Tuesday, 9^th February, 2021

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

_______

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

KABWE/MUKOBEKO/NGABWE ROAD

 

121. Mr Chiyalika (Lufubu) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

1. whether the Government is aware that the Kabwe/Mukobeko/Ngabwe Road has become impassable, thereby forcing patients to access medical services in Kabwe via the Ngabwe/Mpongwe/Kapiri Mposhi Road; and
2. if so, what urgent measures are being taken to rehabilitate the Kabwe/Mukobeko/ Ngabwe Road and ease the suffering of the people in Ngabwe District.

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Mwale): Mr Speaker, the Government is aware of the current condition of the Kabwe/Mukobeko/Ngabwe Road.

 

Sir, the Government, through the Road Development Agency (RDA), is preparing to undertake emergency maintenance works on the Kabwe/Mukobeko/Ngabwe Road. The works are scheduled to commence after the rainy season and will be undertaken by the RDA under the Force Account.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Lihefu (Manyinga): Mr Speaker, –

 

Ms Lubezhi: On a point of order, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Ms Lubezhi was inaudible.

 

Mr Speaker: May the hon. Member for Manyinga continue.

 

Mr Lihefu: Mr Speaker, the Kabwe/Mukobeko/Ngabwe Road is like many other roads in this country. Does the Government have a master plan to rehabilitate roads countrywide which are in a bad state like the Kabwe/Mukobeko/Ngabwe Road?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the Government has an infrastructure master plan which includes a component for roads. This is just a master plan, and it requires resources for us to implement. The difference is that the situation of the Kabwe/Mukobeko/Ngabwe Road is an emergency and we are using emergency funds to attend to it under the Force Account.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Chiyalika: Mr Speaker, –

 

Ms Lubezhi: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Ms Lubezhi: Mr Speaker, I was having problems with my gadget earlier on. I apologise for that.

 

Mr Speaker, this is a procedural point of order. You will recall that on Friday last week, during the Vice-President’s Question Time, I wanted to find out when the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) would publish the voter register. I followed up that question with a point of order. You correctly guided that I check the Hansard with the Publications Department. When I followed up the matter in the Hansard, I came to the realisation that the hon. Minister of Home Affairs last issued a statement to that effect on 24^th November, 2020, which was a Tuesday. You will appreciate that my question begged an answer for the whole voter registration exercise, which ended on 22^nd December, 2020. I wanted the figures region by region or province by province.

 

Mr Speaker, going by the aforesaid, it is clear that the House misled itself, it misled the questioner, who happens to be me, and it misled the nation. As at 24^th November, 2020, the voter registration exercise had not been concluded. As such, is it procedural for the House to mislead itself in such a manner?

 

Mr Speaker, your serious guidance is sought.

 

Mr Speaker: Firstly, the House cannot mislead itself. It is not possible. Secondly, if you go through my ruling, and I was very clear, you will notice that I said that if after searching the Hansard you found that the information contained therein was inadequate or outdated, as you are suggesting, you were to file a question so that we could forward it to Her Honour the Vice-President, and she would respond. That is what I said. It is as simple as that.

 

Mr Chiyalika: Mr Speaker, I started lobbying for this road four years ago because it has been in that state for the past four years to date.

 

Mr Speaker, I also negotiated with the then Permanent Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Local Government to move this project from the Road Development Agency (RDA) to the ministry because, unlike the RDA, the Ministry of Local Government has the resources. He was willing to take on the proposal and proposed that the RDA surrender this road to the Ministry of Local Government so that the ministry could work on it. The same idea was sold to the RDA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), who never even paid any particular attention to it.

 

Mr Speaker, I understand that it is the same Government and that these are just Government ministries. Why, then, is the RDA behaving in such a manner that when another ministry wants to take over a project, it is not willing to let go? Why is it so when it is actually the same Government?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, this is a very difficult question to deal with. However, in a nutshell, it is the same Government, and the resources for road projects all come from the Ministry of Finance, through the National Road Fund Agency (NRFA). There is nothing like the Ministry of Local Government having more money than the RDA. When both of them have contracts, they have to seek approval from the Treasury, which will check if the NRFA has money to support such a project.

 

Mr Speaker, when time for payment comes, they all have to submit their certificates and requests to the same institution, which is the NRFA. Therefore, it would not help much to transfer the road works from one ministry to the other in search of funds because funds will always come from the same entity, which is the NRFA.

 

Mr Speaker, I would be reluctant to transfer responsibility of the road from the RDA to the Ministry of Local Government because we are all tapping from the same resources. However, we have said that we are going to look after this project. In fact, currently, there is money to work on this road because it is an emergency. We have set aside K4.8 million, which is available in the RDA account for us to attend to this problem because, for now, this is what is important.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you,

 

Mr Kakubo (Kapiri Mposhi): Mr Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member who has asked this question that this road starts from Kabwe through Kapiri Mposhi towards Mpunde and Chipepo up to Ngabwe. Indeed, it is in a very deplorable state.

 

Mr Speaker, what kind of earth works should we expect on this project? Is it spot gravelling or full gravelling? To what extent will the works be carried out by the Road Development Agency (RDA)?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, it is mostly to do with spot gravelling and working on patches that are bad because we are only making this road passable. After all that, we will need to look for resources to overhaul the whole road. In fact, this road requires to be raised to bituminous standard because it is a very important road, which connects Kabwe and Kapiri towns. It also connects the rest of the country to Ngabwe, which is a new district. We want development in the area, including Chief Mukubwe and Chief Ngabwe’s areas. For now, what we can afford is to carry out some maintenance works to make the road passable and hope to raise money to overhaul the whole road.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Ms Subulwa (Sioma) Mr Speaker, while we appreciate the massive infrastructure development that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government has embarked on, as hon. Members of Parliament, we get concerned with the kind of responses that are, sometimes, given by the hon. Ministers.

 

Mr Speaker, in saying so, I would like to cite the Matebele Bridge that was scheduled to be rehabilitated in 2017. Funds where available and we were assured that a contractor had been identified, yet nothing has been done to date.

 

Mr Speaker, now, the hon. Minister has indicated that there is money that has been put aside for this project, yet no time frame has been given. Would the hon. Minister be in a position to, at least, give us information on when the Kabwe/Mukobeko/Ngabwe Road will be worked on and the expected time frame within which the works are to be completed.

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, I indicated that we are waiting for the rains to subside before we can start the works. I am sure the hon. Member of Parliament appreciates that not much earthworks can be carried when it is raining. Carrying out some works during the rainy season would be wasting money. Maybe, we need to have advanced technology that would allow us to work during the rainy session. For now, we would be wasting money if we went full throttle to work on this road. So, we are waiting for the rains to subside before we can carry out the works.

 

Mr Speaker, I appreciate the question that has been sneaked in on the Matebele Bridge. That bridge is very important to us. I can confirm to you that Her Honour the Vice-President has, on many occasions, engaged me on this bridge and reminded all of us of its importance. The hon. Member herself has been doing that on a regular basis. It is a very active matter on our side. We are still in talks with our colleagues at the Ministry of Finance to secure funds for Matebele Bridge.

