Thursday, 5th March, 2020

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Thursday, 5th March, 2020

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

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ANNOUNCEMENTS BY MR SPEAKER

 

MINISTRY OF HEALTH ORIENTATION MEETING

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform the House that the Ministry of Health with the support from its co-operating partners has been authorised to hold a half-day orientation meeting for all hon. Members of Parliament. The purpose of the meeting is to raise awareness among hon. Members of Parliament on the Zambia Population-based HIV Impact Assessment (ZAMPHIA) Survey. The meeting will take place on Tuesday, 10th March, 2020, at Mulungushi International Conference Centre between 0800 hours and 1230 hours. All hon. Members are, therefore, requested to find time to attend this important meeting.

 

I thank you.

 

WOMEN’S DAY CELEBRATION

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to inform the House that Zambia will join the rest of the world in celebrating this year’s Women’s Day under the global theme ‘I am Generation Equality: Realising Women’s Rights’. The theme is aligned with the United Nations (UN) women’s new multigenerational campaign, generation equality, which marks the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. In celebrating this event, a number of activities have been organised and these include:

 

  1. aerobics for all hon. Members to be conducted at the National Sports Development Centre (NASDC), on Friday, 6th and Saturday, 7th March, 2020, from 0630 hours to 0900 hours on each day; and
  2. a march past from ZESCO Limited Flyover Bridge to the Lusaka Showgrounds, on Monday, 9th March, 2020, starting at 0700 hours. Selected hon. Members of Parliament and staff will participate in the march past. His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, will grace the event in the Lusaka Showgrounds. I, therefore, urge all hon. Members to actively participate in these events.

 

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MOTION

 

SUSPENSION OF STANDING ORDERS 20, 21, 22, 26 AND 32

 

 The Vice-President (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that Standing Orders 20, 21, 22, 26 and 32 be suspended to enable the House to sit form 0900 hours until business has been concluded on Friday, 6th March, 2020 and also to omit the Vice-President’s Question Time from the Order Paper.

 

Mr Speaker, as the House is aware, Article 86 (1) as read together with Article 9 (2) of the Constitution of Zambia, as well as Standing Order No. 11, requires the President of the Republic of Zambia to attend Parliament and report to the House on the progress made in the application of national values and principles contained in the Republican Constitution. In this regard, His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, will attend and address the House and the nation at large, tomorrow, Friday, 6th March, 2020.

 

Mr Speaker, Standing Order 20 provides that the House shall sit from 0900 hours to 1300 hours on Fridays and that business shall be suspended for twenty minutes at 1040 hours. Standing Orders 21 and 22 (1) provide for the procedures for automatic adjournment, while Standing Order 26 provides for the daily routine of Business of the House, whereas Standing Order 32 provides for the Vice-President’s Question Time.

 

Sir, it is in this regard that I move this Motion to suspend the aforementioned Standing Orders in order to facilitate the State of the Nation Address by His Excellency the President.

 

Mr Speaker, this is a straightforward and non-controversial Motion and I, therefore, urge all hon. Members to support it.

 

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, let me start by thanking you for the opportunity to give a few remarks on the Motion that has been put on the Floor of the House by Her Honour the Vice-President, informing us that tomorrow Friday, 6th March, 2020, His Excellency the President will be coming to address the House on the application of national values and principles and that a number of Standing Orders’ clauses be suspended to facilitate for this occasion.

 

Mr Speaker, values and principles are very broad, and all I can say is that they govern the moral fibre of the country and, indeed, most of the things that guide society. As the United Party for National Development (UPND), we welcome tomorrow’s address because, indeed, there have been a lot of things that have happened or occurred in our country. Just to give an example, there are issues of the recent violence that has engulfed our country, and I think the majority of Zambians have been waiting to hear the voice of the President on these important matters. I think tomorrow’s address will be an opportunity for the President to address himself to some of these very pertinent issues that are on the minds of each and every citizen our country.

 

So we welcome that address and, of course, subsequent to this, it will give us an opportunity to tell the President and the Government how we feel about these issues, especially as the Opposition, because we stand in the unique position where we are able to tell the President things that sometimes some of these hon. Colleagues are unable to tell him. We shall tell him ourselves as we debate.

 

So with that, Mr Speaker, all I can say is that we welcome this opportunity to hear from the President and also for the President to hear from us.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I thank the Opposition Deputy Whip –

 

Hon. Opposition Members: No, No!

 

The Vice-President: Sir, I thank the Opposition Whip for his remakes, in that he is supporting the Motion and, indeed, values and principles guide the moral fibre of the nation, as he put it. That is why it is very important for His Excellency the President to come to the House to address the House and the nation at large on this very important issue of morals, national values and principles of our nation. So, we look forward to His Excellency the President addressing the House tomorrow.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

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MINISTRIAL STATEMENT

 

UPDATE ON AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM

 

The Minister of Justice (Mr Lubinda): Mr Speaker, I wish to thank you most sincerely for according me this opportunity to issue a ministerial statement on the key outcomes of the 29th Summit of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) Forum of Heads of State and Government which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia from 6th to 8th February, 2020.

 

Sir, on 8th July, 2002, participating Heads of State and Government of the members states of the AU met in Durban, South Africa at the inaugural assembly of the AU and adopted the Declaration on Democracy, Political, Economic and Corporate Governance, which brought the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). Article 28 of the declaration establishes the APRM, which is a mutually agreed instrument, voluntarily acceded to by the member states of the AU as a self-monitoring mechanism on governance. The APRM was founded in 2003.

 

Mr Speaker, the mandate of the APRM is to promote adherence to and fulfillment of the commitments contained in the NEPAD declaration. The mechanism spells out institutions and processes that will guide future peer reviews, based on mutually agreed codes and standards of democracy, political, economic and corporate governance and the objectives in socio-economic development as well as to ensure monitoring and evaluation of the AU Agenda 2063 and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

 

Sir, currently, there are forty AU member states that are participating on the APRM and Zambia is one of them. In 2018, the APRM was integrated into the AU. This calls for universal accession of all AU member states by 2023. Zambia acceded to the APRM on 22nd January, 2006 and was peer reviewed during the 18th Summit which was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 26th January, 2013. The salient issues which were raised during Zambia’s peer review covered the Constitution, gender equality, poor state of roads and market infrastructure.

 

Mr Speaker, peer reviews do not only centre on challenges, they also highlight some best practices of the countries under review. With regard to Zambia, the forum identified some of the best practices that included:

 

  1. support to liberation struggles;
  2. maturing of democratic practices; and
  3. Social Cash Transfer Scheme.

 

Sir, in order to pave the way for the implementation of the issues raised during Zambia’s peer review, the then President, His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, launched the country review report on 6th March, 2014.

 

Mr Speaker, Zambia’s country review report was later tabled and discussed by the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) during the ordinary session of PAP that was held in Sharm El-Sheikh in Egypt on 17th October, 2016. Tabling of the country review reports is the fifth and final stage of the APRM process before a country’s next peer review. As part of the process, Zambia prepared and presented the first progress report on the Implementation of the National Programme of Action at the 26th Africa Peer Review Forum of the participating Heads of State and Government, which was held on 28th January, 2017 in Addis Ababa.

 

Mr Speaker, all member states that have undergone the first peer review are expected to move to the second round of peer review. Currently, a total of twenty-two countries out of the forty member states have undergone the first peer review. Of the twenty-two, only three member states have undergone the second peer review and these are as follows:

 

Member State              Accession to APRM                 First Peer Review        Second Peer

                                             Year                                         Year                             Review (Year)

 

Kenya                          2003                                        2006                            2017

 

Uganda                       2003                                        2009                            2018

 

Mozambique               2004                                        2009                            2019

                                   

Sir, Zambia was among the six countries that were earmarked for the second periodic peer review in 2019. However, within the year 2019, the APRM initiated another type of review called the Targeted Review. The purpose of the Targeted Review is to provide an independent, credible and legitimate analysis of a specific development subject. Prior to the introduction of the Targeted Review innovation, the APRM had four types of reviews. These were:

 

  1. Base Review, which is the main review of all four thematic areas of the APRM process;
  2. Periodic Review, which is conducted every four to five years;
  3. Voluntary Review, which is requested by a member state for its own needs; and
  4. Special Review, which is initiated by the APRM when early warning signs suggest an impending crisis.

 

Mr Speaker, whereas these four reviews are conducted only on APRM member states, the Targeted Review is open to all African Union (AU) member states. After the introduction of this new innovation, the APRM continental secretariat chose Zambia to host the Targeted Review Technical Continental Workshop. The workshop was held in Livingstone from 27th to 28th June, 2019. The purpose of the workshop was to prepare AU countries on how to conduct Targeted Reviews and to agree on a calendar of missions for the year 2019.

 

Mr Speaker, you may wish to note that the Targeted Review was piloted first in the Republic of Djibouti in January 2019 on the subject of fiscal decentralisation. Zambia became the second country to undergo a Targeted Review from 10th to 25th November, 2019, when it fielded a Targeted Review mission on two themes, namely, “The Contribution of Tourism to the Economy of Zambia” and “The Contribution of Mineral Resources to the Economy of Zambia.”

 

Mr Speaker, with regard to the key outcomes of the 29th Summit of the African Peer Review Forum –

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order! Give me a minute, hon. Minister. Hon. Members on the right, support your hon. Minister. You may continue, hon. Minister.

 

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, with regard to the key outcomes of the 29th Summit of the African Peer Review Forum, I will dwell on the following:

  1. accession of new member states to the APRM;
  2. conduct of peer reviews on Base and Targeted Reviews;
  3. election of a steering committee of the APRM focal points; and
  4. election of new panel members of eminent persons.

 

Mr Speaker, during the 29th summit of the APRM, the Republic of Zimbabwe and the Republic of the Seychelles acceded to the APRM, bringing the total membership to forty countries, as I indicated earlier. Following the accession of these two nations, the following fourteen AU member states are yet to join the APRM: Burundi, Cape Verde, the Central African Republic (CAR), Comoros, the Democratic Republic of  Congo (DRC), Eritrea, Eswatini, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Libya, Madagascar, Morocco, Somalia and South Sudan.

 

Mr Speaker, the Arab Republic of Egypt was peer reviewed, whereas the republics of Djibouti and Namibia had their Targeted Review reports presented and commented upon by the summit of presidents. Zambia’s presentation of Targeted Review reports on the contribution of tourism and the contribution of the mineral resources to the economy of Zambia will be done during the 30th Africa Peer Review Forum of Heads of State and Government.

 

Sir, the Africa Peer Review Forum is the supreme decision-making organ of the APRM and comprises all Heads of State and governments of the participating member states. Below it is a ministerial committee of focal point persons whose executive body is a steering committee. The steering committee comprises eight members, three of whom are focal points from the troika and five elected focal points representing each of the five regions of the AU.

 

Sir, the APRM troika comprises the current Chairperson of the Africa Peer Review Forum, the immediate past chairperson and the incoming chairperson. The current troika comprises His Excellency the President, Idriss Deby Itno, immediate past President or chairperson of the Africa Peer Review Forum, and His Excellency, President Cyril Ramaphosa, the current chairperson. The African Peer Review Forum had not yet identified the candidate for the incoming chair. During the summit, the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Republic of Senegal offered their candidature. However, the meeting resolved that the APRM continental secretariat shall write to the eligible member states for expression of interest for consideration by the forum.

 

Sir, during the summit, the following member states were elected to the steering committee of the APRM focal points:

 

  1. Nigeria, representing the West African region;
  2. Congo, representing the Central African region;
  3. Algeria, representing the North African region;
  4. Ethiopia, representing the East African region; and
  5. Zambia, representing the Southern African region.

 

Mr Speaker, the Africa Peer Review Panel of Eminent Persons is responsible for leading the country review processes by ensuring that integrity, independence, professionalism and credibility is applied during the reviews. The members of this panel are drawn from African nationals of high moral stature, integrate, objectivity, impartiality and independence. Further, those elected are distinguished in careers that are considered relevant to the work of the APRM and who have demonstrated commitment to the ideals of Pan-Africanism. Members of the panel have a term of office of four years. By the end of 2019, the term of office for members of the panel from four regions had come to an end. I am extremely pleased to inform you, the august House and the nation at large that Zambia’s candidate, in the name of Dr Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika was unanimously elected to represent Southern Africa. The others elected with her are:

 

  1. Dr Abdoulie Janneh, a Gambian from the West African region;
  2. Dr Ouismane M. Dialo, a Malian for the Northern African region; and
  3. Dr Hope Kivengere, a Ugandan for the East African region.

