergeant and on the left by a retired United National Independence Party (UNIP) vigilante. I want to tell that brother of mine that climate change is real."

 

Secondly, on 5th November, 2019, when the House was considering the Supply Motion, Dr M. Malama, MP, debated as follows:

 

"Sir, not long ago, the President came to this House and talked about climate change and some politician went to town laughing about it. However, when the heat wave came, he wanted to talk about climate change and load-shedding, but the Zambian people questioned him. That man has now stopped talking about climate change because he has realised that what the President talked about is real."

 

Thirdly, on 21st February, 2020, during Her Honour the Vice-President's Question Time, Dr M. Malama, MP, asked the following:

 

"Mr Speaker, not too long ago, His Excellency the President of this Republic of Zambia came to this House to address the nation. Amongst the many challenges he talked about was the threat of climate change. Some Opposition leaders, however, have gone to town criticising him about this. What advice does the Government have for the United Party for National Development (UPND) leadership that can ensure that the UPND does not unnecessarily criticise well-intended messages from the Executive?"

 

Hon. Members, at this juncture, the issue for determination is whether the UPND tabled a Motion on climate change, as alleged by Mr D. Livune, MP. Accordingly, the Office of the Hon. Mr Speaker conducted a search of the verbatim records of the House to ascertain whether such a Motion had been brought to the House by the UPND. The search revealed that on Wednesday, 19th October, 2019, Mr A. L. Lufuma, a UPND Member of Parliament for Kabompo Parliamentary Constituency, moved a Motion to urge the Government to accelerate the implementation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN-SDGs). The Motion was seconded by Mr H. Kunda, MP, and it reads as follows:

 

"Accelerate Implementation of Sustainable Development Goals: That this House urges the Government to accelerate implementation of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals.     

 

“Hon. Members, the UN has seventeen SDGs that were adopted by its member states in 2015. Zambia is a member of the UN and, as such, the country is expected to take measures that support the implementation of the SDGs. SDG No. 13 calls for action by member states to take urgent measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that are driving climate change. The SDG No. 13 reads as follows:

 

"Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts."

 

In debating the Motion, hon. Members debated the SDGs in general. This means, hon. Members, that the issue of climate change, which is one of the SDGs, was included in the general debate. The records also show that three hon. Members of the UPND, including the Mover of the Motion, debated the Motion on SDGs. In particular, Mr G. G. Nkombo, MP, in debating the SDGs, touched on the issue of climate change. The relevant excerpt of Mr G. G. Nkombo’s debate on the Motion was in the following terms:

 

"Madam, allow me to say one or two things that will relate to what I think are the external factors that are probably slowing down the achievement of the SDGs that are within our reach and the internal factors. There are things that we can collectively do in order to get rid of the extreme poverty.

 

“Madam, the external factors relate to the global village. We know how the effects of climate change have devastated this part of the world; how industrialisation has contributed towards the destruction of the ozone layer; and how the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNCCC) has attempted, since the Kyoto Protocol, to ensure that we arrive at some equity in reducing greenhouse gases. Those are the issues that the SDGs are speaking to in relation to environmental sustainability."

 

Hon. Members, it is clear that combating climate change is one of the SDGs. Therefore, the UPND’s Motion on SDGs shows that the party is in support of the fight against climate change and that it acknowledges the challenges associated with climate change. Therefore, UPND is on record as having supported the fight against climate change.

 

Therefore, in view of the foregoing, Dr M. Malama, MP, was out of order, and should in future desist from stating or suggesting that the hon. UPND Members do not support the fight against climate change because that assertion is not supported by the record referred to above.

 

I thank you.

_______

 

MOTIONS

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, WATER DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

 

Mr Belemu (Mbabala): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism, for the Fourth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on Friday, 19th June, 2020.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Mrs Mwanakatwe (Lusaka Central): Madam Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mr Belemu: Madam Speaker, in line with its terms of reference, as contained in Standing Order No.157(2), your Committee focused on the topical issue of The Petroleum Industry in Zambia: Challenges and Opportunities.’

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee was informed that the Petroleum Act Cap 435 of the Laws of Zambia was enacted in 1930. The Act was amended in 1964 and 1994, but still did not take into account new developments in the subsector such as the integration of bio-fuels in the country’s energy mix, the regulation of filling stations and the fuel marking programme. Further, the Act continues to refer to local councils as the institutions mandated to regulate and issue licences in the downstream subsector when this function has since shifted to the Energy Regulation Board (ERB). In this regard, your Committee recommends that the Petroleum Act Cap 435 of the Laws of Zambia be urgently reviewed in order to align it with the key changes and developments that have taken place in the downstream subsector.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee observes that both Indeni Petroleum Refinery Limited and the Tanzania Zambia Mafuta Pipeline (TAZAMA) are experiencing operational challenges as a result of ageing of equipment, which has been in existence for over forty years. Further, Indeni Petroleum Refinery Limited cannot process low sulphur diesel due to the lack of a Diesel Hydrotreater Unit, yet Zambia has committed to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Regional Framework for the Harmonisation of Low Sulphur Diesel and Vehicle Emissions, which will enter into force by 2022. Therefore, your Committee recommends that the Government should, as a matter of urgency, upgrade and rehabilitate this infrastructure and prioritise the procurement of a Diesel Hydrotreater Unit in order to increase production, efficiency and to meet international and regional standards on fuel specifications.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee notes that the cost of fuel in Zambia is too high in comparison with other countries in the SADC region due to numerous taxes lumped on both wholesale and pump price build-up. Your Committee recommends that the Government urgently reviews the tax regime for all petroleum products in order to ascertain the actual cost of fuel.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee notes, with concern, that the Ministry of Energy did not include information pertaining to the procurement of petroleum products in the Annual Procurement Plans for 2018 and 2019. Your Committee finds this unacceptable. It is not possible that there was no procurement of petroleum products in 2018 and 2019. Therefore, your Committee strongly urges the Government to ensure that the Ministry of Energy complies with the guidelines and regulations of the Public Procurement Act No. 12 of 2008.

 

Madam Speaker, let me briefly speak to issues pertaining to the upstream subsector. Your Committee was informed that the upstream subsector has not been fully exploited as there are only twelve active blocks out of the thirty-eight that have been demarcated. Your Committee urges the Government to ensure that all the demarcated blocks are active in order to grow the upstream subsector.

 

Madam Speaker, the upstream subsector is underfunded, leading to the failure by the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development to compile and package geological and geophysical data. In this regard, your Committee recommends that the Government makes available US$42 million to enable the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development to create a repository for geological and geophysical data.

 

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Does the Seconder wish to speak now or later?

 

Mrs Mwanakatwe: Madam Speaker, I wish to speak now.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to second the Motion to adopt the Report of the Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism for the Fourth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly. I want to place on record that your office and that of the Clerk of the National Assembly were very useful in helping us to come up with the report that the Chairperson has ably presented.

 

Madam Speaker, I have split my presentation in two areas, which are the downstream subsector and the upstream subsector, looking at what we learnt from the numerous stakeholders that we met on the issues and challenges therein.

 

Madam Speaker, during interactions with stakeholders, it was clear that illegal fuel vending is a major challenge for the downstream subsector. In this regard, the Government is losing a lot of revenue because of tax evasion by unscrupulous vendors involved in this vice. Therefore, your Committee is urging the Government to intensify its efforts to curb this vice through fuel marking programmes.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee also noted that out of the 344 service stations across the country, only eleven were situated in rural areas. As such, rural areas are severely under serviced or poorly served. Therefore, we are finding the illegal fuel vendors supplying, perhaps, even sub standard petroleum products. We are urging the Government to bridge this gap by constructing many more service stations in rural areas.

 

Madam Speaker, still in the downstream subsector, your Committee is concerned that the country does not have storage infrastructure for strategic petroleum reserves. In this regard, as a Committee, we are urging the Government to channel resources to the Ministry of Energy in order to ensure that it constructs bulk storage facilities to ensure that the country has strategic petroleum reserves.

 

Madam Speaker, in the upstream subsector, we noticed that the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development does not conduct inspection of exploration blocks. As such, it is not able to fully regulate or monitor the activities of those blocks. We urge the Government to ensure that the Geological Survey Department and the Hydrocarbons Unit in the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development are adequately funded to enable them to carry out their duties effectively.