 

Mr Speaker, the amount of money required to work on the Matebele Bridge is substantial. Regarding why we have not done this and that, the Kabwe/Mukobeko/Ngabwe Road project only requires K4.8 million, which is a drop in the ocean compared to what we need for the Matebele Bridge. We have set aside about K20 million for emergences that may arise during the rainy session and this is where we are getting the K4.8 million from. We have that money readily available because we know this is rainy season. So, many other emergency works throughout the country will be attended to. For Matebele Bridge, the works required are substantive and we are looking for money. That is a very important project for the Government.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: I also have requests on Zoom.

 

Ms Kasune was inaudible.

 

Mr Kabanda was inaudible.

 

Mr Mwila (Chimwemwe): Mr Speaker, there are quite a number of roads that require urgent rehabilitation works, including the main road leading to Vubwi.

 

Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister in a position to share with us now how many other roads apart from this important road in Ngabwe the ministry will consider working on using funds from the Force Account?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, I am not in a position to give a comprehensive list of the roads that will be worked on using funds from the Force Account because some substantive works are already ongoing and some of them are emergencies that are happening now. So, we attend to them as and when they occur. If the hon. Member wants me to give a list of substantive works that are being carried out throughout the country using the Force Account method, I would need a bit of some time to have them compiled from the provinces and then submit them, otherwise it would be very difficult for me to give a list of roads. However, for the emergency ones, we attend to them as and when they occur. Therefore, it is difficult to cite them without written text.

 

Ms Kasune (Keembe): Mr Speaker, indeed, that road is so critical to many of us on the Central Province and we look forward to the starting of the rehabilitation works. However, allow me to add on to some of the concerns that have been raised. The hon. Minister is aware that the bridge on the road between Chitanda Turn-off and Ipongwa has already been washed away, yet rehabilitation works at the point from Chitanda to Lusaka and, especially at Liteta hospital, were done only recently.

 

Mr Speaker, does the ministry have a mechanism where it can, at least, put a certain warrant for contractors carrying out construction works on roads that become impassable within a certain period after construction, like what we are seeing in Chibombo near Chief Chitanda’s area where the road has already become dilapidated in less than a year? The Government keeps losing funds and we can see this happening in Ngabwe.

 

Mr Speaker, if contractors on the ground use short cuts, which is what is happening, and roads fall apart within a year, do we have a mechanism that can prompt them to go back and redo the works so that we do not continue to drain Government coffers which are already in dire straits as we speak?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, again, that is a loaded question. Let me see if I can unpack it. There is a situation highlighted by the hon. Member where a contractor has worked on a road and it gets damaged after, for instance, more than a year. Damages to a road are dependent on various situations. It could be because a contractor did a bad job. So, in that case, and if it is within the defect liability period, the contractor would have to be recalled to redo the works without any extra payment made by the Government.

 

Mr Speaker, there is also an aspect of works have been well done and inspected, consultants satisfied and payments made, but we experience some flooding, like we did in the parts of the road that the hon. Member talked about. I understand that part of the road got flooded and the whole belt from Mumbwa to Chibombo got flooded. If the damage is due to floods and nothing to do with the contractor failing to do a proper job, the Government has to come in and ask the contractor, if he is still on site, to carry out some works that would be at a cost on the part of the Government.

 

Mr Speaker, we will have to ascertain what happened in Chitanda and establish whether the consultants and the Government were satisfied that jobs were properly done and that the road is bad only because the place has been flooded or because the contractor did not do a good job. I would not be able to say out rightly what really happened in that case. We will have to assess the situation. Nonetheless, I am aware of the flooding in that area and the bridge having been washed away. The good thing is that we have a contractor under the Out-put and Performance Based Road Contract (OPRC) project funded by the World Bank in the area. So, the problems can be sorted out as soon as possible, but we will have to ascertain exactly what happened.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: I will take the last three questions from the hon. Member for Mufumbwe, the hon. Member for Mitete and lastly, the hon. Member for Kalabo Central.

 

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Mr Speaker, the rehabilitation of the Ngabwe/Mukobeko Road is actually among those oldest assurances that were given by the Executive on the Floor of the House. I remember very well that at one point, this project actually started. My concern is that the people of Ngabwe have been assured several times by the Executive, but nothing is actually done and today, we are talking about a road which is now impassable.

 

Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister, who has told the House that the only time the people of Ngabwe will be able to use this road is after the rainy season, whether he thinks that the Government is being unfair to them considering that they have been promised several times?

 

Sir, what immediate measures is the Government going to put in place so that this road becomes motorable during this time?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the substantive question is what immediate measure we are going to put in place, and the rest is a comment. This is the same question I was answering in this House. I said that we have provided K4.8 million to do spot improvement and make the road motorable, except that we cannot do it whilst it is raining. If we did, we would create mud and we would not even be able to bring proper gravel and carryout the works that we should be carried out. We admit that the road is not in a good state and we are just waiting for the rains to subside before we can carry out the works. This is the very question that I have been answering. The immediate measure that this Government is going to take is exactly what I was highlighting here.

 

Mr Speaker, maybe, I can attempt also to touch on the comment. This Government has promised a lot of things that are yet to materialise, but it has also fulfilled a lot of promises in so many parts of this country. People can trust that, at least, this Government is capable of fulfilling promises because it has done so much. Everything is there for people to see. If it was not for the fact that we found ourselves in situations that drained our resources from projects, we would have fulfilled all these because that is the desire of this Government. In the near future, funds permitting, we will be able to fulfil all the promises. The people of Ngabwe and in all parts of the country, the North-Western, Western and Eastern, will be able to see more development from this Government that is capable of delivering.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Mutelo (Mitete): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his responses, especially the recent one where he said that the Government will fulfil all its promises. I have also heard him say that in the immediate term, the monies are there save that he has not really stated when the exact month when these works shall be fulfilled. The hon. Member of Parliament has been struggling for four years. Maybe, the hon. Minister should have just told him to wait like we have been waiting for ten years –

 

Mr Speaker: Are you answering the question on behalf of the hon. Minister …

 

Mr Mutelo: No, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: … in which case, we could pass to the next question?

 

Mr Mutelo: Mr Speaker, today, his fellow hon. Minister, the hon. Minister of Foreign Affairs, was in Lukulu making similar promises over the Katunda/Lukulu/Watopa Road. Will having the road worked on after the rainy season not just be a mere promise and that this Ngabwe/Mukobeko Road shall not be attended to even after the rainy season?

 

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister has repeated himself. I do not think I would want to belabour this point further.

 

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, in the responses which the hon. Minister gave to the questions on the Ngabwe/Mukobeko Road, he said that the state of the road had reached an emergency level and that the Government would repair this road using emergency funds.

 

Sir, for the last four years, was the Government waiting for the road to deteriorate and reach an impassable state before it could rise up and repair it? Is this what the Government was waiting for? If not, why could the Government not repair the road four years ago, according to the hon. Member of Parliament for Lufubu?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the Government was not waiting for a disaster to happen or for the road to deteriorate to the current levels to work on it. The Government has so many projects which it is undertaking throughout the country. These projects are visible and everyone can see them. In each and every one of the 116 districts of this country, there is, at least, a big project which the Government is undertaking. Therefore, there are competing needs.