 

Mr Speaker, on a somewhat related matter, allow me to state that during the assembly of the AU, elections were held for commissioners of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. The commission is mandated with three major functions, namely:

 

  1. protection of human and people’s rights
  2. promotion of human and people’s rights
  3. interpretation of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

 

Mr Speaker, commissioners are nominated by member states and elected by secret ballot by the Assembly of Heads of States and Government of the AU. The elected members of the commission are appointed for a period of six years and are eligible for re-election. The commissioners must be nationals of state parties to the African Charter. In total, there are eleven members at a time.

 

Sir, it is with great pleasure that I report to you and to the House and the nation at large that the Chairman of the Zambian Permanent Human Rights Commission (HRC), Mr Mudford Mwandenga, was elected as a commissioner of the African Commission on Human and People’s Rights. The others who were elected with him were:

 

  1. Ms Marie Louise Abomo, a Cameroonian for Central Africa;
  2. Mr Ndiame Gaye, a Senegalese for West Africa; and
  3. Ms Alexia Amesbury of the Seychelles for East Africa.

 

Sir, the latest appointments to the structures of the AU are key in enhancing Zambia’s profile in the area of governance and promoting the nation’s enabling environment for capital investment.

 

Mr Speaker, I wish to take advantage of this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for showing your utmost interest in the work of the APRM. It is on record that in October 2019, you instructed various institutions for detailed memoranda on “The APRM, a Case of Zambia” for consideration by the Committee on Legal Affairs, Human Rights, National Guidance, Gender Matters and Governance as part of its programme of work for the Fourth Session of The Twelfth National Assembly of Zambia. The Committee later discussed in detail, the memoranda with the institutions. The Ministry of Justice was represented by the National Governing Council (NGC) of the APRM during these discussions. In view of the recommendation of the Committee for more visibility of the APRM, I wish to assure you and the House that the Ministry of Justice will step up its awareness programmes on the mechanism. In this regard, I wish to encourage the Committee to continue engaging the NGC through the ministry on the APRM matters from time to time.

 

 Sir, as I conclude, allow me to take this opportunity to indicate that the Government will be updating the House regularly on Zambia’s participation in the APRM process and the accrued benefits to the nation. I appeal to hon. Members of Parliament to take interest in this very important African mechanism.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

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

 

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, we have been informed that the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a very important tool for self assessment, particularly in ensuring that countries adhere to good tenets of democracy such as good governance, human rights and more recently, sustainable development for the countries. I do not know how possible it is to assess oneself.

 

Sir, initially, the APRM was a creation of neighbours and now it belongs to the AU, which is a collection of over fifty-five member states which all have parliaments. The parliaments’ main role is obviously oversight. The AU also has the Pan-African Parliament (PAP) and regional parliaments such as the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF).

 

Sir, the APRM is a self assessment tool to advance good governance and oversight. Does this mean that African parliaments are a failure or moribund? Is it a substitution or a way of a brother checking on another brother and keeping quiet? I am saying this because as an hon. Member of Parliament, I rarely see the reports, including the country review reports. Some of us have heard about them for the first. What are the views of the hon. Minister over this?

 

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, I would like to assure the hon. Member that the APRM is in no way a replacement of other oversight systems on the continent. To the contrary, it is supposed to complement the functions of other existing entities. This is a reason, I saluted you most sincerely for showing your interest in the APRM by instructing the Committee to inquire into the operations of the APRM because all these mechanisms are supposed to feed into each other.

 

Sir, when the Heads of State peer review each other, they peer review each other on all tenets of democracy and good governance, which includes how they regularly report to their parliaments and how their Executives are held accountable by their Parliaments. The meeting we will be having tomorrow is the meeting that will feature in the report for Zambia when the President goes to be peer reviewed. He will explain that twice in a year, he comes to Parliament to be held accountable. Now I am speaking as a person who has been in this Parliament for a number of years, a person who was also privileged to hold the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and now holding the Ministry of Justice which is totally unquestionable because the record is there for even blind people or chilingalinga to see.

 

Sir, from my experience, I have to admit that the systems may still be in their formative stages. We ought to start asking ourselves as Africans: How much influence the Zambian Parliament has on matters that are discussed at PAP and vice-versa. We should also be asking ourselves: How we can enhance the visibility of PAP in the activities of the APRM?

 

Sir, I did report that Zambia’s first peer review report was presented to PAP at a summit that was held in Egypt, Sharm El-Sheikh, and that one of your hon. Members, in the name of Prof. Lungwangwa, without aiming to embarrass him, was a very active participant in that pan-African meeting. He stood to support his country’s peer review report. However, this was a one-off moment and as an hon. Member of Parliament myself, I would like to advocate for better and further integration of watchdog institutions in our nation and across the continent. That is only how we shall hold ourselves accountable to what we say we shall do for our population in our nations and on the continent. So, I want to enjoin hon. Members of Parliament – and probably this might be a right time for us to encourage the establishment of a voluntary Committee of Parliament to oversee the operations of the APRM. A caucus of parliamentarians will do us very well because they will follow what the APRM is doing not only in Zambia, but across the continent.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Jere (Livingstone): Mr Speaker, I totally agree that this is a very good mechanism to ensure transparency and accountability among member states. However, I am aware that Zambia is reluctant to pay subscription fees and that we are in arrears. Was that the reason we chose to do a Targeted Peer Review?

 

Mr Lubinda: Sir, that was not the reason we did the Targeted Review. It was at the request of the APRM continental secretariat. It was because we were hosting a workshop where we were showing each other on how to conduct a targeted peer review that Zambia should forego the Second Peer Review in place of the Targeted Review. Like I indicated, Djibouti was the first country and they did a review in one area; fiscal decentralisation. Zambia had two targeted reviews on the tourism sector and its contribution to the economy and the mineral resources sector and its contribution to the economy. Zambia is a full and active member of the APRM, notwithstanding the fact that we are amongst countries that still have arrears on our subscriptions. Had it been that we are blacklisted, I do not think Zambia would have been elected to sit on the steering committee and for a Zambian to be elected to sit on the eminent persons group. So, it is not that at all. I want to assure the hon. Member of Parliament for Livingstone that the Government is doing whatever is within its means to ensure that it is up to date with its subscriptions.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, I would like to congratulate Ambassador Inonge Mbikusita Lewanika on her appointment.

 

Sir, the hon. Minister mentioned Congo. Just for avoidance of doubt, was he referring to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or Congo Brazzaville?

 

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, it is Congo Brazzaville.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mbulakulima (Milenge): Mr Speaker, I must indicate that I have also attended the peer review meetings. It is quite a fantastic arrangement, especially that it fits in very well in terms of good governance. I believe that it can also fit in very well with the Agenda 2063. Now, my question is on the fourteen countries that are not yet members of African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). I know that membership to the APRM is voluntary and no country can be forced to join. Since it promotes good governance and Africa has to really come to terms with reality, are there any means that the African Union (AU) can use to persuade or appeal to the remaining countries to join, so as to promote good governance in the whole continent?

 

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, I may confirm that the hon. Member of Parliament Milenge did, indeed, take part in some of the APRM interventions and not only attend, but actively participated, and Zambia is proud of his engagement.

 

Sir, I did indicate that starting from 2018, the AU integrated the APRM. The target now is that by 2023, all AU member states shall be members of the APRM. That is something that has been adopted by all Heads of States of member states. So, by 2023, all African countries will have become members.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for his statement. It was, indeed, a delight to see our hon. Minister of Justice presenting the Zambian peer review report in Sharm El-Sheikh. I think that was 2016. My question to the hon. Minister is on the link between the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and now the targeted reviews, to Agenda 2063. As we are all aware, the challenge of Agenda 2063, of course, is to see Africa moving towards development, good governance and uplifting the quality of life of its people. Now, with these reviews, are there efforts being made to link the reviews to the attainment of the goals of the Agenda 2063, so that the Agenda 2063 does not hang, but is brought down to what the individual African countries are doing?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: Order, on the left!

 

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, I would to confirm that the Heads of States themselves considered the fact that there are quite a number of parallel programmes that Africans are pursuing concurrently. This is why they adopted the position that by 2023, all African countries must be members of the APRM, so that they pursue a common agenda.

 

Therefore, instead of only pursuing the NEPAD declaration on governance, democracy and socio-economic development, they now want to take on board the Agenda 2063, which is broader and all encompassing. What this means is that when countries are being peer reviewed for the first or second time after that decision, they will not only be benchmarking against the agreed standards and codes of NEPAD, but they shall now be peer reviewed on the broader perspectives of the Agenda 2063.

 

Mr Speaker, I would like to inform the House that only a week ago, I was invited to go and participate in the preparatory processes for Nigeria, which is going into the second peer review. The benchmark was drawn from Agenda 2063 and the SDGs. So, the hon. Member is right that it is important for us to ensure that we are streamlined in our approach. That is the intention of the AU Heads of State.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: I will take the last three questions from hon. Members from the following constituencies: Solwezi West, Itezhi-tezhi and Mongu Central.

 

Mr Kasonso (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister mentioned three institutions, which are the National Parliament, Pan African Parliament (PAP) and African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). What is the relationship among the three? I want to be clear because we have never had a report in this House from our hon. Colleagues who attend PAP meetings.

 

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, the relationship is that the APRM is a mechanism of Heads of State who gather as a forum to review the performance of each other. The example that was used by Hon. Dr Kalila was the greeting of brothers. That is a meeting of peers. Those peers do not review themselves, but they review each other based on reports that are generated from their countries. The reports are generated by interrogating institutions of governance such as Parliament. The report also captures the views of other entities such as faith based organisations, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and many others.

 

On the other hand, PAP is a Parliament for African Parliaments. As you are aware, the members of PAP are drawn from national Parliaments. Currently, there is talk at the AU on whether or not the African Parliaments must be given the mandate to develop model law. As you may be aware, there are entities such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) or Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS). These are economic regional blocks which have the mandate to propose model statute. PAP has not gotten there yet, and a lot of African Parliamentarians, including myself, are hoping one day we can get there. That will then establish a very clear relationship between the continental Parliament and national Parliaments, so that when we are developing national legislation, we shall borrow from the continental model law.

 

Currently, it is not unique to Zambia but common across the continent. There is no real direct connection between the issues discussed at PAP and the issues discussed at the national Parliaments. However, this is something that we as Africans, especially Parliamentarians, must be building on. This also brings into the picture the SADC-PF. You might recall that one amongst us in this House happened to have moved from Parliament to go and head the SADC-PF. Therefore, I agree with the hon. Member that this is work in progress. Furthermore, through the APRM, we shall get there.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Evg. Shabula (Itezhi-tezhi): Mr Speaker, the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) is a good system for all countries. However, Zambia is in debt. It is owing K9 million to the APRM. What assurance is the hon. Minister giving to this House that we shall put our books in order, so that we continue contributing to this noble cause?

 

Mr Speaker: I want to be clear about the question. Which debt is this?

 

Evg. Shabula: Mr Speaker, the membership fees towards the same institution.

 

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, I did answer the question asked by the hon. Member of Parliament for Livingstone, who thought that the reason Zambia did not undergo the Second Peer Review and instead chose to undergo the Targeted Review was because of non-payment of subscription fees. I made it very clear that not being exposed to the second peer review has nothing to do with subscription and that was purely a decision arrived at by the continental secretariat in consultations with the sovereign state of Zambia.

 

Sir, I also did indicate that if the arrears that Zambia has in it subscriptions to the APRM had any negative effect on its membership, the country would not have been elected to sit on the steering committee. A Zambian would not have been elected to sit on the eminent persons group. We were elected for both positions because as a sovereign state, we are considered by all the forty other members of the APRM as a credible member. We are a worthwhile member and a member from which Africa learns in the way that we learn from others.

 

Mr Speaker, I would like to take counsel from the guidance you gave yesterday. We are in arrears and if an hon. Member wants to know the level of arrears that we are at, he/she should pose a question. We should not create an impression here that we owe K9 million. The people out there who may not have an opportunity to ask the hon. Minister of Justice may go away with a very wrong figure. We do not owe any K9 million. I decided to stay away from the money issues because for me, this is not a question of monies and subscription. It is about the importance of the APRM and Zambia’s membership to this body. I also did indicate that the AU decided that the APRM will now be an integral part of the AU. This means, therefore, that all those arrears we are talking about will be subsumed by the AU accounts. So, the issue of arrears is not of any consequence, whatsoever. Hon. Member of Parliament for Itezhi-tezhi, please, I beg you not to throw figures around which you we cannot vouch for. I want to emphasise that there is no such a figure as K9 million which Zambia owes the APRM. With your permission Sir, I can come and give the House the figure, which is much less than the K9 million. Therefore, let us not romanticise over matters like that.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Dr Imakando (Mongu Central): Mr Speaker, I just want to know if this mechanism has a scoring system that allows a country to compare progress from year to year, which allows the country to compare its performance with another country.