 

The Petroleum Act No. 10 of 2008 clearly stipulates the formation of a national petroleum company. However, this has not been done hitherto. So, we believe that a national petroleum company could serve as an important statutory institution to support the development of this subsector and integrate it into the economy. In light of this, your Committee urges the Government to abide by the provisions of the law and ensure that a national petroleum company is created.

 

Madam Speaker, finally, it is important to note that both the downstream and upstream subsectors are informed by the 2019 Energy Policy. However, this policy is concentrating or leaning more towards the downstream subsector. In the absence of a dedicated policy for the upstream subsector, we believe that it will be difficult to attract investments in this subsector. Your Committee strongly recommends that the Government quickly formulates a policy to govern the upstream subsector.

 

Madam Speaker, I beg to second.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Madam Speaker, I support the report of your Committee. Zambia requires vivid policies, and some of them deliberate, to empower Zambians.

 

Madam Speaker, in setting up fuel stations in this country, foreigners are always favoured. We do not know how they manage to get the cash that they pump in. You would find that a Zambian has to struggle to put up a filling station. This is one major reason street vending of fuel products is rife. If Zambians were given a chance to import fuel, vending would die out.

 

Madam Speaker, I do not know why this economy continuously favours foreigners at the expense of its own citizens. There are very few Zambians who have broken through into this sector. Why? It is because rules have been stiffened, especially by the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA).

 

Madam Speaker, for example, when you go to Mwinilunga/Ikeleng’i, at the border with Angola, you need to carry your own fuel. The only filling station there is run by a foreigner and runs out of fuel most of the time. It is worse this time when gold has been discovered in the area. One needs to carry containers of fuel or depend on the vendors. One cannot blame them because without them, a person can get stuck. So, the best thing to do is to loosen procedures for those who have the capacity. For instance, I have a filling station in Mwinilunga, but I cannot operate it because of the laborious channels one has to go through to establish it.

 

Madam Speaker, let us look at certain things that can deliberately favour Zambians and create employment. This is one sector that has honey and sweet. It also requires bending towards the needs of Zambians. We need to have Zambians also penetrate this sector the same way they should the mines and other sectors. This way, they can also be empowered and create employment permanently as opposed to a situation whereby people calculate money which is only externalised. When these business opportunities are given to Zambians, they will create employment and establish businesses within Zambia. I do not know why we are our own enemies.

 

Madam Speaker, it is good that your Committee has come up with these recommendations. I am urging the Government to wake up and favour Zambians deliberately. In the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States of America (USA), they favour their own citizens. Why do we not do so with Zambians? Why do we hate ourselves? When a person is outside of the Government system, he is very good, but the moment he becomes a Government official, he even looks at others as enemies. To apply to operate in the petroleum sector, one needs to have a khaki envelope.

 

Madam Speaker, I support your Committee’s report. We, as Zambians, should be serious. Enough is enough.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for according me this opportunity to debate the report of the Committee that was ably moved by Hon. Belemu and duly seconded by the Member for Lusaka Central, Hon. Mwanakatwe.

 

Madam Speaker, I will be very brief in my submissions patterning to the topic under consideration. It is trite to state that the energy sector is the most important driver of the economy anywhere in the world. If the energy sector is not properly managed, the cost of doing business in any particular environment becomes very high. This is exactly the situation we are finding ourselves in. Fuel in this country is highly expensive as compared to our neighbouring countries. As a result of the high cost of energy, doing business in Zambia is very high and we are failing to be competitive with our neighbouring countries and other countries around the world.

 

Madam Speaker, we were assured on the Floor of this House by the then hon. Minister of Finance, Mr Felix Mutati, when he presented the Budget more than four years ago that the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) was going to liberalise the importation of fuel in the country to enable competitive processes of procuring fuel and allow the cost of fuel to be reduced. To date, we have not seen any movement on the part of the Government to ensure that the positive pronouncement which we all supported on the Floor of this House is actualised.

 

Madam Speaker, I have no doubt in my mind that the reason there is reluctance on the part of those who have the authority to do the needful is due to various interests. The cost of fuel in this country is very expensive as a result of various middlemen who are the major players in the importation of oil to this country. There are records from security wings and even in the courts of law indicating that there is a lot of corruption in the procurement of fuel in this country. As a result of the corruption that is inherent in the Government procurement of fuel, the cost of fuel in this country is very high.

 

Without mentioning names, I am aware that senior officials in the Ministry of Energy appeared in court over the procurement of fuel. They were accused of being involved in corrupt practices in this sector. There has not been any tangible movement to ensure that corruption is eradicated.

 

Madam Speaker, we, on your left side, have no doubt in our minds that because of the corruption that is involved and the benefits that are accruing, very few officials in this sector, who have the power to change things, are willing to change the way we procure fuel. This is because of corruption and the benefits that accrue.

 

Madam, the hon. Minister of Finance made a pronouncement on the Floor of this House that the Government is going to change the procurement regime to allow legitimate companies to import fuel at a lower cost. Once you do that, the benefit will accrue to the local communities, our people. We should not allow our people to continue suffering as a result of inherent corruption in the procurement process of fuel in this country. I hope that when the hon. Minister of Finance comes in September to present his Budget, he will make a very positive pronouncement that the Government has decided to liberalise the procurement process, as per his pronouncement.

 

Madam Speaker, as a result of not liberalising the importation of fuel, the Government of the Republic of Zambia is spending colossal amounts of money importing fuel at the cost of other needy developmental areas in this country. We should allow the hon. Minister of Finance to use the money for other purposes apart from importation of fuel. We should emulate what is obtaining in other countries pertaining to the procurement of fuel. I take note that there is a need to have strategic reserves. You can retain strategic reserves within the requisite framework without the Government being involved in directly importing fuel for retailers to buy from the Government. The Government must be a facilitator of business and not be in the mainline business.

 

Madam Speaker, the other issue which has been addressed by your Committee is that of taxation. The Government has realised that the easiest way of making money through taxes is through the energy sector because there is no way the business community or any member of the public will avoid procuring fuel for their businesses. Hence, it has found a way of making money from this process. As a result of this propensity to make money out of the fuel industry, the cost of doing business is high in this country. The goods and services that are being provided by the business community are costly because of the energy sector. I call upon the hon. Minister of Energy and the hon. Minister of Finance to look at the taxation pertaining to the fuel sector.

 

Madam Speaker, lastly, on the issue of taxation, I am aware that there was a Statutory Instrument that was created by the Government of the Republic of Zambia to tax all motorists and any other person involved in the fuel industry to go towards the strategic reserves. That tax has continued being levied on Zambians or motorists in this country. The Patriotic Front (PF) Government is on record as having indicated that it has built strategic reserves everywhere in the country. Why is it that this tax is being levied on Zambians when the strategic reserve depots have been implemented? It has now become a way of raising revenue on the part of the Government. We demand that this tax be immediately halted. Once halted, the cost of fuel in this country will go down.

 

Madam Speaker, I support this report.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Simbao (Senga Hill): Madam Speaker, I hope I am being heard. I thought I should talk about this report because I missed the other one on the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA).

                                                                

Madam Speaker, this Government has tried hard to keep the prices of petroleum low. I am saying this because I have looked at comparisons. People can go to a site called www.globalpetrolprices.com. and see almost all the countries listed there. I have taken a few countries of interest so that people may understand what I am talking about. When you go to that site, you will find that in Tanzania, fuel costs 0.73 cents per litre, in South Africa, it costs 0.87 cents per litre. These are the two areas from where we access our fuel. One wonders how cheap fuel can be in Zambia. How can fuel in Zambia be cheaper than in Tanzania or South Africa? It shows that when our prices were low, the Government was heavily subsidising by using a lot of money on people who can afford to pay for it. If one looked at other countries, for example, Ivory Coast, one would find that the price of fuel is at 0.99 cents per litre, which is the same price as in Zambia. In Morocco, it is at 0.98 cents per litre. In Rwanda, it is at 0.95 cents per litre and in Malawi, it is at 0.94 cents per litre. In Mozambique, it is at 0.92 cents per litre, and in Zambia, like I said before, it is at 0.99 cents per litre. So, when people say that petroleum prices are high, I wonder what they are comparing them to. Of course, in Venezuela, the price is at 0.02 cents per litre. It is so low that it is ridiculous going by the world standards.