 

Mr Speaker, some of these projects are in the pipeline and will be worked on when resources are mobilised. That is the intention of this Government, and the promise that was made in this House a long time ago except that when an emergency happens, it forces the Government to abandon other projects to pour resources into dealing with it and go back to the substantive project as it awaits the mobilisation of resources. This is how the Government is run.

 

Mr Speaker, our wish is to develop the whole country and turn it upside down, and we are on course doing that except that we do not have all the resources that we require at the same time. As we go on collecting taxes and toll fees, the projects that we have promised will surely be handled. If there is a Government that can be trusted to do that, it is this one because it delivers.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

MUMBWA CONSTITUENCY BOREHOLE SINKING

 

122.  Mr Nanjuwa (Mumbwa) asked the Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection:

 

1. whether the Government has any plans to sink boreholes in the following areas in Mumbwa Parliamentary Constituency:

 

1. Kankuka

 

1. Mululi;

 

1. Moono;

 

1. Butinti; and

 

1. Nambala

 

        b. if so, when the plans will be implemented;

 

       c whether there are any plans to construct a dam in Mululi area; and

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

 

The Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection (Mr Nakacinda): Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to sink boreholes in Mumbwa District, which covers Mumbwa Parliamentary Constituency and Kankuka, MuluIi, Moono, Butiti and Nambala areas. The plans will be implemented when funds are available.

 

Mr Speaker, further, the Government is also engaging co-operating partners for support in this area and has an on-going national programme for constructing new dams countrywide, including in Mululi area. However, prior to the construction of any dam, feasibility studies have to be conducted to establish whether Mululi has a suitable site for dam construction. The plan to construct a dam in Mululi area will depend on the outcome of the feasibility studies that have to be conducted.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Fungulwe (Lufwanyama): Mr Speaker, water is life. The problem that we have in Mumbwa is the same countrywide, including in Lufwanyama. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether he has information on whether the Government has a programme to sink boreholes countrywide so that he can share with the hon. Members of Parliament.

 

Mr Nakacinda: Mr Speaker, we have a programme and, of course, the information. I recall that my predecessors, Hon. Dr Chanda and, more precisely, Hon. Dr Wanchinga shared that information with all hon. Members of Parliament. If the hon. Member of Parliament misplaced that information, I invite him to visit our office and we will be able to pass it on. Maybe, at the earliest possible time, we can still compile and share with all hon. Members of Parliament.

 

I thank you, Sir

 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister’s predecessor, Dr Wanchinga, indicated that there was money from the World Bank, if I am not mistaken, that was meant to improve the water situation in Mumbwa. How far has that programme gone? If it is still there, can it not be extended to these areas were the hon. Member of Parliament is bemoaning?

 

Mr Nakacinda: Mr Speaker, all programmes that are supported by co-operating partners have very specific areas and targets in which they can be undertaken. I can disclose to the hon. Member that, through engagement with our co-operating partner, the Germany Development Funding Agency (GDRA), about EUR7 million will be provided, through the Rural Basket Financing Programme, for the improvement of water supply and sanitation services in all districts of four provinces, namely the Eastern Province, the Lusaka Province, the Central Province and the North-Western Province, which also includes Mumbwa District. I want to believe that through this programme, we should be able to accommodate the areas that we are discussing today.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kamondo: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for having mentioned one of the co-operating partners, the Germany Development Funding Agency (GDRA), which intends to sink boreholes in the provinces that he mentioned. Actually, this is a very old programme whose implementation the people of the North-Western Province, and Mufumbwe in particular, have been waiting for. I would like to find out whether Mumbwa, which is in the Central Province, if I am not mistaken, has also been catered for. I would like the hon. Minister to tell the House whether he is aware of when the implementation of this programme will start. Is it this year? If so, when is it going to start because the people of Mufumbwe Constituency and other provinces have been waiting for some time?

 

Mr Speaker: This question is dealing with Mumbwa and you are taking the hon. Minister to Mufumbwe.

 

Mr Nanjuwa: Mr Speaker, you are aware that (was inaudible) biggest on our way and we are hoping that when the dam in Mululi is constructed, the water which is flowing around Mumbwa could be preserved. The hon. Minister has said that the Government will conduct a feasibility study at a time which is not prescribed. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what interventions the Government has put in place to ensure that the people of Mumbwa are helped in preserving this water which could, then, be used during the dry season? I ask this because the hon. Minister said the dam in Mululi cannot be constructed before a feasibility study is conducted and that the other dams are in a bad state.

 

Mr Nakacinda: Mr Speaker, when a need has been identified, as is the case in Mululi, there is obviously, need for expert input to be able to determine the suitability of the area or, indeed, the entire water resource to put up a dam. A geophysical analysis is required because you could be talking of putting up a dam, but you end up creating a crisis because the area may not be suitable for such infrastructure. However, with regard to the challenge that Mumbwa is faced with, following the collapse of dams, there are mitigation measures that my ministry has taken and it will soon move in to begin dealing with that challenge. The only thing is that I may not be able to itemise those specific measures off the cuff. I can only encourage the hon. Member of Parliament to consult with my ministry and he will be given the specific measures that we are taking to deal with the situation in Mumbwa.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: I will take the last three questions from hon. Members for Manyinga, Namwala and lastly, Katuba.

 

Mr Lihefu (Manyinga): Mr Speaker, the Government has always had plans to sink boreholes in Mumbwa and many other parts of this country. I have seen some co-operating partners constructing boreholes in other parts of this country. Has the Government constructed any, even two boreholes, in Mumbwa since 2016?

 

Mr Nakacinda: Mr Speaker, I can confirm that there are a number of boreholes that have been drilled in Mumbwa, although I may not give all the details off the cuff. I thought that the hon. Member was going to first of all, appreciate and congratulate the Government of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for prioritising water supply to ensure that our people have access to clean and safe water, especially with emphasis on the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme that is being undertaken vigorously across the country. I have already indicated how we are going to deal with the specific areas that have been mentioned in the question. I can confirm that there must be, at least, a borehole or more that has been drilled not only in Mumbwa, but also in a number of places, if not all the 116 districts for the benefit of our people.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, now that the hon. Minister has told us that there are some boreholes that have been sunk in Mumbwa, could he kindly inform us how much it costs to drill a borehole in Mumbwa.

 

Mr Nakacinda: Mr Speaker, I may not be able to give accurate figures and I do not want to seem to be misleading the House. However, I can only invite the hon. Member for Namwala to come to the office and over a cup of tea, I can share those details.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Kapalasa (Katuba): Mr Speaker, the issue is on those of us who are doing –

 

Mr Livune: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker:  A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, I want to apologise to my hon. Colleague, who is on the Floor trying to put up his question. My point of order is on the Minister, Hon. Nakacinda.