 

Mr Lubinda: Mr Speaker, that is a very important question. There are some systems on the continent that compare countries on different parameters, one of which is the Mo Ibrahim Foundation. The APRM does not compare one country against another. What it does is to compare progression with the parameters in the country. The second peer review mechanism will assess Zambia against the first peer review. Have all those recommendations which were made in the first peer review been implemented and to what extent have we made progress? I want to end by saying this mechanism is an important home grown mechanism.

 

Sir, when I was addressing my colleagues in Nigeria, I said that whether we like or not, Africa is under constant scrutiny. African leaders are equally under constant scrutiny. However, they are under constant scrutiny through foreign spectacles. We are scrutinised by people who do not give us an opportunity to even understand the baseline on which they are scrutinising us and these people also come and make recommendations, which quite often, fall flat on their faces because they are out of the context. This is a mechanism that we Africans have developed for ourselves to be implemented by ourselves for the sake of ourselves. I am happy that this mechanism is generating interest in the Zambian Parliament.

 

Sir, I have no doubt in mind that the next time we discuss the National Budget, or we discuss tomorrow’s statement by His Excellency the President, we shall also take time to see where Zambia is with regard to how it has been peer reviewed by other states. I am sure we will emerge out of this as a very proud Parliament.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

______

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

UNIVERSITY TEACHING HOSPITAL ERRATIC WATER SUPPLY

 

219. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Minister of Health:

 

  1. whether the Government is aware that there is no water supply to wards at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH), especially at night;
  2. if so, what the cause of the erratic water supply is; and
  3. what urgent measures are being taken to rectify the problem.

 

 The Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Health is aware that the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) does have erratic water supply at certain times at night. The erratic water supply is as result of load shedding of the power supply that is being experienced in Libala area where the UTH boreholes are located. Libala area, where the UTH is located, has not been exempted from load shedding. As a consequence of this, the volume of water stored in the tanks sometimes runs out during extended power outage.

 

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Health has embarked on the installation of two additional high-level water tanks with a capacity of 400,000 litres each. This venture shall increase the storage capacity from the current 800,000 litres to a total of 1,600,000 litres. It is expected that once the project is completed, the UTH shall have adequate water storage during the period of power outage.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, I appreciate the admittance by the hon. Minister that there is erratic supply of water, especially at night.

 

Sir, the hospital in question is the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). I am very sad that UTH is in such a state that patients suffering different illnesses are subjected to not having water. Are there no simple measures to supply water regardless of the load shedding he has referred to? Surely, the Government would not get simple Kwachas …

 

Laughter

 

Mr Miyutu: … out of the Kwacha which the Government is spending on matters which are not connected to life? Is the hon. Minister telling us that the Government has surely failed to secure a Kwacha to secure water?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

 Hon. Member for Kalabo Central, please, resume your seat.

 

I think you will do a service to yourself to be specific in your question. The hon. Minister has indicated a cause because the question was “what is the cause?” He said the cause was load shedding. If you have some measures in mind, which you think he should take in order to alleviate the problem, be specific.

 

 Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, I have many measures, but even if I gave them to Cabinet, it is not going to undertake those measures. So, I will propose –

 

Mr Speaker: Order! Resume your seat again.

 

Laugher

 

Mr Speaker: If you have a lot of measures to propose, as you have put it, find time to engage the hon. Minister and propose those several measures you have for him to consider. However, the opportunity you have been given for the time being, is to ask a question.

 

Laughter

 

 Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, would the hon. Minister not liaise with the hon. Minister of Energy to secure power twenty four hours a day, seven days a week as per the directive from His Excellency the President, when he came to this House that health institutions should not be subjected to load shedding? Why would the hon. Minister not enforce the instruction from His Excellency, the President?

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: That is the question!

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, I want to emphasise that when water from the tanks runs out, there are measures that are in place to ensure continuity. I did not bring out such details because of the limited nature of the question. Nonetheless, UTH collects water in various vessels to ensure that during the one hour period when it has that challenge, it has access to water. There are reserve drums which are used in strategic places and certain places such as the theatre where we need water without interruption. So, there is always supply of water because we reserve some water.

 

Sir, in public utilities, we always have water and always find a way of reserving water for the critical time when the water from the tanks run out. This is a temporal phase. Remember that UTH as a hospital is not subjected to load shedding. So, we did heed the call from His Excellency the President. UTH is not subjected to load shedding. There are measures which are already in place to mitigate the situation. Further, beyond that, we have already erected tanks which will increase the capacity to 1.6 million litres. We are just in the process of commissioning operations. So, there was a problem, but measures were applied in the interim. Further, there is a solution which is more sustainable and permanent. I do not understand the drama the hon. Member of Parliament is trying to make.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, the situation at the UTH is not different from the situation at another important hospital, the Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital. Other than the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company (LWSC) supplying water, is it not possible to have some boreholes sunk and store enough water for our very important hospitals like UTH?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, UTH has its own boreholes. What we are rectifying is the issue of supply to the boreholes. In addition, the storage capacity for the tanks at the UTH has now been doubled from 800,000 litres to 1.6 million litres. The boreholes are adequate. It is the reserve capacity which was inadequate, and this is the reason we embarked on that project. As we speak today, the project is just about to be commissioned. For Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital, boreholes are already there and they are an additional source of water to the hospital.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mulusa (Solwezi Central) Mr Speaker, the water shortages being experienced at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) are also being experienced in Solwezi. Does the Ministry of Energy have any agreements with water utility companies to spare the water utility companies from load shedding so that hospitals do not have water supply interruptions?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, we are working very closely with the water utility companies to ensure that there is no interruption in service to critical institutions such as hospitals in all the provinces.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chaatila (Moomba): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minster has indicated that the Government is in the process of installing two more water tanks at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). Could he be specific and state when these tanks are going to be operational, so that if they are not operational on a certain day, we can make further follow ups?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, the project is nearly complete and we expect it to be commissioned within the first two weeks of April.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, –

 

Mr Livune: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, I am exceedingly grateful for the opportunity to raise a point of order. Is the hon. Minister of Health in order to refer to Hon. Miyutu’s concern on a very important subject of water in our hospitals as drama? The hon. Member for Kalabo Central brought a very important question, which the hon. Minister describes as drama. Is the hon. Minister in order to refer to the hon. Member in that manner?

 

Sir, I seek your serious ruling.

 

Mr Speaker: As the hon. Minister responds to the hon. Member of Parliament for Bweengwa, I will ask him to clarify that position.

 

Mr Michelo: Mr Speaker, how much money has the Government spent to rectify the water problem at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH)?

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, I seek your indulgence to appreciate the decent and very polite question from the hon. Member of Parliament for Bweengwa, and I congratulate him for asking a question in that manner for the very first time.

 

Mr Speaker, the Government has spent close to K2 million on that project, and there are additional costs that are associated with commissioning the project. We will be concluding on the aggregate figures later, but for now, what was on the budget was K2 million.

 

Mr Speaker, the last time I watched a soap opera, I heard statements like “cheap kwachas”  and “simple kwachas” and I saw dramatic stints, and that is what I saw when the hon. Member of Parliament was struggling to pose a question. To me, that sounded and looked very dramatic. In my simple vocabulary, that is what I meant, hon. Member of Parliament for Katombola.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Kambita (Zambezi East): Mr Speaker, what challenges is the Government having in terms of improving water reticulation at our health institutions? I am alive to the fact that almost 50 per cent of the National Budget is going towards personnel emoluments and 40 per cent to servicing debt. Only 10 per cent goes to servicing institutions. Could the hon. Minister categorically state the challenges that the Government is facing to improve water reticulation in hospitals and related challenges we are facing in the economy? Something needs to be done urgently.

 

Dr Chilufya: Mr Speaker, there is absolutely no relationship.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, the meaning of the word “drama” –

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member, resume your seat. Do you have a question to put to the hon. Minister?

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, I have a question.

 

Mr Speaker: On the response to the oral question?

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, I have a question.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member, put your question.

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister able to indicate on which particular day I performed that drama in relation to the absence of water at UTH from 18th February to date?

 

Laughter

 

MUMBWA/ITEZHI-TEZHI ILLEGAL LIVESTOCK TRANSPORTATION

 

220.  Mr Chiyalika (Lufubu) asked the Minister of Fisheries and Livestock:

 

  1. whether the Government is aware that some foreigners are illegally transporting livestock from Mumbwa and Itezhi-tezhi via Ngabwe District to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), thereby spreading livestock diseases in Ngabwe; and
  2. if so, what measures the Government is taking to stop the illegal act and contain the diseases in the district.

 

The Minister of Fisheries and Livestock (Prof. Luo): Mr Speaker, the ministry is aware that some foreigners, especially from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), in collaboration with some Zambians, have been linked to the illegal livestock movements from Mumbwa, Itezhi-tezhi, Namwala and Chibombo. These illegal livestock movements have contributed to the spread of animal diseases such as the foot and mouth.

 

Mr Speaker, to stop the illegal livestock movement and contain the disease, the ministry has put in place the following measures:

 

  1. identified and mapped the illegal routes in affected districts. This has been done in order to guide officers carrying out the patrols;
  2. formed district and village taskforces and neighbourhood watch groups;
  3. continued sensitising farmers and stakeholders on how animal diseases are spread and the implications of illegal livestock movements as stipulated in the Animal Health Act No. 27 of 2010;
  4. assigned transport to Ngabwe to help field officers conduct patrols and help carry out disease control measures;
  5. continued to effect livestock movement restrictions. We have continued with vaccinations and surveillance activities in order to effectively control the spread of diseases in the affected districts, Ngabwe included;
  6. as a result of the measures that we have put in place, two incidences of illegal livestock movements have been recorded, and these are:
  7. in Chibombo, two foreign nationals were arrested, prosecuted and deported; and
  8. seven illegally moved animals were impounded and destroyed in Masaiti.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, is the Government in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) aware of these activities?

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, governments are informed of the reasons people have been deported. Therefore, the Government in the DRC is aware that its nationals were deported because they were involved in illegal activities.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, the private sector normally thrives on opportunities. If there is a good price in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and a possibility for people to make money, that business will definitely thrive.

 

Sir, is there any way to normalise this trade of livestock, especially beef, so that some of these farmers that are keeping these animals in Namwala and Chibombo can realise the benefits out of the livestock they keep?

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, in previous discussions regarding livestock movements, I have said that we are restricting livestock movement at the moment because of the diseases that have daunted our livestock industry. I am pleased to report that our vaccination programme is going on well, and I am positive that sooner than later, we will be in a position to contain the foot and mouth disease. Once that is done, Zambia is poised to start exporting animals not only to the DRC, but all countries that have been in touch with us, including Saudi Arabia, so that even Zambians start appreciating that fisheries and livestock are very important sectors in the economic activities of this country.

 

Sir, in the past, livestock and fisheries have been seen as sectors for the tired and retired. Many people thought of these sectors as ‘by the way’ activities, but they are very important sectors that every Zambian must aspire to venture into. It will be very exciting when the first exports out of this country bring in the resources that the hon. Minister of Finance desires so that they can contribute to the economy of our country.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: I will take the last three interventions from hon. Members for the following constituencies: Lukulu East, Moomba and Lufubu.

 

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Mr Speaker, as an additional health security measure, is the hon. Minister considering engaging at a bilateral level with her colleague in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) highlighting the fact that there is a cattle movement ban in this country as a result of disease outbreaks and that it would be in the interest of the region if also on their side they ensure that they do not take in animals coming from Zambia?

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, we are not only going to engage the DRC regarding health security measures, but we are also going to engage all other countries with whom we share borders. In my response to how this disease was spread, I indicated that it came in through trade activities that are done around the country. This particular action took place in Mbala and the animals that had been brought in from Tanzania introduced the serotype O of the foot and mouth disease. We will not only engage the DRC, but all our neighbours to ensure that we restrict movements and improve the health security of our animals.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Chaatila: Mr Speaker, there are insinuations that some ministry officials are facilitating the movement of animals from Zambia to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in exchange for money. If so, what is the hon. Minister doing to ensure that this comes to an end?

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, I do not take action on gossip. I would ask the hon. Member to bring any evidence of any of my staff that are facilitating this movement of livestock. Through this august House, I am warning any member of staff from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock who is aiding the movement of livestock of stern action. I invite anyone with evidence to come forward. As a scientist, I believe in evidence.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Chiyalika: Mr Speaker, in her earlier response, the hon. Minister indicated that she has assigned a vehicle to Ngabwe. I know that the officers based there do not have a vehicle, meaning that arrangement is temporary. What is the long term solution in the event that there is another outbreak in future?