 

Madam Speaker, in Zimbabwe, the price is 2.386 dollars per litre. We know why Zimbabwe has such a high price. In Japan, the price is 1 point something dollars per litre. Look at all these countries. The prices there are higher than the price in Zambia. Hon. Members can go to the website I am talking about and make comparisons. As Zambians, we can say that the price is high because we have been used to low prices. However, on the world market, Zambia’s price of fuel is still very favourable. If it was not for politics, we would not even be talking about it because it is on the lower side of the prices of petroleum.

 

Madam Speaker, where did we lose it? I think the raw deal happened when we built Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company Limited because at that point, we had built the Tanzania Zambia Mafuta (TAZAMA) Pipelines Limited, which was supposed to transport crude oil. However, we accepted to get commingled oil, meaning that refinery cannot process crude oil because it is missing a unit called the cracker. I think that is where we made a mistake. How do we make a pipeline to transport crude oil, but make a refinery that cannot process it? That is where we made a mistake. If ever we are going to manage this in any sensible manner, we must come up with a refinery that can process crude oil or else there is no way our prices are going to be lower than those in South Africa or Tanzania where the petroleum lands. The transportation itself will add up all the costs to bring it to 0.99 cents per litre.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Madam Speaker, I thank you for this opportunity to say something about this report, which I support. At the moment, I am looking at a website called www.globalpetrolprices.com on my screen. Among the Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries, that is, Angola, Lesotho, Botswana, Swaziland, Namibia, Tanzania, South Africa, Mozambique and Malawi, the fuel prices in Zambia are the highest. Malawi and Zimbabwe are both landlocked countries. Therefore, ours being a landlocked country cannot be the explanation for the high price of fuel.

 

Madam, let me also add that the evidence that our fuel prices are too high is evidenced by the fact that these truckers that you see here, including the Zambian truckers, do not like buying fuel from Zambia because it is expensive. The end result of having expensive fuel, as the Leader of the Opposition said, is that we shall not be competitive in the region. We see tourists in the Victoria Falls area going to stay at Zimbabwean hotels because fuel and everything else is cheaper there.

 

Madam Speaker, it is difficult for us to export pineapples and so many items because fuel here is expensive. Even on this new airport we are constructing in Lusaka, I hear people saying that we are going to be a hub. Unless the cost of fuel is brought down, it will not happen. The challenge that the country faces is how to bring fuel prices down. How is that to be done?

 

Madam, I agree with what Hon. Mwiimbu said that the very first thing is for the Government to get out of this business, as Hon. Mutati had intended to do some years back. The moment we do that, it will put us on the same footing with the countries around us. The governments in Botswana, Swaziland and Namibia are not involved in the importation of fuel. The moment the state gets out of this business, the price of fuel will go down because the competitive forces are going to force the marketers of fuel to lower their prices.

 

Madam Speaker, additionally, as Hon. Simbao just said, the fuel that comes through the pipeline is always going to be expensive. So, it is time to critically examine whether our pipeline is doing us a service or not because pipeline fuel means it has to be refined it twice. At the time when it is being bought and mixed with crude, it has to be refined. When it comes to Ndola, it is refined it again. So, that alone always means that the price of fuel in this country is going to be expensive.

 

Madam, the third thing that I would propose is that we need to allow different parts of Zambia to get fuel from wherever they can get it at a cheaper cost. In Kalabo, Mongu and, I suspect, even in Kaoma and Senanga, young lads are busy importing fuel from Angola into Zambia. Since fuel is cheaper in Angola, it is about 20 per cent cheaper in a place like Mongu, compared to the fuel that comes from Ndola. So, why not allow those who are in Kazungula to buy fuel from across the border? Why not allow those who are in Mongu to buy fuel from Angola? That way, we would prevent this absurd situation whereby fuel coming from Tanzania must come all the way to Ndola and then from Ndola sent back to Mpika, Nakonde or Kasama. What do you expect? Can fuel be cheap like that? It will never be cheap. So, let the different regions in the country get fuel wherever they can get it as cheaply as possible.

 

Madam Speaker, finally, I would like to talk about the cost of electricity. With Zesco Limited saying US$40 million for meters –

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order.

 

The hon. Member’s time has elapsed.

 

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Madam Speaker, it is like a relay race and where the hon. Member of Parliament for Liuwa has stopped is where I will start from because I think I know the story.

 

Madam, in the energy sector, to sit and allow a parastatal like Zesco Limited to import domestic meters to replace the ones which were bought less than three years ago is being wasteful. The hon. Minister of Energy, whoever is in charge of overseeing Zesco Limited should stop that importation if it is not too late. Forty million United States dollars is too much money to put to waste and, I think, the people of Zambia are being taken for granted.

 

Madam Speaker, this report has its objectives about the policy framework on the oil or petroleum industry in this country. We have argued many times before and I heard Hon. Simbao talking about the Indeni Refinery and the absence of a hydrocracker, although he just called it a cracker. This is a song we have been singing for a very long time. We have told our hon. Colleagues that if they want to address the issue of the cost of petroleum, they must learn to stop protecting the 300 jobs at the Indeni Refinery at the expense of jobs for the many Zambians.

 

Madam, many people have talked about liberalising the energy industry and I want to argue that the Indeni Refinery remains a stumbling block in making the lives of Zambians easy. However, who is the facilitator of making the lives of Zambians easy? It is the Government. So, if the Government cannot change the lives of people for the better, it is better for the people to change the Government. It is that simple. If the Government cannot facilitate for people’s lives to be better, the converse is the correct thing to do. People must change the Government and the time has come for people to see and test another Government that is going to address the issue of policy.

 

Madam, whether one likes it or not, in this particular case, the policy will determine the price of the commodity that we are talking about here. This country is now slowly migrating from using fossil fuels into Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), for instance. Many people have LPG in their houses. There is a need for the Government to develop a policy which will make the importation of LPG zero rated. It is all about policy and the Government must wake up. If the Government fails to make the lives of people better, the people must change the Government.

 

Madam Speaker, I took notes as someone argued here that there are too many costs associated with the petroleum industry in this country. Take the Indeni Refinery, for example. There is a table in this report which has revealed that there are many charges, fees, levies and taxes. There is a wharfage fee and a storage charge. Why should there be a storage charge for infrastructure at Indeni that was built long before anyone here was born? You can cushion the lives of Zambians by removing that storage charge altogether. There is also what is called a pumping fee. Yes, of course, that comes with a cost because there is electricity that is generated, but let us not forget that the fuel industry produces its own energy.

 

Madam, Hon. Dr Musokotwane argued the issue of splitting or, in my own language, refining refined products. We have said that when the United Party for National Development (UPND) comes into power next year, we are going to invest in a hydrocracker, which is going to refine crude petroleum. Many Zambians may not know that we actually refine our product twice. That is a fact. If we bought crude and not commingled feedstock, as the case is now, we will be breaking it down at the Indeni Refinery for a much cheaper cost. There will be no cost of separating it over and over again.

 

Madam Speaker, I will end, again, by saying that when the Government fails to change the lives of people, the people must change the Government.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Madam Speaker, I thank the Chairperson, who has ably presented this report, and the seconder.

 

Madam, I urge the Government to match the allocation in the 2020 Budget with the report that we are looking at. In the 2020 Budget, the hon. Minister of Finance stated that the Government would construct a filling station in Kalabo, but we are in July, yet we have not seen anything. The report indicates that we have over 300 filling stations, but only eleven cover the rural parts of Zambia. The question is: Does the Government know how people in rural areas are surviving? Who does not know that the human body or any other moving body, whether dead or alive, needs energy?

 

Madam Speaker, it will cost someone K110 to move from Kalabo to Mongu to get 15 litres of fuel and this does not include the cost of the fuel. He/she will need that amount of money to get on a bus and get fuel from Mongu. So, one can see that the lives of people in rural areas, including Kalabo, are being hampered by the lack of active participation on the part of the Government. The Government makes pronouncements that it fails to fulfil and I want the hon. Minister of Energy to comment on the two filling stations which are scheduled for construction in the Western Province. I am saying this because we also want to enjoy what others are enjoying.