 

Mr Speaker, in response to the question raised by the hon. Member for Namwala, the hon. Minister said that the hon. Member for Namwala must go to his office for a cup of tea and that is when he will be able to answer the questions that she raised. All of us would want to know the cost of that service in Mumbwa so that we are equipped with information on the prescribed cost of putting up a borehole, which should be known by everyone in this country. Is he in order to restrict the answer to the hon. Member for Namwala by inviting her to his office for a cup of tea when all of us, as hon. Members in this House, would want to know the cost of sinking a borehole in Mumbwa?

 

Sir, I seek your serious ruling on this matter.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Katombola, you cannot speak for everybody. So, you join the hon. Member for Namwala. You can go to the hon. Minister’s office together.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kapalasa: Mr Speaker, my question is on the issue of the tax that we are paying to drill a borehole, especially in view of the floods that have been experienced in Mumbwa, including in Keembe. For someone to have a borehole sunk, he/she has to pay K250 borehole registration fee, which is quite a big amount, as the person would have already paid something for the drilling. The hon. Minister has not told us the actual price of drilling a borehole. So, on top of the price of drilling a borehole, one also pays that tax. Does the ministry have any plans or a deliberate policy to actually waive this registration fee so that we do not pay it on the community boreholes that we drill?

 

Mr Nakacinda: Mr Speaker, I want to also thank you for extending an invitation to the hon. Member for Katombola. I will be able to host both hon. Members for Namwala and Katombola. Tea is just a courtesy that we extend as a way of showing hospitality to hon. Members when they visit our offices, but basically to discuss substantive matters of national development.

 

Mr Speaker, on the issue of the levy or tax (registration fee) on boreholes, I think what I can say for now is that consideration has not been given and, therefore, it will be premature for me to suggest that we will not or we will go that route.

 

Mr Speaker, in terms of the pricing, in principle, there is no standard price for drilling a borehole, particularly if it is done by a department under the ministry because issues of fuel and distances are considered whenever prices are set. That is why I invited my hon. Colleagues to engage with me so that we can look at specific areas. The price in Katombola may be different from that in Mumbwa, Namwala or Kabwe. I think that information is available. Our offices are open to the public. So, people can come and get information which they can use in their respective constituencies or communities.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

BAHATI CONSTITUENCY ELECTRICITY CONNECTION

 

123. Mr Chalwe (Bahati) asked the Minister of Energy:

 

1. why the project to connect electricity from Chief Chisunka’s Palace to Mutwe Wankoko in Kampemba Ward in Bahati Parliamentary Constituency has stalled; 
2. when the project will resume; and
3. what the time frame for the completion of the project is.

The Minister of Energy (Mr Nkhuwa): Mr Speaker, the project to connect power from Chief Chisunka’s Palace to Mutwe Wankoko in Kampemba Ward stalled because of the lack of requisite materials to complete the project. Notwithstanding, it is worth noting that the procurement of the required materials has now been completed, and the materials are now available with Zesco Limited. The project involves electrification of Kapansa Primary School, Mutwe Wankoko Primary School and the rural health centre. Below is a brief scope of work for implementation of the said project:

 

1. construction of a 15 km of 33 kV overhead line from the existing 33 kV overhead line near Chief Chisunka’s palace to Mutwe Wankoko;

 

1. construction of a total of 1,950 m of 0.4 kV overhead line network at Kapansa and Mutwe Wankoko;
2. establishment of 2 x 50 kVA 33/0.4 kV pole mounted transformer at Kapansa and Mutwe Wankoko; and
3. provision of single phase and three phase service connection to end customers of the project referred to above.

 

Sir, the planting of all wooden poles for the 33 kV line has been completed. However, the stringing of the conductor of the said line and the installation of the 2 x 50 kVA 33/0.4 kV pole mounted transformers will be completed once the contractor resumes the works. However, the construction of the 0.4 kV overhead line network to service the end customer has been completed for both Kapansa and Mutwe Wankoko areas. Lastly, the single phase and three phase service line connection to the end customers will be effected once the 0.4 kV overhead line network is switched on.

 

Mr Speaker, it is now expected that the implementation of the said project will resume in March 2021. The contractor will mobilise by the end of February 2021.

 

Sir, the project is expected to be completed in its entirety by the end of the second quarter of 2021.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Lihefu: Mr Speaker, when there was a by-election in Bahati, we saw machinery being mobilised and the commencement of works on the project that the hon. Member of Parliament has talked about. The Zesco Limited staff mobilised, but later left and the project stalled. The House would like to find out from the hon. Minister when the implementation of the project to connect electricity from Chief Chisunka’s palace to Mutwe Wankoko started. Did it start this year or a long time ago?

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Mr Speaker, I am not very sure when the implementation of the project started, but I can say that work continues whether there is an election or not. We do not stop working just because there is an election. If we are scheduled to implement a project in a certain area and there is an election, should we stop until after the election? It does not work like that. As a Government, we work throughout as long as a project is being implemented for the benefit of the people of Zambia.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: The last two questions will be from the hon. Members for Chama South and Kanchibiya.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that the people of Mutwe Wankoko will have power by the end of March. Will connection to the grid be done only for the chief’s palace and public institutions or it will include the connection of many residents of Mutwe Wankoko in Bahati Constituency in Luapula Province?

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Mr Speaker, as you heard me say, there are overhead lines that have been connected. So, these are on-grid lines. Therefore, whoever is nearby or even a short distance away from where the lines are passing will be connected. Therefore, the residents of that area will be connected.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is bringing good news to the people. Just last week, the hon. Minister dealt with load shading. He mentioned that it has drastically reduced to the discomfort of the prophets of doom who went round condemning the PF Government.

 

Mr Speaker, the situation in Mutwe Wankoko in Bahati is synonymous with what is happening in many parts of the country, including Kanchibiya. Is Zesco Limited connecting many other communities to the grid? Most of the people in rural areas, who are watching us now, want to know that.

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for that compliment to the Government. We have an on-going programme under which Zesco Limited is putting up new installations in rural areas and even in town centres. We also have an on-going programme under the Rural Electrification Authority (REA). The Government is geared to uplift the living standards of the people of Zambia, especially those in the rural areas. The Zesco Limited and REA are vigorously working on this project to reach the required threshold for the people in these areas.

 

I thank you, Sir.

UTH NEAONATAL CARE UNIT EQUIPMENT

 

124.  Mr Mulusa (Solwezi Central) asked the Minister of Health:

 

1. whether the Government has any plans to procure new equipment for the neonatal intensive care unit at the University Teaching Hospital;
2. f so, when the plans will be implemented;
3. what equipment will be procured; and
4. if there are no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chanda): Mr Speaker, the Government has advanced plans to procure new equipment for neonatal intensive care units countrywide. This includes the University Teaching Hospital for Women and New-born.

 

Mr Speaker, the procurement process was commenced and reached advanced levels, but stalled due to the non-availability of funds. The process will be resumed as soon as funds are available.

 

Mr Speaker, equipment for neonatal intensive care units planned for procurement to improve service delivery for neonates include, but are not restricted to, the following;

 

1. infant incubators;
2. infant resuscitaires;
3. ventilators;
4. blood gas analysers;
5. patient monitors;
6. infusion  pumps;
7. defibrillators;
8. syringe pumps;
9. phototherapy units; and
10. continuous positive airway pressure (CPC) machines.