 

Prof. Luo: Mr Speaker, let me take advantage of this question to say that the ministry appreciates that our staff need transport to be effective not only for livestock and health security, but also in terms of fisheries. The ministry has taken stock of all available transport in the ministry and is reassigning vehicles to the different areas of need.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

SOLWEZI/KALUMBILA NEW CORRECTIONAL FACILITIES

 

221. Mr Kasonso (Solwezi West) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

 

  1. whether the Government had any plans to construct new correctional facilities in Solwezi and Kalumbila Districts;
  2. if so, when the plans will be implemented;
  3. what the time frame for the completion of the projects is; and
  4. if there are no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, just like other responses that have been given to similar questions, the Government does not have any immediate plan of constructing new correctional centres in Solwezi and Kalumbila Districts. Therefore, there is no plan to implement yet. There is no time frame for completion of the projects because there is no plan for such projects, as already stated.

 

Mr Speaker, there is no immediate plan to construct new correctional centres in Solwezi and Kalumbila Districts because the Government is already undertaking infrastructure projects under the Zambia Correctional Service. These include the construction of 691 staff houses countrywide, construction of the Mwembeshi correctional facility and upgrading of the Kasama Milima correctional facility, among others. Therefore, the Government may only consider constructing correctional centres in Solwezi and Kalumbila Districts after completing ongoing projects under the Zambia Correctional Service.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

CHIFUNABULI PARLIAMENTARY CONSTITUENCY SOLAR MILLING PLANTS INSTALLATION

 

222.  Mr Mecha (Chifunabuli) asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry:

 

  1. when the Zambia Cooperative Federation will install solar milling plants under the Presidential Milling Plants Initiative for the following multipurpose co-operatives in Chifunabuli Parliamentary Constituency:

 

  1. Mwita in Kasanda Ward; 
  2. Kafwimbi in Kampampa Ward; and 
  3. Shimalingu in Kasongole Ward; and

 

 b.what the cause of the delay in installing the milling plants is.

 

Mr Kampyongo (on behalf of the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Yaluma)): Mr Speaker, the ministry’s policy is to allocate solar mills in districts and not consistencies. Therefore, the ministry allocated eight solar mills in Samfya District, where Chifunabuli is found, and all these eight solar mills were installed.

 

However, I wish to indicate that in the case of Mwita, Kafwimbi and Shimalingu Wards, multipurpose co-operatives which are in Chifunabuli Parliamentary Constituency, their applications came in after the eight allocated mills for Samfya District were already exhausted. Therefore, the three co-operatives applied and their applications were only processed under the preliminary stage. As such, the process was not concluded. This means that when the resources will be available, maybe, the three could be considered.

 

Mr Speaker, there was no delay as the eight solar mills allocated to Samfya District were installed.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Daka (Msanzala): Mr Speaker, do the solar plants in question have the reciprocated power generation for twenty-five houses?

 

Mr Speaker: I did not get the question.

 

Mr Daka: Sir, these mills come with solar power and as they mill, they are able to generate power to at least twenty-five houses within the vicinity. Has this been done where the milling plants in question have been installed?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, the first phase of installation of these mills comes with solar panels, yes. However, accessory structures for the twenty-five houses to benefit from these solar panels could be installed in the second phase. Moreover, co-operatives determine what sort of facilities should benefit from that installation.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister confirm that these facilities are loans to co-operatives. If so, how is the compliance rate in terms of repayments?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, this is totally a new question. The substantive question from the hon. Member for Chifunabuli was clearly about Chifunabuli and a few places that needed to benefit from the said installation.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mrs Chinyama (Kafue): Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister able to tell this House what the unit cost for these milling plants is.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, unfortunately, I am unable to give those figures because the initial question was not framed in a manner that included the unit cost. In due course, the hon. Minister responsible for the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry can avail that information to the hon. Member of Parliament.

 

Mr Michelo (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, what is the capacity, per hour, of these solar hammer mills?

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, what is the capacity?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, those are technical issues and I cannot have the answer on the fingertips.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

CONFISCATED ILLEGAL FIREARMS

 

223. Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

 

  1. how many illegally owned firearms were confiscated in Kalabo District in 2018;
  2. whether the firearm amnesty is still in force;
  3. if so, how effective the amnesty is; and
  4. what measures are being taken to curb the rising crime rate in the district.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, two illegally owned firearms were confiscated in Kalabo in 2018 by the Zambia Police Service.

 

Sir, the firearms amnesty is still in force as the Government strives be part of the African Union (AU) agenda to silence guns by 2020. The firearm amnesty is very effective and this is evidenced by the number of people who have taken advantage of it to surrender illegally acquired firearms.

 

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Home Affairs through the Zambia Police Service working in conjunction with wildlife officers for African national parks carries out community sensitisation programmes on crime prevention. Further, the Zambia Police Service undertakes joint operations with other security wings to curb crime in Kalabo District.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, the amnesty is still on. Would the hon. Minister mind informing the people of Kalabo how this amnesty is being conducted so that those who want to surrender will not have fear to approach the police officers?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I know how much he is passionate about the safety of our people in Kalabo. I would like him to equally be part of the programme of sensitising and encouraging people in Kalabo who may be in possession of illegally owned firearms to surrender the firearms to the Zambia Police Service. When they do that voluntarily, there is a token of appreciation which is given.

 

Sir, the ramification of people not taking advantage of the amnesty is that after the amnesty period expires, we shall go into what will be called a clean-up exercise. This means that those who will be found with illegal firearms will be prosecuted for illegal possession of firearms. They are better off taking advantage of the amnesty now to handover these firearms and in return, they will get some token of appreciation from the Zambia Police Service. The better way is to encourage these people to take advantage of the amnesty. After the amnesty period, there will be an operation to get back the firearms. Like I said, we are part of the African Union (AU) agenda of “Silencing the Guns by 2020.” The hon. Member should be part of this programme. Similarly, hon. Members in areas like Shang’ombo and the surrounding constituencies where there is this challenge should also take advantage of the amnesty to encourage the people to handover their illegal firearms and in return, they will get some token of appreciation.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ndalamei (Sikongo): Mr Speaker, in cases where the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) confiscated firearms which have bluebooks from the police, what is the advice of the hon. Minister to the owners of those firearms?

 

Mr Speaker: This question is specific and peculiar to Kalabo. Not only is it peculiar to Kalabo but it is also mainly addressing the amnesty. You have brought in a different institution, ZAWA. Is the hon. Minister inclined to answer the question?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I understand the question from the hon. Member for Sikongo about those people whose firearms were confiscated. It depends on the circumstance. Some of the firearms could have been confiscated during poaching. If ZAWA officers find poachers during their routine operations, whether the firearms of the poachers are registered or not, they are confiscated. In the quest to do their work, ZAWA officers can confiscate these firearms, and the amnesty does not apply to those caught in wrongdoing.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Mr Speaker, has the hon. Minister auctioned the two firearms that were confiscated? What brand were they?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, we do not auction guns that are surrendered. They are destroyed publicly. As the hon. Minister of Home Affairs, I have undertaken and witnessed the exercise of firearms collected through amnesty or those that are confiscated put together and destroyed in public.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mubika (Shang’ombo): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that there is a token that is given to people who freely hand over their illegal guns. How much in kwacha is that token so that I encourage locals to hand over their illegal firearms?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, for now, the token stands at K500. However, it is not about the monetary value. Like I said, this is just a token of appreciation because someone would have covered a long distance for example and that money could help to recover money spent on transportation. What is key here is to avoid this clean up exercise that will be done because in that operation, people will be prosecuted for owning firearms illegally. This token of appreciation is just to help people with their logistics, for example, someone would have covered a distance to come and hand over their firearm. It is more to do with people volunteering their firearms and just helping them. These matters are being reviewed to see what could be workable in a win-win situation.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister referred to “Silencing the Guns by 2020,” which of course is the AU theme for 2020. Could he shed more light in terms of what the ministry or the Government is doing to sensitise the nation in line with the firearm amnesty policy?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, it is interesting to know that he is interested in the AU agendas. I understand that he represents us well at the AU Parliament. The agenda of “Silencing the Guns by 2020” is something which the Republic of Zambia championed through His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, who led and launched this agenda. Apart from collecting illegal guns from people’s hands, this agenda entails dealing with the proliferation of small arms, firearm trade as well as encouraging member states to make sure that they put in place legal frameworks to tighten the importation and trade of firearms and leave very little room for private players or traders to import firearms without control. Obviously, the manufacturers of military firearms and hardware are looking and yearning for markets. They thrive where there is confusion or breakdown of rule of law. You may have seen the barter system involving minerals and firearms which took root in some countries which are not at peace.

 

Sir, there are many mechanisms being put in place and member states are being encouraged to ensure that the proliferation of small arms and firearm trade is regulated strictly. That is our desire. The hon. Member may wish to know that there are countries that are still struggling in terms of having statutes in place regarding these issues. As people go to the AU, these are the challenges that they will review. They will also see the compliance and the commitment of member states to this very important programme.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: The last two questions will be from hon. Members for Mwinilunga and Mitete.

 

Mr Samakayi (Mwinilunga): Mr Speaker, what is the rationale behind destroying guns which I believe have value? I know that once they are surrendered, they become public property. Why not sell them so that the Government can earn something from these guns? Why not increase the money that is supposed to be paid to those who surrender their guns?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, the State cannot do two things at the same time. The Government cannot discourage the illegal ownership of firearms on one hand and on the other hand, legalise and sell them. We also have to be mindful that these firearms are from different sources. Some of them were acquired from countries which were at war for a long time. As a State, we cannot start legitimising firearms that are acquired in that fashion. The best thing to do is to get them destroyed so that they are out of circulation. That is the most logical thing to do. Those who trade in firearms and those who want to own firearms must follow the process that is stipulated such as having the necessary licences. Assessment on the suitability of who should own a firearm should be followed for those who are trading in legitimate firearms.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mutelo (Mitete): Mr Speaker, it is true that these illegal firearms are common in Kalabo and the Western Province in general because of the Karavinas? Is the token of appreciation to those who willfully hand over the illegal firearms given there and then or does it take time?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, this question is interesting because the corridor where the hon. Member comes from is one area which has a big challenge of many illegal firearms such as self-made ones which people use for criminal activities. So, it is important that the hon. Member of Parliament comes on board. I know the myth that is in that area. I know the challenges our police officers find in communities where people have myths about this and they do not disclose information about the people who are engaged in criminal activities or the Karavinas the hon. Member mentioned. This is where people hire criminals to take other people’s lives using these firearms. It is important that we come together and make sure that those who are victims of these criminals are helped. Our voters should be protected. It is important that the hon. Member also comes on board so that we work together.

 

Mr Speaker, as to whether this token of appreciation is given on the spot, ideally, that is our desire. That is what the police does in most cases. Sometimes, the money allocated for this programme runs out and in that case, the police may receive a firearm and go into some arrangement as to when the person who has voluntarily handed over the illegal firearm can be given an incentive or token of appreciation.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

PROMOTION OF DECENT HOUSING IN RURAL AREAS

 

224. Mr A. C. Mumba (Kantanshi) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to promote decent housing for people living in rural areas;
  2. if so, when the plans will be implemented;
  3. which rural areas have been earmarked for the pilot project; and
  4. what the estimated cost of the each housing unit under the project is.

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Mwale): Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to promote housing for people living in rural areas. These plans are part of the National Housing Policy which Cabinet approved. I must take advantage of this to announce that the approval was done two days ago by Cabinet.

 

Mr Speaker, there are no pilot areas as all areas will be considered in the implementation plan of the policy measures in the approved National Housing Policy. The unit cost of each housing unit has not yet been determined as this may vary from place to place depending on access to materials. However, in promoting decent housing in rural areas, the Government will facilitate provision of infrastructure and amenities to support rural housing development such as roads and water and sewerage which are very important in determining the price of housing.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, it is not enough for the hon. Minister to just agree that yes, the Government has plans to promote housing for people living in rural areas. Is he able to elaborate further on the stringent measures that the Government intends to take to ensure that this programme takes off?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, perhaps, I will have to distribute the policy that was passed by Cabinet and its implementation plan to hon. Members of Parliament for them to appreciate. There are just a few things I can say that I picked from the policy. The National Housing Policy aims to facilitate development of decent, affordable housing through promotion of alternative and innovative methods of housing development. The policy is also advocating for standards and regulations of modern methods of construction. Further, the policy is advocating for construction technologies that reduce the cost of housing development, especially those using local building materials. The policy aims to strengthen Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) in the provision of low-cost housing and decent housing in rural areas. The policy aims to establish a National Housing Development Fund to support social housing development initiatives such as housing co-operatives and strengthening self-help housing development for vulnerable members of our society.