 

Madam, most filling stations are based in town. However, Zambians are not only based in town, but they are also in the villages. We have a road, but it cannot work for us if there is no fuel. That is why the young people in Kalabo have to fetch fuel from Angola, but they are being victimised by the Government. So, what does the Government want? Does it want people in rural areas not to own cars or have fuel? What does it want considering it has not provided us with any fuel?

 

Madam Speaker, Kalabo District is not in Mongu. There may be a road, but so what? We want the lives of the people in rural areas to improve. So, I request the hon. Minister of Energy to comment on how far the Government has gone with the construction of a filling station in Kalabo and another district in the Western Province.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Musukwa): Madam Speaker, I want to place on record our sincere thanks to your Committee for having done a fantastic job on this report. I will restrict my response to the issues that deal with petroleum exploration because it falls under my purview.

 

Madam, I was sad, listening to the intellectual discourse by hon. Members of Parliament, some of whom have very good ideas on how we can reduce the cost of fuel. However, the end game for reducing the cost of fuel and fuel shortages lies in Zambia farming its own oil wells, but I did not hear any of those suggestions from the hon. Members who debated. Some of them suggested that they will reduce the price of fuel when they form Government, but the Patriotic Front (PF) is here to stay. We are in the driving seat and our resolve is to get to the root cause of the problem in the fuel subsector by ensuring that we farm our own oil wells as this will create sustainability of oil provision for our country.

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to clearly state that the Government of the Republic of Zambia has made significant steps towards dividing the entire country into oil blocks. We have a total of thirty-eight oil blocks, which are held by both Zambians and foreigners. The six prospective oil blocks that have made significant steps are held by Zambians and I hope to issue a ministerial statement at an opportune time so that hon. Members of Parliament can ask in-depth questions.

 

Madam, the Government has created a unit in the Geological Survey Department called the Hydrocarbon Unit. As we know, petroleum exploration is specialised and, for a long time, we did not have Treasury authority to establish this unit, but Cabinet approved it. This unit has been formed, and a directorate to deal with hydrocarbon has been instituted. We are now building capacity in terms of human capital because we need to get players across the spectrum. I am glad to inform this august House that we are getting support from the Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), which is a Japanese company that is helping us in this process.

 

Madam Speaker, I sincerely thank your Committee for urging the Government to build capacity and increase funding to the petroleum subsector in order to ensure that we increase on the activities of the inspectorate. This is in line with the number of new hydrocarbon experts whom we will employ. They will ensure that we are on top of things in terms of the exploration of petroleum. As I conclude, I agree with your Committee that the Hydrocarbon Unit needs to be given resources and equipment to ensure that it is able to verify the processes that we have undertaken when it goes around to carry out inspections.

 

Madam, I want to reiterate that the PF is here to stay and our colleagues who think they can change the regime by making noise in Parliament must work hard and ensure that change is made through the ballot. We are determined to work hard to improve in areas where the people of Zambia are faced with challenges.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

The Minister of Energy (Mr Nkhuwa): Madam Speaker, can you hear me now?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Yes, you are now audible.

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Madam Speaker, I sincerely thank you for giving me this opportunity to react to the work of the Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism. I wish to state that the report rightly highlighted the current state of the energy sector. In this regard, allow me to speak about the various issues that have been raised.

 

Madam Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Ministry of Energy successfully facilitated for the review of the Energy Policy of 2008 and the amendment of the Electricity Energy Regulation Act of 1995. The energy sector can now boast of a new regime of reforms. Further, the Energy Policy of 2019 led to the enactment of the Electricity and Energy Regulation Act of 2019. So, the reforms are expected to provide an enabling environment for the energy sector to grow and also to better the management and regulations of mandating institutions such as the Energy Regulation Board (ERB). In addition, the ministry is facilitating for the repeal of the Petroleum Act No. 435 so as to facilitate for the enactment of the Petroleum Management Bill, which will seek to manage the petroleum subsector. Once enacted, this Bill will manage all the activities pertaining to the petroleum subsector. However, in the interim, there are challenges in the petroleum subsector such as the illegal vending of fuel and this is being kept by fuel marking programmes.

 

Madam Speaker, the Government is aware of the need to construct and improve petroleum infrastructure. The ministry has a programme to construct service stations in rural areas as well as strategic petroleum reserves. I must say that the Government has constructed the Luwingu and Mporokoso Filling stations and they are now being used. Further, the Kalabo Filling Station, which I was asked to comment on, is also on course and on the books. As soon as the money is released, we will commence the works.

 

Madam Speaker, with regard to Indeni Petroleum Refinery and the Tazama Pipeline, the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) is in the process of acquiring an equity partner so as to achieve the capitalisation and modernisation of the Indeni Petroleum Refinery Company Limited. With regard to Tazama Pipeline, the Government has assessed the cost of upgrading the 914-km stretch of eight inches to twelve inches to improve the pipeline port capacity to 1.5 million metric tonnes per year and its cost stands at US$350 million. In addition, the Government is aware of the benefits of the diesel hydrotreater unit and it is also committed to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) agreement to produce low sulphur by 2020.

 

Madam Speaker, as the House might be aware, the Ministry of Energy is an agent for procuring petroleum and petroleum products. I wish to inform the House that the ministry is one of the institutions being piloted for use of procurement by the Zambia Public Procurement Agency (ZPPA). This process has propelled the ministry to prepare procurement plans so as to promote efficiency and transparency in the procurement of goods and services.

 

Madam Speaker, the ministry is also promoting the use of renewable energy, as a source of electricity and bio-fuel into petrol and diesel. In light of your Committee’s report, I wish to inform the House that the Government is aware of the benefits of enhancing Liquidified Petroleum Gas (LPG) and, as such, it is promoting its use for cooking. With regard to bio-fuels, the ministry is cognisant of the need to develop bio-fuel blending facilities, and the House may wish to note that the programme has been budgeted for in the 2020 Budget. So, once funds are made available, the programme will be implemented.

 

Madam Speaker, the issue of fuel being expensive was well articulated by Hon. Kapembwa Simbao and I adopt his words as my own. Therefore, I will not dwell on this issue. However, the hon. Member of Parliament for Ikeleng’i mentioned that Zambians are not given a chance to get into the fuel subsector. I must say that the entry point is the capital requirement into this industry that is expensive. So, it is not that there is any red tape. There is no red tape at all. As long as somebody has enough money to get into the sector, he/she will be able to do it.

 

Madam Speaker, many Zambians have filling stations in Zambia. I would have mentioned a few, but I will leave it there for now because I know that many Zambians have filling stations. However, they do not intend to build filling stations in rural areas because, I think, business is slow there compared to urban areas like Lusaka and Ndola, among other areas. However, like I said earlier, the ministry will ensure that it builds filling stations in rural areas. When filling stations are built like the ones Luwingu and Mporokoso, they are handed over to Zambians so that they are empowered.

 

Madam Speaker, Hon. Dr Musokotwane mentioned that we should allow people to import fuel into the country. If somebody came up with such a proposal to the ministry, we would look at it for as long as when people bring in the fuel, they pay the necessary tax.

 

Madam Speaker, on the US$40 million modern meters that have been highly talked about, I must say that one meter costs US$40 and the US$40 million came about because of the 1 million customers who are being connected. The smart meter will help us a lot. Among other functions, the smart meter will ensure that no human intervention is needed when there is an illegal connection or any form of tempering because it will be able to pick it and report on it.

 

Further, Madam Speaker, the smart meter will be able to tell how one is spending his/her money. A consumer will be able to see and to adjust the manner in which he/she spends his/her money. However, the major benefit for Zesco Limited is that the theft of electricity will reduce considerably because sometimes, people tend to by-pass the meters. However, when they by-pass the meter, Zesco Limited is not able to detect it. On the contrary, with the smart meter, immediately somebody tempers with it, the meter will be detect it. As a result, Zesco Limited will get more revenue and give the Zambians the efficiency they need in terms of electricity provision. In future, when we commission the Kafue Gorge Lower, the hours of load-shedding in Zambia will reduce to almost zero.