 

Mr Speaker, part (d) of the question is not applicable because, as stated earlier, the Government has plans to procure new equipment.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

_______

 

BILLS

 

FIRST READING

 

THE LEGAL AID BILL, 2021

 

The Minister of Justice (Mr Lubinda): Mr Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Legal Aid Bill, 2021. The objects of the Bill are as follows:

 

1. to provide for the granting of legal aid in civil and criminal cases to persons whose means are insufficient to enable them to pay for legal services;
2. to provide for the regulation of law clinics in the provision of legal aid;
3. to continue the existence of the Legal Aid Board and provide for its functions;
4. to re-constitute the Board of the Legal Aid Board and re-define its functions;
5. to provide for the registration of practitioners, legal assistants, paralegals and legal aid service providers;
6. to continue the existence of the Legal Aid Fund and provide for its administration and management;
7. to repeal and replace the Legal Aid Act, 1967; and
8. to provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Legal Affairs, Human Rights, National Guidance, Gender Matters and Governance. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Friday, 26^th February, 2021. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee. 

 

Thank you.

 

THE CYBER SECURITY AND CYBER CRIMES

 

The Minister of Transport and Communication (Mr Kafwaya): Mr Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Bill, 2021. The objects of the Bill are to:

 

1. ensure the provision of cyber security in the Republic;
2. provide for the protection of persons against cyber crime;
3. provide for child online protection;
4. facilitate identification, declaration and protection of critical information infrastructure;
5. provide for the collection of and preservation of evidence of computer and network related crime;
6. revise the admission in criminal matters of electronic evidence;
7. provide for registration of cyber security services providers; and
8. to provide for matters connected with, or incidental to, the foregoing

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Joint Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs and Media Information and Communication Technologies. The Joint Committee will be chaired by the Chairperson of the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Friday, 26^th February, 2021. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

 

Thank you.

 

THE HEALTH PROFESSIONS (Amendment) BILL, 2021

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chanda): Mr Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Health Professions (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The object of the Bill is to amend the Health Professions Act of 2009, so as to revise the composition of the Council.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House on Wednesday, 24^th February, 2021. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

 

Thank you.

 

THE CITIZEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT (Amendment) BILL, 2021

 

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Yaluma): Mr Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Citizen Economic Empowerment (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The object of the Bill is to amend the Citizen Economic Empowerment Act of 2006 so as to revise the composition of the commission.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House on Wednesday, 24^th February, 2021. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

 

Thank you.

 

THE CONTROL OF GOODS (Amendment) BILL, 2021

 

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Yaluma): Mr Speaker, I beg to present a Bill entitled the Control of Goods (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The object of this Bill is to amend the Control of Goods Act so as to revise the composition of the Advisory Committee.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: The Bill stands referred to the Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters. The Committee is required to submit its report on the Bill to the House by Wednesday, 24^th February, 2021. Hon. Members who wish to make submissions on the Bill are free to do so within the programme of work of the Committee.

 

Thank you.

_______

 

MOTION

 

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

 

Mr Samakayi (Mwinilunga): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs’ Affairs on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Performance Audit on the Provision of Fire Fighting and Rescue Services in Zambia for the Fifth Session of the Twelve National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 3^rd February, 2021. 

 

Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Mr Chikote (Luampa): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mr Samakayi: Mr Speaker, based on its terms of reference, as set out under Standing Order No. 157 (2), your Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs’ Affairs was tasked to scrutinise the Performance Audit Report on the Provision of Fire Fighting and Rescue Services in Zambia for the Period 2015 to 2019.

 

Sir, the audit report was produced by the Office of the Auditor-General, in accordance with the provisions of Article 250 of the Constitution of Zambia, as amended by Act No. 2 of 2016, the Public Audit Act No. 13 of 1994, and the Public Finance Management Act No. 1 of 2018.

 

Sir, the objective of the Performance Audit Report was to assess whether the Ministry of Local Government had put in place measures to enhance emergency preparedness in the provision of firefighting and rescue services in the country.

 

Sir, your Committee, in considering the Performance Audit Report, invited various stakeholders to present oral and written submissions. I am aware that hon. Members have already gone through your Committee’s report. In view of this, I will just highlight a few salient features therein.

 

Mr Speaker, from the outset, I wish to report that according to the audit report, the country had witnessed an unprecedented rise in fire accidents in the recent past. These fire accidents had devastating effects resulting in the loss of life, property, livelihoods and biodiversity. In addition, your Committee learnt that responding to such fire outbreaks had, in the past, been hampered by the lack of adequate firefighting equipment.

 

Sir, with regard to the legal framework for the Fire and Rescue Services in Zambia, most stakeholders were of the view that the greatest impediment to the effective and efficient delivery of fire and rescue services in the country was the lack of a principle Fire Act. Stakeholders, in this regard, submitted that the concerns identified in the Performance Audit Report under consideration required an effective legal framework which could help facilitate solutions to the enumerated challenges.

 

Mr Speaker, in view of this, your Committee urges the Government to conclude the on-going multi-sectoral consultations aimed at developing a legal framework to govern the provision of fire and rescue services by the third quarter of 2021, in line with the undertaking made by the Permanent Secretary (PS) for the Ministry of Local Government to your Committee.

 

Mr Speaker, stakeholders also observed that most fire stations in the country were constructed in the pre-Independence era when the populations in catchment areas were relatively small. In view of this, it was evident that the existing fire stations were not adequately equipped as most local authorities did not have the capacity to procure the appropriate firefighting equipment.

 

Sir, your Committee, in this respect, urges the Ministry of Local Government to engage the Treasury so that the budgetary allocation towards firefighting equipment is increased to sufficient levels to be able to effectively respond to fire emergencies in all districts.

 

Sir, similarly, to address the challenge of old and dilapidated firefighting infrastructure and fire equipment, your Committee recommends that the Government increases the Budget allocation towards servicing and maintenance of firefighting equipment in the 2022 Budget.

 

Mr Speaker, with regard to the availability of fire hydrants, which are necessary in fire fighting incidents, your Committee was informed that the fire hydrants were either not there or were few where they existed and normally did not give the required system pressure.

 

Sir, as observed in the audit report, there should be a fire hydrant every 244 m in low risk areas and 123 m in high risk areas. However, this was not what was obtaining on the ground. In view of this, your Committee urges the Government to ensure that all local authorities adhere to the directive issued by the Ministry of Local Government to make sure that earlier plans and other layout plans are developed with input from water utility companies in order to incorporate water hydrants into such plans.

 

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, allow me to thank the Auditor-General for conducting the Performance Audit on the Provision of Fire Fighting and Rescue Services in Zambia. I also wish to place on record your Committee’s gratitude to all witnesses who appeared before your Committee for providing relevant information.