 

Mr Speaker, these are some of the salient issues that are in that policy and attached to it is an implementation plan. Now we have a policy that we will follow. It will guide us in doing something for housing in rural areas.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr A. C. Mumba: Mr Speaker, let me thank the Government for the housing policy which has come out. I am sure it will benefit many people in rural areas. In order for the ministry to attract funds, especially those coming from climate change programmes, are these houses going to be climate-resilient? What is the plan there?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, that is a very important question, and as I read out the salient points or features of the policy, there is one that talks about innovation. This is exactly what we want to deal with as climate change is here to stay. For every infrastructure, our emphasis is on ensuring that we build structures that are climate resilient. In the hottest or coldest weather, driest and wettest climate, these structures must be able to survive.

 

Sir, in fact, even in the National Council for Construction Bill, which I talked about yesterday that will be presented, there are also standards that must be followed by everyone in the country who would be putting up structures which have to deal with climate change. So, all in all, that was a very important question asked and, indeed, we want to deal with matters of climate change as we put up all structures and the policy that supports that will be in place.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Samakayi (Mwinilunga): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister define for me and the people that are listening what he means by rural areas. Is it district towns or deep in the villages like Kamapanda or Kanzeze in Mwinilunga?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, I think there is already a classification of rural areas. By other standards, the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) and some statutes do classify what is rural and urban. I do not want to come up with my own definition, but, indeed, we are referring to people that are outside urban areas.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

MUSHINDAMO DISTRICT CLASSROOM BLOCKS CONSTRUCTION

 

225.  Mr Kintu (Solwezi East) asked the Minister of General Education:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to construct additional classroom blocks at the following schools in Mushindamo District;

 

  1. Maponde;
  2. Kamilombe; 
  3. Kichikwe;
  4. Kang’wena;
  5. Mushindamo;
  6. Kishela;
  7. Mapunga; and
  8. Yowela;

 

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

 c.what the estimated cost of the projects is; and

d. if there are no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of General Education (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, the Government has no immediate plans to construct additional classroom blocks in Mushindamo District at the schools mentioned in the question. Due to the answer to part (a) of the question, parts (b) and (c) fall off.

 

Sir, due to the unavailability of funds, the Government is unable to start the construction of additional classrooms in the mentioned schools.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kintu: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister aware that the roof of one of the classrooms at Yowela Basic School was ripped off and the students are stranded? What is the Government going to do about this situation?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, obviously, these disasters continue happening, as the hon. Member has stated. We have to find short term measures in which to support our colleagues to alleviate them from that particular challenge the school is going through. So, obviously, outside this particular arrangement, I will try and engage the hon. Member to try and see what sort of interventions we can provide.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

KAPUTA DISTRICT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

 

226. Mr Ng’onga asked the Minister of General Education:

 

  1. how many community schools there were in Kaputa District as of February, 2019;
  2. what type of support the Government renders to the community schools;
  3. whether the Government has any plans to construct infrastructure at the community schools;
  4. if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
  5. what type of infrastructure will be constructed.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, Kaputa had eight community schools as of February, 2019. The Government facilitates the provision of education to community schools through provision of school grants and teaching and learning materials. All community schools in Kaputa also received food from the Government under the Home Grown School Meals Programme.

 

Sir, the Government has future plans to construct some infrastructure for community schools once funds are made available. As I have said, 1 x 2 or 1 x 3 classroom blocks will be constructed at some community schools when funds are made available.  

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister and I are aware that education is an equaliser. A number of us would not have been here to represent the people of Kaputa without education. When I look at the quality of both infrastructure and teaching materials in the community schools, it makes me wonder whether this particular policy is very helpful to the children. Is there any thinking within our governance structure to do away with community schools, if these community schools cannot be supported to the same level as children in Government schools, who are able to get the required starting point? This is because the foundation is very critical.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, community schools will continue to be part of the structure of our school system in this country. However, as we have guided before on the Floor of this House, where a community school is started, it is important that that particular community school is registered with the local office, which is the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS). Once it is recognised by our local office, then it becomes easier to provide the support that I alluded to, which is the teaching and learning materials, teaching staff and sometimes provision of grants.

 

 However, once the community school starts and it is not registered with the local office, the ministry will not be able to be aware of the existence of that particular school. So my encouragement to my hon. Colleagues is to ensure that these community schools are registered with our local DEBS offices.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister explain why it must take long for the ministry to take over community schools. If these schools have met the minimum requirement of infrastructure in a particular area where there are pupils and the infrastructure is excellent and then the school continues to run as a community school, could he explain why it must be a problem for the ministry to take over such schools.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, just like I said, I do not see any challenges that our local office should have if a particular school is registered at the local office. For example, if Hon. Livune has said that this particular school has got the infrastructure and everything is in place, it becomes much easier for us to recognise that this school is registered and gazetted. Once the particular school is gazetted, then it gets all the support that any other particular school receives.

 

However, if it has not been registered with the DEBS, it becomes difficult because how does the ministry at the headquarters begin the process of gazetting the particular school? The information of particular schools come from our local office.

 

Sir, again, my words of encouragement is that these particular schools wherever they are need to be registered with the local office at the DEBS’s level. The DEBS will then be able to submit the information through the provincial office to the ministry headquarters to begin the process of gazetting the schools. Once they are gazetted, then everything will fall in place.

 

I thank you, Sir. 

 

Mr Michelo: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister, when responding to the question from the hon. Member for Solwezi East, in part (a), said that the Government has no plan to construct additional classroom blocks in the mentioned schools. However, when he was responding to part (c) of Hon. Ng’onga’s question about schools in Kaputa on whether the Government has any plans to construct infrastructure at the community schools, he responded saying that the ministry has plans when funds are available. Why does the Government not have similar plans for Solwezi East as those it has for Kaputa and other parts of the country? Could he kindly explain to us.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, if you look at the question asked by Hon. Kintu, you will see that the key principle in that answer which I gave was that the Government had no immediate plans. So that does not imply that we do not have the plans in terms of the –

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

 

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, in summarising my answer to the question that the hon. Member for Bweengwa asked just before business was suspended in relation to the other two previous questions, there is no discrimination at all. If you look at our answer to part (c) of the question by the hon. Member for Kaputa, we were talking about the Government having future plans. In answering the other question from Hon. Kintu, we were saying we do not have immediate plans, but that does not imply that we do not have any future plans to try and support our hon. Colleague, Hon. Kintu, in terms of the schools that he mentioned.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Minister for the answers he is providing. He has indicated that there were eight community schools in Kaputa as at February, 2019. The challenge I have with these schools concerns teaching materials and aids, including books for the pupils. I just want to find out whether, as we do the budget within the education sector, community schools are factored in. If they are not, could there be any thought process so that these community schools are factored in to receive these materials for the children so they can have a good foundation?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, just like I had said in my response to the earlier question, once community schools are recognised at the local level by the DEBS, they will be considered within the local resources and materials that are available to budget for these particular community schools. I am sure many of the schools that have followed these particular procedures have been supported. Once the DEBS knows them, even if they may not have an establishment at that particular time, there are times when we have transferred teachers from an existing school to the newly recognised one and there are times that teaching and learning materials are provided.

 

So, what is important for hon. Colleagues, and I want to repeat myself, is for them to ensure that these particular community schools, which they may have in their location, are registered with the DEBS’s office. Once they are registered, they will get the necessary support that they require, of course, gradually.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Madam Speaker, contrary to the views of the hon. Minister, most of these community schools are actually reported to the District Education Board Secretary (DEBS), if not all of them. The reason is that the villagers, particularly the poorest people in the constituency, have to bear a big burden of paying teachers’ salaries. So, they have all the incentive to as quickly as possible go and report to the DEBS.

 

Does the hon. Minister think that as the Government, society or nation, it is fair that these poorest of all villagers in the country are asked to pay salaries of teachers whilst the parents of children in schools in Matero, Libala or Chilenje do not pay teachers’ salaries while the poorest are asked to pay salaries of teachers? Is that justified or morally right?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, the Government does its level best. I understand the concerns that are coming from my hon. Colleagues, but as Government, we do our level best. It is not our intention that our vulnerable people continue meeting some of the support that goes to the teachers that are working in these schools. This is why, and I am sure Hon. Musokotwane is aware, we do provide a budget of around K3 million which we send through the Zambia Open Community Schools, which they also use to try and meet salary payments for teachers who are working in community schools.

 

So, Madam Speaker, on that basis, you can see that the Government is committed. Yes, the money is not enough and this is why the communities, wherever they are, come in and partner with the Government of the Republic of Zambia. However, as we go on, we just have to find some strategic interventions in ensuring that even these schools are recognised. Like I said, it is not like there and then we give teachers and everything. I did mention the word ‘gradually’. Gradually, they begin to receive the support from our school system or structures from the ministry such as teachers and teaching and learning materials. We do not give them at the same time. It is done gradually. I am sure some of the hon. Members of Parliament would confirm this. Obviously, the support that is given to community schools through the K3 million is budgeted for in the ministry’s budget.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Madam Speaker, when our friends in the Patriotic Front (PF) assumed the mantle of power, they did mention and promised the nation through this august House that they were going to take over all the community schools in the country. What has happened to that good policy which we wholly accepted so that we avoid these issues of communities paying salaries to teachers?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, the conversion of community schools into Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) schools is a gradual process. As Hon. Jack Mwiimbu is aware, some of the infrastructure these community schools have is not decent, hence it needs to be improved. Once infrastructure is improved, they go through the process of registering and being gazetted at that level and then they may be given the establishment.

 

Madam, that commitment that we made still exists. A number of community schools, though I do not have the statistics right now, have been converted through this particular process. However, I recognise that there still remains a substantial number of community schools that still need to be recognised and absolved by GRZ. That process still continues.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, we have to bear in mind that our Government is not only looking at enrolment rates, but also concerned with progression rates as well as retention rates. Looking at competition, children who are in community schools will have to compete with those from well established Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) schools at some point, as they go into different stages of education, including at tertiary level.

 

Madam, I note that there is a gap where we have not provided teachers in community schools. The hon. Minister is saying that conversion of community schools into Government schools is a gradual process. Does the hon. Minister have immediate plans to ensure that the moment children who come from the community school set up go into a different progression rate, say secondary, there is a need that the quality of education they received in community schools matches that of a regular school?

 

Hon. Opposition Members: So, what is your question?

 

Hon. Government Members: Quality!

 

Interruptions

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

There is a question, be patient. Our colleague is new in this House and he has posed a question.

 

Hon. Minister, how do you ensure quality in community schools in order for the children coming from these schools compete with children in mainstream schools?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, this question is like the question that was asked by Hon. Mwiimbu. The Patriotic Front (PF) Government made a commitment to convert community schools to Government schools because we have recognised that we do not want to differentiate the education that is being provided in community schools and regular schools. Like I said, the process to do this has been gradual. Of course, if funds were as available as we expected, as I speak right now, many community schools would have been converted to Government schools. We want to ensure that the quality of education we are providing to the children in the community schools is as good as that in regular schools.

 

Madam Speaker, I just want to tell my hon. Colleagues that when the results come out, many community schools perform far much better than regular schools. I will issue a ministerial statement on the same. Despite the challenges that they have in terms of infrastructure and inadequate teaching staff, many community schools do very well when it comes to examinations as compared to schools under GRZ. Nevertheless, as we go on, we will continue to support community schools to ensure that the children in these schools are not disadvantaged as because of where they are.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I will allow questions from the hon. Members for Namwala and Shang’ombo.

 

Ms Lubezhi: Madam Speaker –

 

 

Mr Livune: On a point of order, Madam Speaker.

 

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

 

Mr Livune: Madam Speaker, I apologise to the hon. Member who was on the Floor for cutting her debate. My point of order is on Hon. Fube, Member of Parliament for Chilubi. His background is a former District Commissioner (DC), and DCs have given us problems in the districts.

 

Laughter!

 

Mr Livune: Madam Speaker, a DC is Civil Servant No. 1 in the districts where community schools are, and they are not helpful. Now that he has come here, he wants to start lamenting. With his background, is he in order to ask such questions? Why can he not help to tell his fellow DCs who have remained to behave well and help the nation?

 

Madam, I need you serious ruling.