 

Madam Speaker, once again, I commend your Committee for the job well done. We will look into the concerns that have been raised and address them accordingly.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Belemu: Madam Speaker, in winding up debate, I just would like to express my appreciation to your Committee members for the work they did. I must say that this is a very youthful Committee. Secondly, allow me to also express my appreciation to the hon. Members who have debated, especially the two hon. Ministers, for acknowledging the issues your Committee raised and the recommendations thereof. We will wait to see how the Executive branch of the Government will respond to the issues your Committee has raised.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNANCE, HOUSING AND CHIEFS’ AFFAIRS

 

Mr Samakayi (Mwinilunga): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs’ Affairs for the Fourth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 19th June, 2020.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Mr Chiyalika (Lufubu): Madam Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mr Samakayi: Madam Speaker, in accordance with its terms of reference, as provided for in the Standing Orders, your Committee considered one topical issue, namely ‘Management of Traditional Ceremonies in Zambia.’

 

Madam Speaker, the objectives of your Committee’s study were, among other things, to appreciate the adequacy of the policy and legal framework governing traditional ceremonies in Zambia and the role of traditional ceremonies in the socio-economic development of the country. Your Committee also sought to appreciate the programmes on the promotion and management of traditional ceremonies in the country as well as to understand the role of the non-State actors in the management of traditional ceremonies.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to briefly comment on some of the reflections on the findings made by your Committee during its interactions with various stakeholders.

 

Madam, your Committee notes that whilst the Zambian Constitution, as amended by Act No. 2 of 2016, recognisees the country’s multi-cultural heritage, it does not have a specific legal framework on the management of traditional ceremonies in Zambia. Your Committee also notes that the National Cultural Policy of 2003 and the National Tourism Policy do not have any provisions on the management of traditional ceremonies in Zambia. In essence, this has led to the lack of administrative regulations resulting in major disparities in the management of traditional ceremonies in Zambia. Therefore, your Committee strongly recommends that the Zambian Constitution be further amended to provide for a legal framework on the management of traditional ceremonies in Zambia.

 

Madam, your Committee also recommends that the Ministry of Tourism and Arts and the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs should identify and harness their inter-ministerial and inter-sectoral linkages in promoting traditional ceremonies as one of the ways of promoting tourism.

 

Madam, allow me to bring to your attention one of the major challenges faced by traditional ceremonies organising committees. Your Committee observed that the most common challenge faced across all the traditional ceremony organising committees is that of finances. To ensure financial independence for traditional ceremony organising committees, your Committee recommends that the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, with the involvement of traditional leaders, comes up with alternative financing modalities such as public/private partnerships (PPPs) for the construction of permanent structures at traditional ceremony sites to ensure all year usage of the sites as a means of raising finances.

 

Madam Speaker, with regard to the role of non-state actors in the management of traditional ceremonies, your Committee notes that they are the major contributors of the required funding before, during and after the ceremonies. However, your Committee notes, with concern, that over branding of traditional ceremonies adulterates the cultural character of the ceremonies.

 

In view of this, your Committee recommended that the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs takes measures to ensure that both political and corporate entities adhere to the set code of conduct during traditional ceremonies.

 

Madam Speaker, as I end, on behalf of your Committee, I wish to urge the Government to ensure that traditional ceremonies are given the required constitutional recognition by providing adequate policy guidelines on their management in the country.

 

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

 

Thank you, Madam.

 

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

 

Mr Chiyalika: Now, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker, I want to thank you for the opportunity given to me. In seconding the Motion, I want to thank the mover, Hon. Samakayi, for the manner in which he has moved the Motion and the way he has highlighted pertinent issues.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also highlight a few issues that your Committee learnt during its interactions. During interactions with various stakeholders, your Committee learnt that there was a lack of a policy and legal framework, which has led to proliferations of various traditional ceremonies. That being the case, your Committee learnt that there were no guidelines in the formation of traditional ceremonies. This resulted in some ethnic groups having similar traditional ceremonies.

 

Madam Speaker, Zambia, as a country, does not have a clearly documented National Cultural Agenda for the management of traditional ceremonies. This has resulted in several centres that have been built around the country promoting foreign cultures, yet no known cultures or institutions to promote local cultures.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee also learnt that ceremonies were not formally patented, which was actually open to various people with political and economic muscle to exploit them.

 

Madam Speaker, the other issue that your Committee learnt was that there was a lack of adequate marketing by various media houses, which has resulted in failure to attract foreign investments. A case in point is a country in South America called Brazil, which always holds its annual festival. This festival is highly attended by local and foreign tourists and it actually earns the country a lot of money through foreign exchange.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee wishes to urge the Government, through the Tourism Agency, and the Ministry of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs to scale-up the marketing strategy for both local and international tourists to ensure that more foreign exchange is earned.

 

Madam Speaker, last but not least, I want to thank you for the opportunity afforded to your Committee to ensure that it studied the management of traditional ceremonies in Zambia.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.    

 

Mrs Chinyama (Kafue): Madam Speaker, I wish to thank you for this opportunity to also show support to the good work that your Committee has done. Your Committee has highlighted a number of important issues in the way traditional ceremonies can be supported and ensure their better management. Your Committee rightly observed the proliferation of many traditional ceremonies making it difficult for well-wishers that may wish to support them. Therefore, I agree with the recommendation of your Committee that there is a need to streamline and identify which ceremonies can be sustained and ably supported by well-wishers. The well-wishers include the Government, as the Committee recommended, which can help by providing a revolving fund for traditional leaders and empower them to execute their mandate of preserving the country’s culture.

 

Madam Speaker, I also like your Committee’s recommendation on the sustainability of cultural activities around traditional ceremonies. Your Committee recommended that museums be constructed so that cultural artefacts are preserved for the new generation to learn from and also use them as sources of income outside the period of traditional ceremonies to help generate funds and not solely depend on well-wishers.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee made a very important observation about politicians and the corporate world taking advantage of traditional ceremonies and using them to push our own agendas. It is good that your Committee recommended the moderation of engagement and contribution of different players to traditional ceremonies. What comes to my mind immediately is the sad incident that happened at the last Chakwela Makumbi Traditional Ceremony where uninvited cadres disrupted the ceremony. They went ahead to eat the food that had been reserved for invited guests, which was a very sad development. I am aware that Her Royal Highness, Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II, sought an apology from the Government, and I hope that it rendered one because the cadres that disturbed such an important ceremony were cadres from the Ruling Party.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee further recommended the construction of permanent structures and highlighted the need for decent and adequate sanitation at traditional ceremonies’ arenas which is, indeed, a very important observation –

 

Ms Kapata: On a point of order, Madam.

 

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

 

Ms Kapata: Madam Speaker, my point of order is very short. Is the hon. Member of Parliament for Kafue in order to say that the Government should apologise for the food that was eaten at the Chakwela Makumbi Traditional Ceremony, yet she has not come out in the open to tell the House which party the cadres were from. Not only that, our hon. Colleagues have kept quiet about the Monze incident. We, on your right, thought they would apologise to the nation for the Monze incident because what happened there was very bad. Is the hon. Member in order to say that the Government should apologise to Her Royal Highness Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo III?

 

I need your serious ruling, Madam.

 

Hon. Member: The Second!

 

Mrs Chinyama: She does not even know, but she lives in Lusaka.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: My understanding of the statement by the hon. Member for Kafue is that she was referring to a statement made by Her Royal Highness Senior Chieftainess Mukamambo II. From what I can recollect, that is what she stated. On the other part of the point of order, the hon. Minister has adequately debated.

 

The hon. Member for Kafue may continue with her debate.

 

Mrs Chinyama: Madam Speaker, thank you for your protection. In fact, let me just use this opportunity to –

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Kafue, proceed with your debate and focus on the report.

 

Mrs Chinyama: Madam Speaker, I wish to use this opportunity to commend the United Party for National development (UPND) President, who has supported the construction of a permanent structure at the traditional ceremony arena in Monze. That is what, I think, the report is trying to encourage. I would also encourage other stakeholders to do likewise because our traditional leaders and traditional ceremonies have to be supported. Therefore, if the construction of permanent structures is going to be supported, then, that should remind the Government of its obligation to construct decent accommodation for traditional leaders. The Government undertook to do that and it remains its responsibility, which it must fulfil.