 

Mr Speaker, finally, I wish to thank you and the Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff for the services rendered to your Committee throughout its deliberations.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

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

 

Mr Chikote: Now, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the opportunity to second the Motion to adopt the Report of the Committee on Local Government, Housing and Chiefs Affairs on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Performance Audit for the Provision of Fire Fighting and Rescue Services in Zambia, which has been ably moved by Hon. Newton Samakayi.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to also thank Hon. Newton Samakayi, who is the mover of the Motion, for the elaborate manner in which he has highlighted some of the pertinent issues deliberated on by your Committee during interaction with stakeholders. Your Committee learnt that the statistic given on the existing number of firefighters against those required in the country was very alarming. You may wish to know that a total of 1,149 firefighters had been employed out of the required number of 2,068. This has called for other stopgap measures to mitigate the challenges in the delivery of fire and rescue services.

 

Mr Speaker, in agreeing with the recommendation of the audit report and that of the stakeholders, the Government should revisit the staff establishment and staffing levels in the fire and rescue services units. Arising from this, stakeholders deduced that the Ministry of Local Government had not put in place adequate measures to enhance preparedness in the provision of fire fighting and rescue operations in this country. In this regard, the stakeholders proposed that the Fire Service and Rescue Unit be turned into a full-fledged directorate. In addition to that, stakeholders also proposed that the unit be well-staffed with both full-time and part-time firefighters and its own decision-making abilities, as opposed to being a unit without decision-making authority of its own.

 

Mr Speaker, I am aware that the chairperson has touched on the old and dilapidated infrastructure and the lack of working fire hydrants. However, let me also briefly touch on personal protection equipment. The provision of equipment and necessary tools for institutions like the Fire and Rescue Services requires necessary tools and equipment to fight fires speedily and proficiently. In agreeing with the recommendation of the audit report and that of the stakeholders, the Government should ensure that all fire stations are equipped with fire engines, ambulances and rescue equipments in a phased approach, as per required standard. The size and the levels of sophistication of the equipment should also match with the likely fire emergencies in the respective areas.

 

Mr Speaker, for firefighters to respond speedily to fire emergencies, there should be an effective emergency toll free line for reporting fire emergencies timely. You may be aware that the 993 toll free line, in its current state, cannot be relied upon as most convenient and fast needs of summoning fire brigades. When you dial 993, it goes direct –

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

The hon. Member’s time expired.

 

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, thank you for the time given to me to comment on the Report of the Committee on Local Governance, Housing and Chiefs’ Affairs. I welcome the report and support it. I also want to commend the Office of the Auditor-General for moving ahead to carry out performance audits. The office has moved on from just auditing financial transactions and establishing whether the Permanent Secretaries (PSs) followed the procedure or signed the forms. Those kinds of audits in the past did not answer the question on whether there was value for money or performance. However, the audits that we are seeing now are giving us answers to the issues of performance. So, I say well done to the office. The report, as we have been told by your Committee, is about fire fighting and rescue services in our councils countrywide. The Auditor-General’s report says that these services are not enough.

 

Mr Speaker, in commenting on this report, let me focus my attention on the recommendation that has been put on page 4 of the report, which says that the Ministry of Finance must be lobbied to increase funding to the Ministry of Local Government so that fire fighting services can be improved. It says improved funding to the Ministry of Local Government and does not say the Central Government should buy items for the local councils, which is very important tom note. In fact, from here, I will say that what should be improved is funding directly to the local councils rather than it being channelled to the ministry. It is important to realise that improved services in councils, including fire fighting, hinges a lot on decentralisation, that is, the Central Government giving power to the local councils to be able to determine their priorities and spend money that is given to them in line with the priorities of their communities.

 

Mr Speaker, had this been done, the famous forty-two fire tenders, which cost $1 million each would not have been bought. Imagine what would have happened if local councils had not been forced to take those fire tenders, but instead had been given cash and told to use the money for fighting fires. From that money, they would have bought fire tenders, which are more reasonably price, as we know that they range between $200,000 and $250,000. So, the councils would have had change, which they could have used to deal with other issues essential for fire fighting that we have been reading about in this report. The issue of making sure that water is readily available is aimed at ensuring that we do not have situations where fire tenders will be required to quench fires and only to discover that there is no water where they are going, as it becomes useless. The change from the fire tenders can be taken to address the issue of fire hydrants, which we have been talking about so that there are pipes of water that the firefighters can use to extinguish fires.

 

Mr Speaker, we are also told that councils do not have enough man power. If councils had been given $ 1million each, they would have sorted out that problem. Moreover, with regards to decentralisation, today, councils do not have much to say about who to employ. They just face people who are pushed onto them. Go to Kalabo or Sesheke. The people of Kalabo or Sesheke are looking for people to work as firefighters, but the local authorities send them security guards. How does that help? It does not help. So, my conclusion is that services such as these will only be real if we decentralise their operations.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you.

 

Thank you, Sir.

 

The Minister for the Southern Province (Dr Hamukale): Mr Speaker, in agreeing with your Committee’s findings, I just wish to thank the Ministry of Local Government, and His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu for supporting the Southern Province with seven fire engines that were distributed to strategic districts, including all planning authorities. The province is endowed with a lot of investments that are of a strategic nature to the whole country such as the Kazungula Bridge, Zesco Limited installations and investments in different parts of the Province. As you know, Zesco Limited is a Southern Province company because most of its investments, in terms of generation, are based the Southern Province. We are talking of big buildings in Livingstone like the market, the bus stop, the new office building in Choma and several other infrastructure. The new markets and bus stops built recently all warrant investment in fire fighting equipment. For this, we are very thankful.

 

Mr Speaker, we also realise that our officers in the Fire Fighting Department may require retraining in disaster management and mitigation. Having spent seven years in disaster management when I was in charge of the Eastern Province, in addition to natural and man-made disasters, fire is recognised as a major cause of the loss of property and life globally, and that includes Zambia. So, we need to support the councils and a Committee report of this nature, which brings out certain weaknesses that we, in the Executive, need to act on.

 

Mr Speaker, I am also happy to note that there are many females in the fire departments in the councils. This is bringing about the much-needed gender balance. There is also a need to, once in a while, conduct mock fires because most communities do not even know what a fire alarm sounds like. Even if you sounded a fire alarm in a building, very few would recognise its meaning. They might think someone is probably selling ice cream or something like that. So, we need a number of mock fires so that people can relate to the sounds and be able to evacuate where need arises.

 

Mr Speaker, the Southern Province has a lot of strategic infrastructure, electricity lines and important buildings that control the economy. I am also happy with the participation of the private sector. Zambia Sugar Plc has a number of fire fighting equipment just as Maamba Collieries Limited, Munali Nickel Mine and Zesco Limited itself. These seven fire engines that were given to the province will supplement the efforts of filling the gap in meeting the fire fighting capacity in the province.

 

Mr Speaker, in future, I wish to see more hydrants dotted in different locations probably in all schools and hospitals, and to see to it that all the remaining districts are supported with fire engines. The fire engines are actually of very good quality. Therefore, I disagree with Hon. Dr Musokotwane because I was privileged to be present when the Fairmount Hotel caught fire in Livingstone. The Livingstone City Council Fire Engine swung into action and in no time, the fire was extinguished right in front of the camera. I think this is evidence that the money that the Government spent on fire engines was well spent. We have also a number of border towns that require fire control support because a lot of goods that are being transported into or through this country to neighbouring countries could be flammable. So, when you have equipment of that nature in place, you are better positioned to tackle an outbreak of fire in every location or be able to mobilise. I agree with your Committee that we need a toll free line that should be publicly known so that members of the public, whether domestic, industrial or other locations that are vulnerable to fire can respond on time.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker and I support the report.