 

Laughter

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member of Parliament for Chilubi is in order to ask that question as an hon. Member of Parliament for Chilubi Constituency. Further, let me guide the House. We all know that we are not expected to debate ourselves. Let me further advice that we should avoid bringing the politics from campaigns to this House. It does not matter whether Hon. Fube was District Commissioner (DC) or not because as of now, he is here representing the people of Chilubi as an hon. Member of Parliament. Therefore, he is in order to ask the question which he asked.

 

Ms Lubezhi: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister if we have community schools –

 

Mr Nkombo: On a point of order, Madam.

 

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

 

Mr Nkombo: Madam Speaker, this meeting opened on 11th February, and today is 5th March. Therefore, it is now almost one month since we began this legislative meeting.

 

Madam Speaker, we went through this last year. We, on the left, lamented that in the legislative meeting, the Government is supposed to process Bills to this House. There was a ruling which compelled the Government to be proactive to bring Bills to this House. I have noted with displeasure that again, this year, since we commenced the legislative meeting, the Government has continuously exhibited indolence to do its work. There are so many Bills that are supposed to come here. For instance, the Freedom of Information Bill has been gathering dust in their offices. Are the people on your right in order to continue in this manner? When hon. Members of Parliament ask questions, half of the time, the answer is “As and when money is available.” Are they in order to be as counterproductive as they are by not bringing the Bills so that we can do the work that our people elected us to do?

 

Madam, I seek your ruling.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: My ruling is that this House cannot compel the Executive to bring Bills to this House. This House can only encourage the Executive to do so. Let me also state that legislation can also be initiated by private members. As much as it is a duty for the Executive to bring Bills to the House, the private members can also bring Bills to the House. So, I am reminding the House that each party whether it is private members or indeed the Executive, can do their part. They can do what is expected of them so that collectively, we can be relevant to the needs of the people out there.

 

Ms Lubezhi: Madam Speaker, if I encourage the hon. Minister to bring a Bill to monitor the mechanism of community schools so that their output is to the required standard of education, will he do it?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, community schools will remain an integral part of our school system. This is why the Education Act No. 23 of 2011 recognises their existence. If my hon. Colleague checked that Act which talks about the operations of community schools in this country, he would find that they are well catered for by this Government.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mubika (Shang’ombo): Madam Speaker, I heard the hon. Minister of General Education say some community schools in rural areas perform better than Government schools. Where I come from, we call teachers from community schools maluti bamakapa because they get paid in kind by being given millet, maize and many other things. Community schools are performing better than Government schools which have trained teachers who are on the Government payroll. What measures has the ministry put in place to ensure that teachers in Government schools who perform below par compared to community school teachers are either disciplined or retired in national interest?

 

Mr Mabumba: Madam Speaker, my hon. Colleagues will recall that in 2013, this Government passed a law known as the Teaching Profession Act No. 5 of 2013, which regulates the professional conduct of teachers. Again, my hon. Colleagues are aware that when we were carrying out the registration of teachers in 2017 because of that law which established the Teaching Council of Zambia, almost 700 teachers were found with fake certificates. As a consequence of that, they were dismissed from the service. The Teaching Council of Zambia continues to provide capacity building to teachers as well as ensuring that they adhere to the professional conduct that has been set.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

KANYIKA DAM CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS

 

227. Ms Tambatamba (Kasempa) asked the Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection:

 

  1.  what the progress on the construction of Kanyika Dam in Kasempa Parliamentary Constituency is;
  2. what the total cost of the project is;
  3. whether the people who were displaced to pave way for the project were fully compensated; and
  4. when the dam will become operational.

 

The Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection (Dr Wanchinga): Madam Speaker, the construction of Kanyika Dam is 95 per cent complete. The total cost of the project was US$477,500. All the people who were affected by the project were compensated.

 

Madam, let me also mention here that the only properties which were affected were fields since the settlement housing the people was well away from the project area. I should also add that the total amount which was spent on compensating the people for their fields came to K74,295.

 

Madam Speaker, lastly, Kanyika Dam will become operational once the remaining 5 per cent works are completed.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Ms Tambatamba: Madam Speaker, the concern of the people of Kasempa, in particular, Nkenyauna and Kantenda wards, who are the users of the land around the dam, is that the credibility of the wall of the dam, which is incomplete at the moment, might not be what they expected it to be. Is the hon. Minister able to assure the people that when completed, the wall of the dam will be strong enough and that it will not be washed away?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, let me inform the House that Kanyika Dam was one of the twelve dams constructed under a loan contracted from the World Bank amounting to about K50 million. This loan was cancelled under the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection, and the remaining funds were transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture. Those funds are being implemented under the Irrigation Development Support Project. So, the Ministry of Agriculture is now responsible for this dam. However, my ministry also continues to provide technical support in ensuring that this dam continues to be safe. There were a number of safeguards which were agreed upon with the World Bank in terms of what needs to be carried out. Surveillance is going on to ensure that nothing goes wrong with the dam. As we are talking, the dam is still very safe.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Ng’ambi: Madam Speaker, I am aware that the –

 

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

 

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

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to raise this serious and compelling point of order against the hon. Minister of Home Affairs.

 

Madam, two to three weeks ago, a person was murdered in cold blood in Dundumwezi. The police went and picked the body of the deceased, conducted a postmortem and then took it back for burial.  A suspect was apprehended and the police from Kalomo requested the community to take the suspect to the police. On Tuesday this week, the police were requested to come to Dundumwezi and help find a way of protecting the many homes that are being gassed day in and day out. In their response, the police indicated that their job is to arrest any person who kills another person.

 

Madam, yesterday, an old man was gassed in his house and was found dead early in the morning. The police went and picked the body and suspects were identified. Instead of the police searching the homes of suspects, the police requested the suspects to report to the police without searching their homes.

 

Madam Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Home Affairs in order not to inform the people of Dundumwezi how they will be protected by the police in Kalomo who left two incidents that claimed the lives of the people there without bringing this situation to a halt?

 

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious ruling.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I will give my ruling in two parts. The first is to deal with that specific issue of a person being murdered. My ruling is to encourage the hon. Member to file in a question for urgent answer so that the hon. Minister of Home Affairs can give a researched response.

 

The second part of my ruling is to direct the hon. Minister of Home Affairs to, sometime next week, come and give an update to this House on the situation concerning the problem of gassing so as to assure the nation that the situation is under control.

 

That is my ruling.

 

Mr Ng’ambi: Madam Speaker, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government under the leadership of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, is very passionate about enhancing the quality of life of the people of Kasempa. The hon. Minister has indicated that the dam will be operational once the 5 per cent work is complete. Could he indicate the date when this 5 per cent will be completed.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, I did mention that this particular dam, together with a number of other dams, has been handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture. Even the resources which were associated with this dam have been handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture. It is the Ministry of Agriculture which should be in a position –

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister is using the microphone for the hon. Minister of Tourism and Arts. We want to see your face.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Wanchinga moved to his microphone.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: That is better. You may continue.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, I did mention that the Kanyika Dam, together with a number of other dams, was handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture, together with the resources that were associated with the development of these dams. Therefore, it is now the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture to complete the 5 per cent works and make the dam available to the people of Kasempa. However, the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection continues to provide surveillance and technical support towards this. The actual completion works now and management of these dams is in the hands of the Ministry of Agriculture.

 

 Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Nanjuwa (Mumbwa): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister had indicated that all those who were displaced have been compensated. Therefore, is he able to tell the House how much was paid as compensation to the people who were displaced?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, in my earlier response, this was the fourth component of the answer I gave. I did say that the total amount involved was K74,295.18, and that this compensation went to the fields which were destroyed for the residents, not to any other structures like housing because these people live well away from where the dam is.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Ms Lubezhi (Namwala): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has just informed us that this dam has been handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture together with the resources. How much were the resources at the time of handling them over?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, at the time, the total loan portfolio under which this dam was constructed was US$20 million. At the time when the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection cancelled this loan with the World Bank, we had spent not only on this dam, but also on other dams collectively, a sum total of US$26,529,746 and a total sum of US$23,470,254 remained undisbursed and this is the amount that was transferred from the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection to the Ministry of Agriculture.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Chaatila: Madam Speaker, we are aware that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is broke and we know that most of the projects that are even more than 80 per cent complete now remain without being worked on.

 

In view of the question from the hon. Member of Parliament for Chifubu, in terms of the time frame, the hon. Minister responded that all that had been handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture. Therefore, does he want us to wait for another question to know when this dam is going to be completed? I ask this because he is indicating that it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, when in fact this should be an item for collective responsibility because they work as one Executive.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, I wish to dispel the overtones of the hon. Member’s question regarding Government resources and how that may impact upon the completion of this dam. This dam was fully financed through the World Bank loan. The resources are available and it is not a question of the Government looking around for money to complete the 5 per cent works. It is just a matter of the Ministry of Agriculture settling down on this. Like I said, we are working with the ministry in providing technical backstopping. So, this dam will soon be complete because the resources are available.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Ms Tambatamba: Madam Speaker, my lamentations are the lamentations of the people of Kasempa, especially the people of Nkanyauna and Kantenda that I had mentioned earlier on. These framers around the river or the area where the dam is being constructed rely on agriculture activities all year round. For many years, they have practiced mapoka. They finish the rainy season cultivation and then go into a farming method called mapoka, which is practiced in the dry season. This is when they grow winter maize and other crops.

 

Madam Speaker, from the time of commencement of this project, they had to lay off this activity, which was their source of livelihood through which they earn money to pay school fees and many other amenities for their families. Since the construction commenced, about five or six years ago, they are no longer utilising this land. Has the Government or the ministry put in place intermittent measures to ensure that this livelihood is not lost in terms of compensation to all the farmers who have got plots around this dam area?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, this is quite a woolly question and it is very clear that a number of issues are mixed up.

 

Madam, I did say that the fields which were affected were compensated for. It goes without saying that those that were compensated should have used that money to look for other fields. We are looking at a normal rural environment. They should have gone to their headmen and chiefs because arrangements were made that those who were compensated would use that money to acquire other fields.

 

Madam Speaker, I partially agree with the hon. Member when she emphasises the importance of this dam. Certainly, this dam, like many other dams which were constructed under the World Bank loan, was a multipurpose dam meant to facilitate livestock production, fish farming, irrigation as well as providing water to local communities. The issue she is raising that people who were affected are no longer in production may not be valid because compensations were made and they were supposed to use that money to acquire new fields. If there are any outstanding issues, perhaps they can be sorted out locally or administratively.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that after the loan between the Government and the World Bank was cancelled, this dam and other dams were transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture. How many other dams besides this one were moved from his ministry to the Ministry of Agriculture, since he indicated that others were transferred?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I will only allow the hon. Minister to answer if he has a response to that. Do you, hon. Minister?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Madam Speaker, under the World Bank loan facility, we were able to construct twelve dams. Some of these dams have continued being serviced entirely by utility companies. For instance, Chibalasi Dam in Mansa is in the hands of the Luapula Water and Sewerage Company, but these other dams which were constructed for the purpose of agriculture, fish farming and so on and so forth are the ones that we handed over. I could try and have a quick count, but perhaps I could come back later because I do not want to mix up the dams which were handed over with those that have remained with utility companies. However, the full list of the dams that were constructed under the World Bank facility is with me.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

CHIAWA MINI-HOSPITAL CONSTRUCTION

 

228. Mrs Chinyama asked the Minister of Health:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to construct a mini-hospital in Chiawa area in Kafue District;
  2. is so, when the plans will be implemented;
  3. what the estimated cost of the project is; and
  4. if there are no such plans, why.

 

Dr Chilufya: Madam Speaker, the Government plans to construct a mini-hospital in Chiawa area in Kafue District and the plans will be implemented within the third quarter of 2020. The project is part of the engineering procurement contract which includes 100 mini-hospitals and three district hospitals. As such, at this stage, we are unable to provide the cost of a single unit because there are many variables depending on distance and terrain.

 

Madam, as stated earlier, the Government has plans to construct mini-hospitals and, therefore, part (d) of the question falls off.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mrs Chinyama: Madam Speaker, I recall that we have had an engagement with the hon. Minister on this matter before. In the second quarter of last year, he indicated that works would commence in the fourth quarter of last year, but today he is telling us that these works will go to the third quarter of 2020. Which is which?

 

Dr Chilufya: Madam Speaker, I thought the hon. Member would thank the Government for planning to build a hospital.