 

Madam Speaker, finally, I also liked the fact that your Committee urged the Ministry of Health to ensure the promotion of the use of local traditional medicines. It cited the aspect of the Sondashi Formula. I thought there was something to learn from Madagascar, which is quite forceful in finding the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine –

 

The Hon. Member’s time elapsed.

 

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Madam Speaker, in supporting the report of your Committee, there are just a few things I would like to look at.

 

Madam Speaker, traditional ceremonies define who we are. For instance, I like the way the people from the Eastern Province dance. Similarly, the people from the Southern Province also have the Nyeele Dance. This tells you who these people are. I concur with your Committee’s observation concerning the way traditional ceremonies are conducted. We need to encourage foreigners to come and see what we, as a country, do.

 

Madam Speaker, it is unfortunate that most traditional ceremonies end up being political rallies. That is where political heavyweights are found and they move about even without their political regalia. There is also a heavy military presence because of the presence of political heavyweights. As a result, the military presence and political atmosphere take over the show. I think you remember what happened in the Western Province during the Kuomboka Ceremony. I do not want to recount that, but the point I am making is that there should be less politicking at traditional ceremonies.

 

Madam Speaker, the issue of building museums is not a priority. The first thing that we, as a country, need to do is to construct palaces for our royal highnesses. How would foreign tourists be expected to grace our traditional ceremonies where chiefs have no proper accommodation? Palaces should come first. Following the Monze incident, we have heard sentiments that those who think they are rich must start constructing palaces for their chiefs. That is not how it should be. Those people pay tax to this Government just like everyone else, myself included. Therefore, it is the duty of this Government to use taxpayers’ money to construct palaces. The Government should not ask us, as individuals, to construct palaces. Let me cite what was said in the Southern Province. Someone said that the so-called Tonga Bulls must start constructing palaces for chiefs. That is uncalled for because we pay tax. The Government should use that money to construct palaces for our chiefs. It should also construct roads that actually lead to these places where our traditional ceremonies are held. How can one go to Mwanachingwala’s Palace or Simwatachela’s Palace when there are no roads? The Government should construct roads and palaces first. That way, everyone will be able to go there with less difficulty.

 

Madam Speaker, with these few words, I wish to support the report of your Committee.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Ms Kasune (Keembe): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me the opportunity to add the voice of the people of Keembe, the Keembians, who have an interest in the subject on the Floor.

 

Madam Speaker, you are aware that the Lenje people, or as we are otherwise well-known, Bene Mukuni or Bantu Botatwe, are hosts of the Kulamba Kubwalo Ceremony. This ceremony takes place at a place which is not too far from Lusaka. The ceremony has not only attracted Lenje descendants or the Bantu Botatwe, but has actually become a national ceremony. I do not want to bore everyone by talking about the things that other hon. Members have already spoken about such as the need to stop politicising traditional ceremonies. The trend of politicising traditional ceremonies is discouraging many of our local people from attending them. If we are talking about the importance of marketing our traditional ceremonies, while our local people are beginning to shun them, attracting people from other countries will not be actualised.

 

Madam Speaker, I think it is important for the people of Zambia to realise that although we have different ceremonies, we are one people. It is at these traditional ceremonies where we not only market or celebrate who we are but also reflect on the very unique fabric that makes Zambia what it is and pass on these values and norms to generations to come. A people without a culture or tradition is a lost people. Therefore, by marketing ourselves and keeping our traditional cultures and values, we will actually be fighting the tribalism that has become a poison in this nation.

 

Madam Speaker, if our traditional ceremonies are left without any political interference, there will be that springboard that will bring healing from tribal remarks that have become the order of the day. I think the seconder talked about Brazil and the Mardi Gras Ceremony, which is not only celebrated by the local people but also the international community.

 

Madam Speaker, we, as Zambians, and speaking for bene Mukuni, swebo ba Lenje, in particular, even won the recognition of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for the Mooba Dance in Paris. The Dance has been highly celebrated around the world, yet not much support is given to such a ceremony in our own country.

 

Madam Speaker, therefore, it is important that all the points that have been raised by your Committee are adhered to. If the elders of this nation did not hold Zambia together, not just by using a slogan when it feels right, but by ensuring the actualisation of living as one Zambia, one nation, we would not have the Zambia we have today. It is incumbent upon those in leadership, in particular, the current President, His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and his Executive, to be the example that this nation deserves. They should speak against any tribal remarks by any individual regardless of who he or she is in the Executive. That way, we will not only be healing ourselves, but we will also be able to attract other investors.

 

Madam Speaker, Zambia is highly land linked. However, for a long time, we have not taken advantage of its geographical position. For a long time, we have looked down on our traditional ceremonies and our leaders. We have not given them the respect that is due to them.

 

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I support your Committee on the report it has given to the House. I also would like to say that traditional ceremonies should be preserved and marketed not only outside the country but also to the young people of our nation if the identity and the sovereignty of this country is to be upheld.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Madam Speaker, let me begin by saying that traditional leaders are supreme to politicians because they portray true African leadership and will remain our parents for many years to come. We need to give our traditional leaders respect. Let me also add my voice to what the previous speaker said about the need to help our traditional leaders to construct their palaces.

 

Madam Speaker, if you came to Bweengwa, you would be disappointed to see where Chief Hamusonde spends his nights. It is very embarrassing to see our traditional leader sleeping in civil servants’ houses that were built a long time ago, not as palaces. Traditional leaders spend their nights in compounds. This is not good at all.

 

Madam Speaker, it was very disappointing to hear one of our leaders in this country on Saturday in Mazabuka lament that a Tonga bull must build chiefs’ palaces. The same Tonga bull whom the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, talked about also pays tax to this country.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

What is a Tonga bull, hon. Member for Bweengwa?

 

Mr Michelo: I do not even remember the time –

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Bweengwa, for the record, what do you mean and whom do you refer to when you say ‘Tonga bull’?

 

Mr Michelo: Madam Speaker, I am sure we are together.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: No. We are not.

 

Mr Michelo: Where are we not together?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: For the benefit of those listening to you, they would like to understand whom you are referring to by ‘Tonga bull’. What do you mean by a ‘Tonga bull’?

 

Mr Michelo: Madam Speaker, when His Excellency the President went to the Southern Province on Saturday, he said that a Tonga bull who is busy boasting about being rich in town should start constructing palaces for our chiefs. What I was trying to say is that it is not his responsibility to do that because he has already done a lot for the people of Zambia, especially traditional leaders such as Chief Nalubamba, Chief Mungaila and Chief Choongo in Samulyamoomba. So, he must not be castigated because he is already doing a lot for this country. I have never seen a palace which was constructed by the current President before he became President of this country. The Opposition political leader, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, has already done a lot for the people of this country, including chiefs.

 

Hon. UPND: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Michelo: We are asking His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, to also show us what he did before he became President.

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Michelo: We have not seen anything that he did for the people of this country or our chiefs.

 

Madam Speaker, when Mr Hakainde Hichilema takes over power, come next year, he is not going to discriminate against any tribe or be careless in his statements. He is not going to speak against other tribes, unlike what is happening with our current leader. It is very embarrassing. His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is promoting tribalism in this country.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Michelo: This is our only opportunity to urge him or to advise him to –

 

Interruptions

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Bweengwa, I see you have forty-one seconds left.

 

Mr Mubukwanu: On a point of order, Madam.

 

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

 

Mr Livune: Question!

 

Mr Mubukwanu: Madam Speaker, you attempted to get the hon. Member on the Floor to interpret what he meant by ‘Tonga bull’. He skated around the subject and tried to refer to the source of the point he was trying to debate. He is almost winding up his debate without telling us who a ‘Tonga bull’ is. Is he in order to cleverly run away from that particular clarification which the Speaker ordered him to make?

 

I seek your ruling, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: My ruling is that he is certainly not in order. That point of order, of course, gives him an opportunity to clarify the term.

 

Hon. Member for Bweengwa, can you clarify it.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Bweengwa, can you clarify the term. What do you mean?

 

Mr Michelo: Madam Speaker, I think I already told you and the country that when the President went to the Southern Province on Saturday, he talked about a Tonga bull. By Tonga bull, he meant Mr Hakainde Hichilema.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Michelo: It is not the responsibility of Mr Hakainde Hichilema to build palaces in this country. Instead, it is the responsibility of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government. I think it is now time for the PF Government to start packing its bags in preparation for its exit because its time is up. Come 2021, it must go.