 

Thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, allow me to add my voice to the debate by supporting the report. I also want to supplement the debate by the hon. Minister for the Southern Province by adding that since Independence, it has only been the Patriotic Front (PF) Government that has thought about the people in the rural areas. Today, when you go to any province in this country, including places where nobody would have ever believed that there would be fire fighting equipment or emergencies of that sort, you will see that the PF Government has made it possible for such places to have to fire engines.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me also to add that we heard people complain about the Government having bought fire tenders and advised that it should have done something else with that money. The debate this afternoon shows you and the nation at large that people were just politicking when they accused the Government of having misapplied the resources by buying fire tenders because, today, we are being told that we need to retrain firefighters and need a toll free line or something like that.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to state that the people of Zambia have seen a lot of investment in fire fighting equipment. The people of Zambia have also seen a lot in the equipment of local authorities. Of course, some fire fighting equipment was involved in accidents and got damaged, but that is where insurance companies come in. This kind of investment will be appreciated in many years to come.

 

Sir, in conclusion, allow me to state that we need to enhance our training capabilities. I know that the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) at the airport has its own fire fighting equipment. Most private properties have their own fire fighting equipment and now technology has advanced. We are no longer using fire extinguishers, hose pipes and all sorts of things. Even fire detection is most important. Now, with modern equipment and infrastructure, people are using smoke detectors and fire alarm sensors. So, we must train our firefighters because a fire might breakout or a smoke detector can detect a fire in zone number one or in a kitchen or ceiling board, yet if our people are not trained, they might end up going to extinguish a fire in a place where there is no fire. So, let us expose them to technology and train them. Let us give them drills that will not just keep them in a place waiting for a fire to breakout because the causes of fire breakouts can be different. There could be physical fire, fire caused by electric faults or sabotage by some political parties that like burning up markets or anything like that. So, let us arm our people with technology and subject them to all sorts of training. We need to expose them to the latest fire fighting equipment because a person who is only used to fighting a fire using water might have problems when given equipment like powders or gases, fire fighting blankets and everything like that.

 

Mr Speaker, most importantly, we also want to urge the local authorities to pay salaries to our firefighters on time because in most councils, the Fire Fighting Department is like the least department of the local authority. They do not even count firefighters as important people. So, we want to urge every local authority in the country to, please, find a way of motivating our firefighters and also conduct enough training and workshops to expose them to this kind of development and infrastructure that they can actually learn from. That way, when there is a fire breakout, we will not have them saying that they did not carry along a ladder because they did not anticipate a fire to go as high as it would have. They must be prepared.

 

Mr Speaker, we can also buy helicopters for the firefighters. We have seen other countries that have fire fighting choppers. Those can go to the top of any building no matter how high and put out a fire from there.

 

Mr Speaker, all in all, allow me to thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate. I also thank the mover and the seconder of this Motion for the job well done.

 

Sir, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: A reminder for us who are positioned here in the Chamber that we need to debate with our masks on. 

 

Evg. Shabula (Itezhi-Tezhi): Mr Speaker, my debate is very short. I just want to say that the topic at hand is very important because of the seriousness of the problem that we have in the nation. I want to make suggestions on how we can improve the fighting of fires in the nation.

 

Sir, firstly, the community must participate in fire fighting. In other words, the Government, through the Ministry of Local Government, should encourage communities to participate in fire fighting. It is important that it trains and involves them because fires happen in our communities where, in most cases, there are no firefighters or hydrants. So, communities must be able to fight fire on their own before they can seek the help of the Government or the Fire Fighting Department.

 

Mr Speaker, secondly, there should be water points in communities from which firefighters would get more water upon running out. In the past, we saw firefighters running out of water and by the time they got to the airport or some other point to get water, a lot of destruction had taken place.

 

Mr Speaker, further, the other issue is that we need companies in this country to purchase fire fighting equipment. They must be encouraged to do this, as institutions, and have fire departments which would be able to help or supplement the work of the Government so that before the Government firefighters come to help, they would have been able to take precaution than wait for the big equipment to come.

 

Mr Speaker, the other issue is that personal protective equipment (PPE) for firefighters must be available. Sometimes, they are poorly dressed to put out serious fires. So, in order for them to be able to fight and attack big fires, they need to be well-dressed and protected.

 

Sir, the other issue we must understand is that we have high rise buildings in certain areas, that is, upstairs buildings. We must teach people in those high rise buildings how to get down from them so that they can be safe. That must be done.

 

Mr Speaker, in addition, people must be taught to have fire cylinders in their homes in order to fight fires at household level before any help can come.

 

Sir, the Government should also increase the number of firefighters from 1,100 to 2,000 plus so that this work is properly carried out.

 

Mr Speaker, finally, as I said last time, people are now educated in this country. We must learn to insure our properties. Properties must be insured against fire. If we do not do that, we will lose our properties. We must understand that even when God shall come, he is going to use fire to destroy this world and cleanse it. Fire is serious. Let us pay attention to it.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you for the report and God bless you.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Member who moved the Motion and the seconder.

 

Sir, the things I wanted to say have been indicated by the hon. Member for Itezhi-Tezhi. However, allow me to add one or two things to the debate on this Motion.

 

Mr Speaker, I think we have not trained firefighters adequately in this country and this has led to some properties being lost when fire has broken out. I request the hon. Minister of Local Government to ensure that all our firefighters are trained in modern techniques of fighting fire.

 

Mr Speaker, the fire fighting department is understaffed. Sometimes, we have a situation whereby councils pick people who are untrained and second them to this department. So, there is a need to ensure that all of them are trained because we have lost a lot of property in this country.

 

Mr Speaker, you will agree with me that there is also the lack of a governing body for firefighters. We need to quickly formulate a body that will govern fire fighting in this country.

 

Mr Speaker, another thing is that I am not too sure whether we have trained drivers to operate fire tenders. You will agree with me that in the recent past, we have had a number of accidents involving fire tenders. If you investigate, you will discover that the fire fighting department is not training the drivers who are using this very expensive equipment. I think this department is just picking any person who is a driver to drive a fire tender. I think that this is a department that requires drivers to have extensive training because driving a fire tender is not mere driving involved.

 

Mr Speaker, you will agree with me that from where the fire station in Lusaka is located to Munali, it is a good 15 km or 20 km. We need to start decentralising fire stations, as other hon. Members indicated. Why do we not have a fire station in Munali, Livingstone in Maramba and another in Lilayi rather than depend on the fire station located in the centre of Lusaka? When we have a fire elsewhere in the city, it takes time for firefighters to move from the centre to where the fire is happening.

 

Mr Speaker, I also want to remind the hon. Minister that a few years ago, the first lady flew to the United States of America (USA) with a very huge delegation to receive fire tenders. I want to see those fire tenders spread across the country so that they can reduce the distances that the current fire tenders are covering.