 

Madam, the construction of these hospitals is dependent on so many factors and some of the variables lie totally outside the jurisdiction of the health sector. These loans must be processed at the Ministry of Finance and funds are released to start construction when all the administrative procedures are concluded. Projections sometimes fall off because of variables outside the control of the ministry. Nonetheless, I assure the hon. Member that construction will begin in the third quarter of this year because all the processes have been completed.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mrs Chinyama: Madam Speaker, we are grateful that Kafue is under consideration. However, what features and facilities will these mini-hospitals have?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: That is very different from the initial question. You asked if there are plans to construct a mini-hospital and the hon. Minister said yes. However, I will allow the hon. Minister to answer if he knows what facilities will come with the mini-hospital.

 

Dr Chilufya: Madam Speaker, a mini-hospital comes with forty beds and four wards which are paediatric, surgical, internal medicine and obstetrics and gynaecology. It also has a mini-theatre, a radiology unit where we have ultrasound services and a portion where we do maternal and child health services on an outreach basis. Further, it has four staff houses and a compliment of human capital that includes a doctor, a licentiate nurse and an anaesthetist.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Michelo: Madam Speaker, I believe this is a countrywide programme of constructing mini-hospitals. How many of these mini-hospitals have been completed and where are they situated?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: That is a new question.

 

CONSTRUCTION OF HOSPITAL AT MSOLO IN CHIEF NYAMPANDE’S CHIEFDOM

 

229. Mr Daka asked the Minister of Health:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to construct a hospital at Msolo in Chief Nyamphande’s chiefdom;
  2. if so, when the plans will be implemented; and
  3. what the time frame for the completion of the project is.

 

Dr Chilufya: Madam Speaker, the Government through the Ministry of Health has already broke ground for the construction of the mini-hospital at Msolo in Chief Nyamphande’s area. Construction will begin within the second quarter of this year. The time frame of the project is six months.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

LIVINGSTONE/SESHEKE ROAD REHABILITATION

 

230. Mr Kangombe (Sesheke) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to rehabilitate the Livingstone/Sesheke Road;
  2. if so, when the plans will be implemented;
  3. what the total cost of the project is;
  4. who the contractor for the project is; and
  5. if there are no such plans, why.

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, the Government is already implementing the rehabilitation of the Livingstone/Sesheke Road. The rehabilitation of the road commenced in October 2017, and the total cost of the project is K912 million.

 

Madam Speaker, the contractor for the project is Messrs Helmet Engineering and Construction Limited. The question in (e) does not apply as the Government is implementing plans of rehabilitating the road.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Kangombe: Madam Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minister indicated that the Livingstone/Sesheke Road rehabilitation project started in October 2017. If the hon. Minister has never taken time to visit the Livingstone/Sesheke Road, I would like to indicate to him that there is no construction that has been undertaken on that road. Since the hon. Minister indicated that works are being done, could he give an indicative answer as to when he visited the project? Would he also be in a position to tell this House and the nation how many kilometers have been covered so far since 2017?

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, I must admit that I have not visited this project. I have been to Kazungula and only saw the good part. Obviously, there is a schedule for my visit to this project and others in other parts of the country. I must say that the Livingstone/Sesheke Road rehabilitation project is only at 5 per cent. As the hon. Member for Sesheke said, there is not much progress made on this project.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Kangombe: Madam Speaker, there is a very serious problem here. The hon. Minister indicated that funds were released to the contractor in 2017. When funds are released to any contractor, it is prudent to follow up to ensure that works are being done. The hon. Minister said …

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Ask your question, hon. Member.

 

Mr Kangombe: … that only 5 per cent of works have been done. I indicated to him that nothing has been done on this project. Would the Government consider changing the contractor because he is doing nothing, if at all he was funded?

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, the problem is not the contractor. It is only that the Government has not funded the contractor adequately. The contractor has done 5 per cent of works and he is owed some money by the Government. Only K45 million has been paid towards the project, but the total amount to be paid is K91 million. So, the Government owes another K46 million.

 

Madam Speaker, it is not the contractor’s fault. The Government has not been able to find the money due to competing needs and so many projects. Time and again, the Government has said that it is implementing so many projects across the country. Some projects are being completed, others are at their starting stage and others at middle stage. There is a systematic way to phase the projects out, starting with those above 80 per cent and so on. So, the contractor may not be at fault in this case.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Livune: Madam Speaker, I will ask this question with a very heavy heart. All hon. Members will remember how the old man, the late Hon. Kufakwandi, used to lament on the Floor of the House over the Livingstone/Sesheke Road. This road has not been rehabilitated even when he is no more. 

 

Madam Speaker, how much importance does this Patriotic Front (PF) Government attach to the Livingstone/Sesheke Road? Maybe the importance we on the left attach to this road is not the same as the Government’s regard for this road. This is a very emotive question, I must confess.

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, the Livingstone/Sesheke Road is extremely important. It is a gateway to the southern part of the country. The Government is even implementing the Kazungula Bridge across the Zambezi River project to show that this gateway to our country by the rest of the countries in the south is important. The Livingstone/Sesheke Road is a gateway to the southern part of the country. More so, this is a very important road to the trade between Zambia and countries in the sub region such as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Angola which are connected to this road. Let me emphasise that there is a lot of trade happening in Congo. All businesses from there intending to use Zambia as a route would have to use the Livingstone/Sesheke Road. The Government would collect a lot of money using toll fees through the Western Province all the way to Namibia. Indeed, this is a very important road and the Government admits so. That is why a bridge is being built to connect it to the same road. It is just a pity that the Government has not been able to finance this project adequately because of many competing needs. Otherwise, this is a very important road not just to the people of the Southern Province but the entire country because this is an economic road that would bring in a lot of money.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Jere (Livingstone): Madam Speaker, indeed, the Livingstone/Sesheke Road is the gateway to Walvis Bay, one of the busy ports.

 

Madam Speaker, the contract was awarded to the contractor in 2017, probably when cement was at K50 a bag. Now that cement is costing about K110, would the hon. Minister assure the people of Sesheke and the people of Zambia at large that this road will be completed? If at all it will be completed, has the Government done any variations bearing in mind the depreciation of the Kwacha?

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, looking at the period of time it has taken to implement this project, contractual issues are inevitable and they happen on a daily basis. Negotiations with the Road Development Agency (RDA) normally happen. I think that the contractual obligations on the Livingstone/Sesheke Road could be within the agreed terms. There is always contingency attached to such projects which could cover extra costs. However, if the cost is extremely outside the contingency plans that were put in place, taking into account variations in the prices of cement, bitumen and other materials, then a negotiation would still have to be done.

 

Madam Speaker, as far as the Government is concerned, the Livingstone/Sesheke Road is a very important road that needs continued funding. As a matter of fact, the contractor was paid about K5 million or K10 million three or four weeks ago. The Government has continued to resource this project just to make sure that maybe the debt with the contractor is liquidated and get into a situation where current works can be funded. So, the Government is committed to this road rehabilitation project and it will make sure that the road is completed.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Kangombe: Madam Speaker, would the hon. Minister indicate when the works on the Sesheke/Livingstone Road will be completed so that I can assure the people of Sesheke that they should be expectant from a certain point up to a definite month when the road will be completed?

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, initially, the contract was supposed to end on 19th April, 2020, but seeing that we are only at 5 per cent, the Road Development Agency (RDA) is negotiating with the contractor to have an extension of twelve months. If we do not achieve so much within those twelve months, we will keep getting extensions. There are deliberations right now to extend the contract from April this year to April 2021.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I encourage the hon. Member for Sesheke to pay the hon. Minister a visit.

 

Mr Kangombe indicated assent.

 

Dr Imakando (Mongu Central): Madam Speaker, in 2017, 2018 and 2019, there were no meaningful budgetary allocations to this road. Could the hon. Minister tell us if there is a meaningful allocation in the 2020 Budget for this road. If there is no allocation, given the financial stress that this Government has, since it is struggling to pay salaries in some sectors and struggling to service loans, would the Government not consider asking donors to come and help? I say so because I do not see where this Government will get the money.

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, certainly, this is one of those budgeted for roads because it has a running contract. The money that is raised from toll gates and so on is allocated to various projects including this one. I can tell the hon. Member that in the last three months, we have paid this contractor twice. We may not have made so much progress in those years we have talked about, but in the last three months, we have paid this contractor twice because we want to make sure we get to a level where we can start funding current works. We are paying the debts now. We also know that this contractor also owes those who supply fuel and its machinery and owes workers. We want to get to a level where by the time we are funding current works, we will have cleared our debts.  That is what we are trying to achieve.

 

Madam Speaker, historically, maybe, we have not shown so much financial commitment but we are getting there. There is an improvement, and I must say that the hon. Minister of Finance who is here listening for himself is looking at so many innovative ways of funding most of these projects that we have in the country. On a daily basis here, I answer questions about important roads and bridges. All of these things are very important. What we just need are adequate funds to liquidate all debts we have with contractors and pick up from there to finish up all these projects. The hon. Minister of Finance is working round-the-clock, I know. He is being innovative and making sure that funds are found. He will find money for this road because we are obliged to complete this road, looking at its importance.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I will allow questions from hon. Members for Mumbwa, Mwandi, Mitete, Nangoma and Liuwa.

 

Mr Nanjuwa (Mumbwa): Madam Speaker, while the contractor is awaiting the other K46 million to be paid, is he still on site or he has demobilised?

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, the contractor is on the site even though not many activities are happening. The contractor would not demobilise without our knowledge. The contractor has equipment stationed on site even though he is not carrying out any activities. That is what it means to be on site.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mutaba (Mwandi) Madam Speaker, in three years, the ministry has only released 5 per cent of the funding towards that road and now, the hon. Minister is saying that he wants to ask for an extension of twelve months in which that road can be completed. Currently, the Patriotic Front (PF) has a policy of concentrating or focusing on projects that are 80 per cent complete and above. Is the hon. Minister sure that in twelve months, he is going to move from 5 per cent to 80 per cent and complete that project?

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, I said earlier on that if the hon. Minister of Finance does not find adequate money in twelve months for us to resource this contract, then we will give it another extension. We have given this extension because we know that we cannot finish the project by April. Something has to be done to extend the period, and I hope something will happen in that period. We are doing this in the hope that the hon. Minister of Finance will somehow, find the money that is required for this project. If that does not happen, another extension will be sought and we will keep looking for money. Definitely, we just want to make sure that this road is finally completed at some point.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mutelo (Mitete): Madam Speaker, in my previous question, I used some words, and later, the hon. Minister of Justice raised a point of order on those words. This situation is similar to the one that made me use those words.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Ask a question concerning the Sesheke/Livingstone Road.

 

Mr Mutelo: Madam Speaker, I ask this question with a heavy heard. Let me give the hon. Minister the benefit of doubt because he has said that 5 per cent work has been done. How many kilometers is that?

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, I cannot tell how many kilometres these are. Works are not necessarily measured in kilometres. When a road is being constructed, there are so many processes that are followed to have the road fully constructed. It starts from earth works, gravelling, putting the base, stones and installing the furniture on top. You can do that on a number of kilometres, but you will only be able to tar 1 km. You would have laid the foundation for 20 km but only tarred 1 km. It is very difficult to say what that 5 per cent translates into in terms of the number of kilometres because it is several works at several points. If the hon. Member really insists on knowing exactly what that 5 per cent consists of, I can avail that information to him some other time.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Madam Speaker, how much money is realised from the toll gates from the Western Province and the Southern Province? Why is this Government failing to fund the roads?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I do not think the hon. Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development can answer on the issue of revenue.

 

Mr Hamusonde: Madam Speaker, I can ask him another question.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Madam Speaker, one of the cardinal issues in rehabilitating and repairing roads is to fix the international roads, especially those that are very busy because these are the trading routes. If those roads are bad, everything in the country will be expensive because vehicles will be passing through an expensive batch, whereas even if an isolated road somewhere is bad, the expense cannot filter through the whole country – 

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1810 hours until 1830 hours.

 

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, when business was suspended, I was saying that in the principle of choosing which roads to maintain and upgrade, it is always prudent to choose the main trading routes, especially those that are international in nature. In the absence of that, we are, today, witnessing a situation where traffic moves from Namibia and part of it from South Africa to the Copperbelt. Once some of the trucks reach Sesheke, they go all the way to Mongu then Lusaka and the Copperbelt. We see these trucks. This means that imported items become very expensive. We all end up paying a lot of money.

 

Madam, in view of the critical nature of these routes carrying imports from South Africa, is it not possible as the hon. Minister does the re-scoping, that some of the district roads which have a less strategic nature, which do not impose a high cost on us, can be put on the shelf and these routes get immediate priority?

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, what the hon. Member is talking about is already happening. If you may recall, this week, I was saying to this House that some of the district roads that we have embarked on should have been upgraded to bituminous standards. These roads have now been re-scoped to be all-weather gravel roads. This is because we do not have money to keep paying contractors and construct them as bituminous roads, but also that we prioritise important roads such as the Livingstone/Sesheke Road.