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Michelo: It has failed this country. We are disappointed with it.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Michelo: It has not fulfilled any of the promises it has made.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo): Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to comment on the report that is before us today. May I, in the first instance, appreciate your Committee for a job well done and the Chairperson for moving this very important Motion and the seconder for seconding it.

 

Madam Speaker, it goes without saying that traditional ceremonies are very important to this country. They are part and parcel of the tradition, culture and history of this country. From Independence, we have had traditional ceremonies coming up. At the time of Independence, there were a few traditional ceremonies and you could count them on your hand. Now, there are many of them. There is a proliferation of traditional ceremonies. Your Committee, which has come up with commendable recommendations, has pointed out this fact. We need to organise this sector.

 

Madam Speaker, the Government is letting this sector run like a runaway train. Every district and constituency now has a traditional ceremony. That is what is making it so hard for the Government to adequately participate and offer financial and intellectual support and everything else that is required to make these ceremonies what they ought to be.

 

Madam Speaker, it is true that what is happening now is commercialisation of these ceremonies. The reason is simple. Just like the proliferation of chiefs all over, traditional ceremonies are seen as an opportunity to make money because the Government and corporate bodies go there to make donations and politicians take advantage of this situation to make donations and woo support. It is, then, seen by traditional chiefs as a way to make money. We have to control that.

 

Madam Speaker, the way to control this, as has been suggested in the report, is basically to limit traditional ceremonies per ethnic group. This is very important. For each ethnic grouping, let us have one or, maybe, two traditional ceremonies at the maximum. Why should we do this? This should be done to avoid fragmentations. For example, the Kaonde tribe cannot have ten or fifteen traditional ceremonies because it is one ethnic grouping with one tradition. When you have many traditional ceremonies, instead of their being a unifying factor, they bring about fragmentation. That should be avoided. There is in-fighting in ethnic groups because of the many traditional ceremonies. That is not what the country would like to see. We would like to see unity in this area. That is what I wanted to talk about.

 

Madam Speaker, the second point before my time is up is on page 12 of the report. It talks about a student at the University of Zambia (UNZA). It says only one student is being sponsored for the Intangible Cultural Heritage Degree. I think we can do better than this. That student is only going up to third year under the sponsorship of United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). I urge UNESCO not to quit sponsoring him at the third year level. It should go on until fourth year so that it, at least, has a finished product. It cannot stop in the middle. Let it have a finished product so that the graduate can contribute to the consolidation of our cultural heritage.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to make a few comments on the Report of the Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs’ Affairs that was ably moved by the Chairperson of your Committee.

 

Madam Speaker, the call to have a policy on how we handle traditional ceremonies is, indeed, a timely one. I am sure my colleague, the hon. Minister for Chiefs and Traditional Affairs, will respond adequately on that score. I just would like to urge that this policy be driven by the traditional leadership, desirably, through the House of Chiefs, so that it can speak to their requirements.

 

Madam Speaker, traditional ceremonies are used for cultural identity of our ethnic groupings. They are very important and play a cardinal role. Thus, in developing this policy, we should reflect on the idea of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. After he realised that he could not attend all the ceremonies to which he was being invited on an annual basis, for avoidance of seeming biased towards the functions that he could manage to attend, he came up with an idea where our traditional leaders themselves could interchange and attend one another’s ceremonies.

 

I recall that we saw the Paramount Chief of the Chewa people, Kalonga Gawa Undi, as the guest of honour at the Barotse Royal Establishment’s Kuomboka Ceremony and this was facilitated by the Government. I also remember Chief Mupezeni of the Ngoni people being the guest of honour at Mwine Lubemba’s Ukusefya pa Ngwena Traditional Ceremony. I think that is the kind of interaction we should encourage in this policy so as to avoid what will be seen as politicisation of these traditional ceremonies.

 

Madam Speaker, as leaders, we must understand when statements are made by other leaders. When His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, engaged their royal highnesses, the chiefs, the last time we visited Monze, Southern Province, he encouraged all of us, as subjects in our various chiefdoms, to be proud and contribute to the well-being of our traditional leaders. That is all he did and has continued to do. For example, there is nothing wrong with those of us who are subjects of Mwine Lubemba in assisting to ensure that we have permanent structures at the podium where the traditional ceremony is held and the residence of the chief. Therefore, by asking subjects to take part, it does not mean that the Government is not going to do its part.

 

However, Madam, we must understand that the Government cannot be expected to build palaces in all the chiefdoms at the same time in the wake of resource constraints. As subjects, we must not fail to be proud of where we belong. That is what we are saying, and let us not misunderstand that. I think the President has tried to show that we can co-exist. That is why you see him engaging traditional leaders from all the tribes wherever he goes. He now not only engages their royal highnesses but also the village headmen, who are closer to the people. Therefore, this is what we should encourage in our traditional setup.

 

Madam Speaker, the policy in managing the traditional ceremonies and making them the symbol of cultural identity for ethnic groupings is cardinal.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

The Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (Mr Sichalwe): Madam Speaker, in responding to the report, I wish to mention that, indeed, there has been a lack of policy on the management of traditional ceremonies. As a ministry, we have been working on the policy. In the course of that, we have been engaging the major stakeholders, who are the House of Chiefs, and this policy is still under discussion. There were a number of issues that were brought to the fore by the Members of the House of Chiefs that we are trying to polish up. Shortly, we will be done with the policy.

 

Madam, there was also mention of financial challenges. Organising committees of traditional ceremonies are being encouraged to not be a one-off committee but a continuous one in the sense that they will not be relevant at a time of the traditional ceremony only. We are encouraging them to market their traditional ceremonies. Through marketing, they will be able to raise funds to support the traditional ceremonies.

 

Madam Speaker, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kafue complained about the lack of museums. I wish to mention that museums are part of the policy on the construction of chiefs’ palaces. In the project of constructing chiefs’ palaces, we included the aspect of museums, knowing that they are a preserve of culture. When we complete the construction of palaces, we will, then, go to the museums.

 

Madam, she also went on to mention proliferation of political parties at traditional ceremonies. In depoliticising traditional ceremonies that are considered to be unifying ceremonies, we have been encouraging organising committees of traditional ceremonies to discourage the wearing of party regalia because that has been a major factor in the conflicts at traditional ceremonies.

 

Madam, she also mentioned decent accommodation for chiefs. Indeed, decent accommodation for the chiefs has been a concern of the Government. The subjects who had the role of looking after chiefs neglected them. So, the Government came in to give chiefs decent accommodation. I wish to mention that this is an on-going project, dependent on availability of funds.

 

Madam, I wish to agree with the hon. Member for Mapatizya that, indeed, ceremonies are a mirror of our culture. On the welfare of chiefs, as I mentioned in responding to the hon. Member for Kafue, the construction of palaces is an on-going project.

 

Madam, the hon. Member of Parliament for Bweengwa lamented the construction of chiefs’ palaces. I wish to mention that in the past, the culture was that the subjects looked after the chiefs. Chiefs were not a responsibility of the Government. However, we have lost that culture today. We have lost it in the sense that we have neglected the chiefs. This is the reason we are encouraging subjects to look after their chiefs. Nevertheless, the Government is also supplementing this effort to look after the chiefs.

 

Madam, I wish to remind the hon. Member that we are not packing our bags. We are still here. The bags are still loaded.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sichalwe: Madam, I wish to conclude by commending your Committee on the job well done on this report.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Samakayi: Madam Speaker, I thank the members of your Committee and the seconder for the commitment that they put into the production of this report. I also thank the various hon. Members who debated positively and intelligibly on this report. I also thank the hon. Ministers for the various positive responses that they have made on the observations that the debaters have made on the report.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

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BILL

 

SECOND READING

 

THE FOOD AND NUTRITION BILL, 2020

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you most sincerely for giving me this opportunity to render a policy statement on the Food and Nutrition Bill No. 2 of 2020.

 

Madam Speaker, the Government of the Republic of Zambia led by His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has identified universal health coverage as a must attain legacy. In order to do this, statutory reforms have been undertaken to reform the health sector and align it to universal health coverage. A number of pieces of legislation within the health sector that are being reviewed include the National Food and Nutrition Act of 1967.