 

Mr Speaker, talking about rural areas, I want to agree with the hon. Member for Itezhi-Tezhi that there is a need for the Ministry of Local Government to see how it can also assist rural areas where, most times, people just burn bushes. Sometimes, our animals suffer because all the bushes are destroyed, but we do not see anything happen. There is a need to ensure that people in rural areas also assist where we have communities that are oriented on how to ensure that they do not just burn their bushes anyhow. 

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me this chance to give a word on the debate on the Motion which is on the Floor of this House. Let me also thank the Office of the Auditor-General for coming up with that observation which is very important to the development of this country.

 

Mr Speaker, we live with fire in our villages and homes. Fire is a very important component of the livelihood of all human beings on earth. However, the same fire, which is important to our lives, also becomes dangerous and catastrophic. The same fire can destroy our homes, forests and plains. Therefore, this means that we should pay attention to how we handle fire, which is of great importance to our lives.

 

Mr Speaker, in my view, we must grow with the understanding of preventive measures beginning with our schools. As our children attend school, there is a need to impart knowledge on how to control and use fire. I think that would help us to curb fire as it arises in our homesteads.

 

Mr Speaker, the report talks about the lack of infrastructure. For sure, there is deterioration or a complete lack of it. For instance, a long time ago in Kalabo, in the United National Independence Party (UNIP) era, there used to be a fire station at the airport, which is just near the compounds where people reside. However, today, there is nothing in the whole area. I am sure it is not only in Kalabo where fire stations lack, but in many rural areas. Kalabo used to have a fire tender, but it is no longer there. So, there is a need for the Government to empower local authorities so that in the long run, they will be good attendants to outbreaks of fire in our local areas.

 

Mr Speaker, we have officers deployed in these districts who do not do anything that is visible in the community. These are officers who are trained to control fire, but they are not noticed. They do not interact with the community to teach them on fire.

 

Mr Speaker, I also suggest that if we do not have a day to commemorate the importance of fire and at the same time remind ourselves of the difficulties that fire brings about to us, we should come up with one. As has been stated by other debaters, fire is a very critical component of our lives which we need to embrace so that the loss that it causes is curbed.

 

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, I would like to urge local authorities that as they impose levies on people towards fire fighting, they should let the money be invested in the development of fire fighting infrastructure. Councils collect Fire Levy from merchants. Therefore, let this money be directed to the construction of fire stations and the empowerment of officers so that, in the case of fire, officers are able to handle it.

 

Mr Speaker, with these few words, I thank you.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

The Minister of Local Government (Dr Banda): Mr Speaker, may I take this opportunity to thank you for the chance to add a word to the debate on the report, which has just been presented. I would also like to thank the mover and the seconder of the report for a job very well done. Let me also thank all hon. Members of the House for ably debating the report.

 

Mr Speaker, from the outset, I wish to state that the ministry takes note of the observations made by the Office of the Auditor-General, as highlighted by the report. The ministry acknowledges the inadequate number of fire stations across the country and is working on ensuring that a fire station is established in each district. Since the time the audit was undertaken, more fire stations have been established with the number increasing from forty, as reported, to sixty-two.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to assure the House that my ministry will endeavour to mobilise resources to facilitate infrastructure development in these fire authorities. The ministry has also prioritised the acquisition of equipment in the existing fire stations to enhance service provision. I take note that most of the hon. Members who have debated have actually expressed a lot of concern on these matters and it is also our concern.

 

Mr Speaker, let me also mention here that the major challenge to the establishment of fire stations has been the non-availability of funding to facilitate the procurement of equipment and infrastructure development. Although allocations have been made in the ministry’s budget, the funds are not adequate to meet the demand of infrastructure development and equipment.

 

Mr Speaker, my ministry is cognisant of the need to increase the number of firefighters to ideal levels in order to enhance service delivery. This has come out quite a number of times in some of the debates that have been put across on the Floor of the House. However, I wish to say that the local authorities are faced with limited capacity to employ more firefighters and can only work within their available finances. The long-term strategy that the ministry envisaged is to facilitate and to increase their own resource revenues, especially through the issuance of fire certificates. By enhancing the capacity of local authorities to enforce compliance to fire regulations, more revenue will be realised and, subsequently, improve the financial capacity to pay staff. This means that we could be able to employ more people at that time.

 

Mr Speaker, my ministry has directed all local authorities to ensure that local area plans and other layout plans are developed with input from water utility companies to ensure that water hydrants are incorporated in the development of water networks. I am saying this because of the concerns that have been raised in the report and also in the debates by other hon. Members of the House.

 

Sir, further, all planning authorities are required by law to ensure that the provision of water hydrants is made to prospective developments and that implementation is ensured through building inspections.

 

Mr Speaker, in the 2021 Action Plan, the Ministry of Local Government has prioritised increased collaboration with water utility companies in the layout and maintenance of distribution lines in all local authorities. The plan will also focus on the maintenance and servicing of fire hydrants in public designated emergency areas. This will ensure that fire hydrants are established every 244 m on the water networks in line with the regulations.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to take a few minutes to answer to some of the queries that have been raised by hon. Colleagues in the House. The hon. Member for Dundumwezi raised a very important issue on training divers. In fact, it is one of our priorities to train our firefighters in different areas of operation and not just driving. There are many other key operational areas. For instance, in the past, we never had divers in the local authorities. This made it very difficult to rescue people when they drowned in places such as Livingstone. We have also heard stories of people drowning in some places in the Western Province. We have been relying on the Zambia Army, through the Commando Unit, to help us undertake such operations. When this happens, we have to fly the commandoes all the way from Mbala or Mushili in Ndola to wherever a calamity has occurred.

 

Mr Speaker, I am happy to inform you, that as of last year, we were able to train about thirty-three of our staff, who were drawn from around the country, as divers at one of the military establishments. I personally went there to witness the graduation. There was a demonstration, and I was very satisfied that the course which they had pursued was very good. What remains is for us to ensure that there is equipment. They could be trained, but without equipment, their training will just go to waste.

 

Mr Speaker, all I am saying here is that we are doing everything possible to ensure that we train people so that they are able to operate efficiently and effectively in areas where they will be designated to operate.

 

Sir, I agree with the hon. Member for Dundumwezi that the drivers of fire tenders are not ordinary drivers. They are drivers of vehicles which are supposed to be properly managed because of the way they move and the duty that they respond to.

 

Mr Speaker, with these few words, allow me to say that we, as a ministry, have taken note of the concerns raised by the Auditor-General’s Office, through the community and your office. I thank you and all those who have participated in the debate.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Samakayi: Mr Speaker, I wish to conclude by thanking various hon. Members of Parliament, who have debated, such as Hon. Musokotwane, Member of Parliament for Liuwa, the Hon. Minister for the Southern Province, Hon. Ngulube, the hon. Member for Itezhi-tezhi, the hon. Member for Dundumwezi and the hon. Member for Kalabo Central. May I also thank the hon. Minister for the comments and responses that he has offered to the House and the general public.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

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The House adjourned at 1636 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 10^th February, 2021.

 

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