 

Madam, it is not the only road that that is in a bad state and leads to another country. If you look at the Kasumbalesa Road from Chililabombwe going to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), you will see that it, too, is in a bad state. This is an important road for trade and it gives us a lot of money. The Great East Road is only good from Luangwa to the Malawian border. From Luangwa to Lusaka, it is terrible. If you look at the Great North Road from Mpika to Chinsali, you will see that it is in a terrible state just like all other roads that lead to other countries. So, all of them have to be prioritised, including this particular one. Therefore, we have to re-scope other roads and projects to make sure we send money to these very important roads, as the hon. Member has suggested. I agree with him and we have to work on the roads in order to keep trade flowing.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Kangombe rose.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Sesheke has already asked the number of supplementary questions to which he is entitled.

 

NABWALYA/MFUWE ROAD CONSTRUCTION

 

231. Mr Siwanzi (Nakonde) (on behalf of Mr Mukosa (Chinsali)) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

  1. when the construction of the Nabwalya/Mfuwe Road in Mfuwe Parliamentary Constituency will be completed;
  2. what the cause of the delay in completing the project is; and
  3. how much money had been paid to the contractor as of July, 2019.

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, the construction of the Nabwalya/Mfuwe Road is expected to be completed in October, 2020, subject to availability of funds. The delay has been due to financial constraints. As of July, 2019, the contractor had been paid K29,962,454.13 out of the total of K165 million certified for the works done.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Siwanzi: Madam Speaker, the contract for this particular road was signed, if I am not mistaken, way back in 2013 and we have seen other projects that came later than this one that have been completed. The hon. Minister is saying by October, 2020 this particular project will be completed. At what level of completion is this particular project in terms of the works already done?

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, the current progress of the project is at 20 per cent.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Ng’ambi: Madam Speaker, there have been a lot of delayed projects in terms of road construction. Looking at the variables in terms of cost, there has been a significant shift when you look at the cost of materials countrywide. At what level are we in terms of the differences in the original costing price to what is going to be paid?

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, when these projects are being formulated and planned, those involved always foresee such kind of situations. In planning, they do not stick to a certain price. They anticipate changes and there is also some contingency amount factored in each and every project. In most cases, we are always on point. However, in extreme cases where things have changed drastically and there is escalation of prices for supplies and so on and so forth, there is always renegotiation done between the contractor and employer, such as the Road Development Agency (RDA) or the Government in this case. That happens from time to time and it varies from contract to contract. I think the hon. Member is asking generally. Normally, contingency plans take care of escalated pricing.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Siwanzi: Madam Speaker, in responding to the question I asked earlier, the hon. Minister said that on this particular project, works done are at 20 per cent. This is March, and the hon. Minister is anticipating that by October this year, the project will be completed. In case the project is not completed by October, what will be the projected time of completion?

 

Mr Mwale: Madam Speaker, we will leave that to the negotiations between ourselves and the contractor. However, we must make it practical. If by October this year, we see that we have covered ground and there is little work remaining, that will determine how much extension to the contract we will grant. If there will not be much achieved by October, if we will still be within 20 or 30 per cent work done, again, we will determine how much extension to give to the contractor. By the way, this contract has been re-scoped. So, we are downgrading this road from bituminous into an all-weather gravel road because that is what we can afford at the moment. So, it is possible that we can make a lot of progress by October because of this adjustment. We will only know that when we get to October, 2020. We will be informed by the progress that will be made by then.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker gave the Floor to Mr Mung’andu.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, I think the question I wanted to ask has been answered.

 

Mr Chabi: Sit down then. Why are you asking?

 

Mr Mung’andu: I wanted to find out if the road has been downgraded to gravel standard.

 

KALUMBILA MULTI-FACILITY ECONOMIC ZONE

 

232. Dr Imakando (Mongu Central) (on behalf of Mr Lufuma (Kabompo)) asked the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry:

 

  1. whether the Government is aware that the Kalumbila Multi-Facility Economic Zone in Kalumbila District has not been gazetted to commence operations; and
  2. if so, what the cause of the delay in gazetting the economic zone is.

 

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Yaluma): Madam Speaker, yes, the Government is aware.

 

Madam Speaker, the Kalumbila proposed Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) is being developed by First Quantum Minerals (FQM) and the developer applied for 97 ha of land from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. The Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources has since sent an invitation to treaty to the Kalumbila Town Development Corporation Limited, which has not yet responded. The company has confirmed receipt of the invitation to treaty for the 97 ha of land costing K3.2 million. This is now awaiting approval by the company’s board of directors for payment.

 

Madam Speaker, once the board approves, the developer will submit an application to the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) for the declaration of the MFEZ.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, is there a way in which the hon. Minister can accelerate the facilitation of this Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ), especially that Zambia desperately needs job opportunities and exports to increase our foreign exchange earnings? Is there any way that he can accelerate this initiative?

 

Mr Yaluma: Madam Speaker, I would like to put it on record that the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) has attached a lot of importance to the construction of MFEZs and this is a private sector development by the Kalumbila Town Development Corporation Limited. Like I said in my earlier response, we have already offered a quotation to the company through the Ministry of Land and Natural Resources. Once the company pays the fees, we will indeed accelerate. It will go as quickly as possible to declare an MFEZ in Kalumbila.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, when the Multi-Facility Economic Zones (MFEZs) were conceived about twelve years ago, there was a lot of hope that these developments were going to create a lot of employment for young people. Indeed, we have seen countries that were coming behind us, such as Ethiopia, Rwanda and so on and so forth, today they have generated so many millions of jobs for the young people. The MFEZ in Lusaka is underperforming. Now, there is this one which has been there for many years, but it is hardly moving. Does the hon. Minister not realise that through the delays by the Government to facilitate these projects, because that is what the Government is supposed to do, it is delaying job opportunities for young people?

 

Mr Yaluma: Madam Speaker, I think we are very concerned about unemployment, but I will not accept the comment from the hon. Member of Parliament for Liuwa that the Lusaka South MFEZ is underperforming. That is a very relative term, unless you contextualise it, whether it is in terms of the investments that have gone in so far or the number of investors who have gone in and how much employment we have managed to scope so far. So, it is not underperforming. We are very much on track and getting a new entrant into the zone, nearly every four or five months. By the way, we have a number of MFEZs which are coming up. As I speak, we have declared Chibombo as an economic zone being developed by the China Jiangxi Corporation and the Government.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Dr Kopulande (Chembe): Madam Speaker, I hope that the hon. Minister will address this question clearly. The Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) policy was conceived in 2005. May I state my interest that I was chairperson of the task force that brought about that policy.

 

Madam Speaker, the policy was conceived to create special zones with special tax incentives for investors. These tax incentives were removed in the Budget address delivered to this House in 2017. As a result of this, the activity and the pace of investment in the zones have been negatively affected. Even companies that had already applied to invest in the zones curtailed their planned investment.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You will now ask your question, hon. Member for Chembe.

 

Dr Kopulande: Yes, Madam Speaker. I was just about to do so. Has the hon. Minister got any plan to reinstitute the MFEZ incentives as they were enshrined in the Zambia Development Agency Act of 2006?

 

Mr Yaluma: Madam Speaker, yes, the MFEZ Policy was introduced in 2005. It was brought into the country by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the main purpose of bringing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) by various potential investors to come in the country. The intentions were well-known. We had to state in our policy that those people who would not qualify for incentives must go to the economic zones. The same incentives would apply to the people who would go and invest in rural areas. I would not say that we have scrapped that because we would be shooting ourselves in the foot. We managed to entice investors to come into the country and invest their money on that premise. My hon. Colleague at the back strongly talked about the Government having scrapped the incentives, we have not scrapped the incentives, but we are re-organising the incentives to see how we can compete effectively with the surrounding countries or maybe be at par or become better than them. We have not scrapped the incentives.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Ms Tambatamba: Madam Speaker, besides Kalumbila Multi-Facility Economic Zone, how many other zones were allocated in the North-Western Province and could the hon. Minister name them?

 

Mr Yaluma: Madam Speaker, I would like to be very explicit here. Like I said, the development of the MFEZs is purely done by private investors. We are trying to allow private investors to come into the country. In the North-Western Province, Kalumbila is very prominent. There are some people who have indicated interest and have applied to come to the area. After the exposition in the province, a few companies, including Chinese companies, have come to build some businesses in the area. We are encouraging many investors, especially those who have various companies to come and invest their money into the zones in the North-Western Province.

 

Madam, the hon. Member of Parliament for Kasempa knows that there are more investments coming to that area. We are trying to serve investors better by encouraging them to go to MFEZs because they will qualify and can perform better with the incentives which have been put in place for MFEZs in rural areas. Even if they do not go in the MFEZ, investors will still qualify for that.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Let me remind the hon. Members that the question is about Kalumbila Multi-Facility Economic Zone and why it is not operational. So, restrict your questions to this.

 

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, –

 

Interjections

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Does the hon. Member for Mongu Central want to correct us?

 

Dr Imakando: My young brother across the Floor wants to interrupt my question.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: What is the correct pronunciation of your constituency?

 

Mr Lubinda: Mungu!

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Mungu!

 

Laughter

 

Dr Imakando: It is Mongu, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Alright, for now, we will stick to what is written, which is Mongu.

 

Dr Imakando: Madam Speaker, MFEZs are special projects because they attract investments, create jobs and create opportunities to earn foreign exchange. They are special projects that are often given preferential treatment. Arising from the answers coming from the hon. Minister, it appears to me that the PF Government does not recognise how special MFEZs are.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Hon. Government Member: Question!

 

Dr Imakando: The question I would like to ask, if you will not interfere with me, is: Does the Government really give priority to MFEZs?

 

Mr Yaluma: Madam Speaker, yes, the PF Government does give serious importance to economic zones.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kasonso (Solwezi West): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister said that the Government asked Kalumbila Mine or First Quantum Minerals (FQM) to pay K3.2 million for 97 ha of land, which is roughly close to K33,000 per ha. Is that fair, considering the fact that there is no additional value which the Government is putting in? This is because Kalumbila is responsible for marketing this facility in order to create jobs for Zambians.

 

Mr Yaluma: Madam Speaker, yes, initially, Kalumbila Mine was invited to the treaty and it did not accept the amount it was requested to pay. I called for a meeting with people from the Forestry Department, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, the town planner in Kalumbila, my directors, the Commissioner of Lands and the Permanent Secretary (PS) from the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources. I asked them to look at a new quotation. It was found that the initial quotation was based on the plots contained in the 97 ha. So, my ministry asked to have the cost of the land treated as one big plot as it has been done elsewhere. That is when we got the next quotation which Kalumbila Mine accepted. We are waiting for the quotation to be tabled for approval by the board of Kalumbila Mine. We should see moving in the next month or in the next one or two weeks from the board meeting. Kalumbila Mine has shown interest to move ahead with speed so that we can have that area declared as an economic zone.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Livune: Madam Speaker, the question raised by Hon. Dr Kopulande on the importance of the MFEZs as special projects is extremely important. The hon. Member for Chembe asked the hon. Minister whether his Government will reinstate the incentives that were taken away. This is an extremely important question because maybe, this is the reason the movement of investors to the facility zones is slow. What do we lose when we do not have anything? Could the Government reinstate the incentives so that we can have something? Would the Government reinstate the incentives that were removed by the hon. Minister of Finance on the Floor of this House?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry will repeat his earlier answer.

 

Mr Yaluma: Madam Speaker, I am doing exactly that. We have not scrapped the incentives. If we had done that, we would not have declared the MFEZ in Chibombo for China Jiangxi Corporation. In addition, I will be declaring another one tomorrow and all that is because the investors are enjoying the same incentives. The incentives have not been scrapped. If the hon. Member of Parliament for Katombola wants to prove that, he can become one of the potential investors and apply for a development in an economic zone. We will even give him more incentives than we are giving other people so that we encourage Zambians to invest there.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

UPGRADE OF HEALTH CENTRES IN MKAIKA

 

233. Mr Phiri (Mkaika) asked the Minister of Health:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to upgrade the following health centres in Mkaika Parliamentary Constituency to mini hospital level:

 

  1. Chimtende; and

 

  1. Vulamkoko.

 

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

 

Dr Chilufya: Madam Speaker, the Government will add additional infrastructure to Vulamkoko and Chimtende health centres so that they can operate at mini hospital status by the 3rd quarter of this year.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

_______

 

MOTION

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

_______

 

The House adjourned at 1903 hours until 0900 on Friday, 6th March, 2020.