 

Madam Speaker, nutrition is a very important determinant of health and as such, it is a critical component for human capital development. Therefore, the Government, through the Ministry of Health, has considered strengthening the policy and legislative environment for nutrition services to enhance the health of our people and ensure that cognitive development of our learners is enhanced and to also enhance human productivity. Therefore, I am pleased to present the Food and Nutrition Bill to Parliament.

 

Madam Speaker, there have been a number of developments in the area of food and nutrition worldwide, yet the legislation in Zambia has been anchored on provisions that have been overtaken by time and new developments in the food and nutrition landscape have not been incorporated.

 

Madam Speaker, the Bill has been framed to include new scientific evidence and best practices in the country and globally. Nutrition authorities have already made a decision that in order for nutrition to be perched appropriately in the drive for universal health coverage, it is important that legislation is realigned to accommodate contemporary issues. This is further declared in the right to food in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Rome Declaration on Nutrition.

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to affirm that in line with the policy measures contained in the National Food and Nutrition Policy of 2006 to review the National Food and Nutrition Commission Act of 1967 and make it robust in effectively and efficiently providing food and nutrition services in the country, this Bill meets the aspirations of the Government, stakeholders and the people of Zambia. The Bill has taken into consideration the need for improving co-ordination in the provision of food and nutrition across the country by strengthening the National Food and Nutrition Commission.

 

Madam Speaker, let me now draw your attention to the specific provisions of the Bill. The preliminary provisions of Part I are to change the National Food and Nutrition Commission’s programmes. This is a positive move as this will broaden the scope of the law to cover food and nutrition issues in its entirety beyond focusing on the institution. This is an important recognition according to best practices in the world today.

 

Madam Speaker, Part II refers to the National Food and Nutrition Commission’s functions. The Bill has made provisions that strengthen the functions of the National Food and Nutrition Commission and this is aimed at ensuring that the Government, through the National Food and Nutrition Commission, provides improved governance and oversight in the management of food and nutrition services in the country. The functions are comprehensive in dealing with all aspects of governance using the current evidence.

 

Madam Speaker, Part III of the Bill refers to the inspectorate and under it, there are Sections 20 and 21, which are ‘authorised officer’ and ‘powers of authorised officer’. To ensure compliance with the set standards of food and nutrition services, the Bill has introduced the inspectorate.

 

Madam Speaker, in Part IV, we have the registration of nutrition groups to strengthen the provision of food and nutrition services in communities in alignment with the policy for a community based service provision approach. The Bill has made a provision for the registration of nutrition groups, and these are community based organisations with a focus on provision of nutrition and enhancing accountability at that level.

 

Madam Speaker, in Part V of the Bill, we have the National Food and Nutrition Programme. Under it, there are Sections 30 and 31, which are ‘co-ordinating committee’ and ‘National Food and Nutrition Programme’. This Bill seeks to put in place improved governance mechanisms and it will enable a clear link between policy and implementation. Further, it will facilitate enhanced linkage and co-ordination between policy and implementation using a multi-sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach.

 

Madam Speaker, as I mentioned earlier, nutrition is a fundamental determinant of health and well-being. In the same vein, there are several other determinants of nutrition that include food security, disease, water and sanitation, education, gender and other social related factors. Therefore, the Bill seeks to ensure decentralised provision of nutrition services to lower levels and ensure a coherent co-ordinating mechanism that is multi-sectoral in nature at that level.

 

Madam Speaker, from the foregoing, it can be seen that the coming into law of this Bill will ensure that food and nutrition services are provided at all levels and that particular attention is paid to community and household levels, as a way of ensuring attainment of universal health coverage while leaving no one behind.

 

Madam Speaker, with the passage of the Bill into law, the Government is confident that nutrition will be addressed in a comprehensive manner and the way we conduct business in the food and nutrition arena will significantly change forever and contribute to the improved health status of our people and the socio-economic development of the country.

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services for its valuable observations and recommendations and also the stakeholders who have supported the Bill. The Government, through the Ministry of Health, has scrutinised the recommendations and will make necessary amendments at an appropriate time to ensure that a robust legal framework on food and nutrition is in place. It is with that background that I appeal to this august House to support the Bill, as it is progressive and non-controversial.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Madam Speaker, I am very grateful for giving me this opportunity to represent my colleagues in the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services to read out a statement arising from the scrutiny of the Bill, on which the hon. Minister has ably given a policy statement.

 

Madam Speaker, food and nutrition covers a wide spectrum, which includes production in a safe and sustainable manner and its utilisation in the provision of adequate nutrients for the maintenance and restoration of good health at an individual level, at all stages of the life cycle.

 

Madam Speaker, to ensure a good food and nutrition environment, the Food and Nutrition Bill is invariably necessary, as has already been highlighted, in order to regulate a number of aspects which include, but are not limited to, nutrition education, nutrition surveillance, food safety, nutrition in emergencies, clinical nutrition, food systems, social protection, consumer protection and health promotion. Over time, Zambia has continued facing a high level of chronic malnutrition manifesting as stunted growth and increased levels of overweight and associated non-communicable diseases.

 

Madam Speaker, all the stakeholders who appeared before your Committee supported this Bill albeit with some concerns. In light of the foregoing, let me just highlight a few observations and recommendations which were made by your Committee.

 

Madam, this is a highly summarised and abridged format, and I hope hon. Members read the full report by your Committee. Under Clause 5(1)(a) on the functions of the commission, your Committee expresses concern over the mandatory registration of nutritionists being proposed under this clause given that the nutritionists are also registered under the Health Professions Council. So, your Committee contends that this provision may result in a duplication of functions as well as possible conflict between the two pieces of legislation and the respective institutions set up therein.

 

Madam, in this regard, your Committee strongly recommends to the ministry that the clause be amended and cross-referenced with the Health Professions Act No. 24 of 2009 and provide for the Health Professions Council of Zambia to register all health professions, as is the case now. Further, your Committee is of the view that the clause should also be amended in order to include the validity period of such registration, which was absent in the Bill.

 

Madam, regarding Clause 24(2), which relates to the operations of a nutrition group that the hon. Minister also brought in as an innovation and that we support, your Committee expresses concern over the proposed requirement of the organisations to seek approval from the commission before accessing donations and grants from any source both within and outside the country.

 

Madam Speaker, while appreciating that the measure is important for the purpose of regulating the standards of donations, especially for children’s food and also to foster transparency, your Committee is of the strong view that other alternative measures can be considered such as auditing the groups as opposed to their seeking prior approval before they receive donations or source these things. In this regard, your Committee recommends that the clause be amended to split donations and grants so as to ensure that donations are subjected to the commission’s approval while grants are exempted and subjected only to an audit process.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee expresses concern over the proposed placement of the National Food and Nutrition Commission under the Ministry of Health. Members of your Committee and many stakeholders contended that food and nutrition is a cross-cutting issue and that it is better placed under the Office of the Vice-President, especially that the co-ordinating committee responsible for the multi-sectoral response to food and nutrition, under Clause 30(1), is placed under the direction of the Vice-President. So, basically, your Committee is of the view that −

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Your time has elapsed.

 

Dr Kalila: Madam, I was just about to finish. You can use your discretion.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You can conclude.

 

Dr Kalila: Thank you, Madam.

 

Therefore, your Committee recommends that the Bill be amended to provide for the commission to be under the Office of the Vice-President.

 

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, the repeal and replacement of the National Food and Nutrition Commission Act Cap 308 of the Laws of Zambia will sufficiently address current and emerging issues in food and nutrition. It is further hoped that the highlighted concerns contained in the report will be favourably considered and addressed in order to foster effective implementation of the Bill.

 

Madam Speaker, we support this Bill with amendments and we thank you for this opportunity.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Dr Chilufya: Madam Speaker, I would like to thank all hon. Members of Parliament who have supported this progressive Bill in silence.

 

 Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Question put and agreed to and the Bill read a second time.  

 

Committed to a Committee of the Whole House.

 

Committee on Tuesday, 14th July, 2020.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

(Debate adjourned)

 

_______

 

The House adjourned at 1655 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 10th July, 2020.

 

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