Tuesday, 11th February, 2020

Printer Friendly and PDF

Tuesday, 11th February, 2020

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

_______

 

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

 

The Vice-President (Mrs Wina): Mr Speaker, before I give the House some idea of the business it will consider this week, let me welcome all hon. Members to the second meeting of the Fourth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: Sir, I hope that hon. Members had an enjoyable and refreshing festive period and are ready to proceed with the Business of the House. Let me now turn to the business the House is likely to consider this week.

 

Mr Speaker, as indicated on the Order Paper for today, Tuesday, 11th February, 2020, the House will consider Questions for Oral Answer.

 

Sir, on Wednesday, 12th February, 2020, the Business of the House will start with Questions for Oral Answer. Thereafter, the House will consider Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. After that, the House will deal with presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any.

 

Mr Speaker, on Thursday, 13th February, 2020, the Business of the House will start with Questions for Oral Answer. This will be followed by presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any.

 

Sir, on Friday, 14th February, 2020, the Business of the House will start with Her Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time. This will be followed by Questions for Oral Answer. Then the House will consider presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

_______

 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

SIOMA MATEBELE BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION

 

73. Ms Subulwa (Sioma) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to rehabilitate the Matebele Bridge in Sioma Parliamentary Constituency;
  2. if so, when the plans will be implemented;
  3. what the estimated cost of the project is; and
  4. what the estimated time frame for the completion of the project is.

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Mwale): Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to rehabilitate the Matebele Bridge in Sioma Parliamentary Constituency in the Western Province.

Sir, it is expected that the procurement process for the contractor to commence the works will start in the second quarter of 2020 and the tender will be awarded in the fourth quarter of 2020. Thereafter, the works will commence subject to funds being made available.

 

Sir, the cost of the project will be known once a contractor has been engaged. The time frame for the completion of the project shall be approximately eighteen months from the date of commencement.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Subulwa: Mr Speaker, I am now very concerned because a similar question was asked in 2017 and the hon. Minister’s predecessor came to this House and assured the people of Sioma that the bridge would be constructed in that same year. However, to hear about these changes, is worrying. I would like to know where the money that was allocated to this particular bridge in 2017 has gone.

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the Treasury was unable to release funds at that particular time and that is why we have factored this project in this year’s expenditures.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr A. C. Mumba (Kantanshi): Mr Speaker, could the hon. Minister highlight more on what he said that the contract will be awarded in the fourth quarter of this year, bearing in mind that the fourth quarter is usually in the rainy season.

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, unfortunately, we cannot jump processes to try and factor in that period. I can only say that everything will commence in the second quarter and by the fourth quarter, we will have identified the contractor. This is because it is normally the period that it takes to arrive at the contractor. The tendering processes are long.

 

Sir, it is true that at that time it will be raining, but at least we will have a contractor. If some dry spells windows could be found, the contractor could begin with some works, but basically this contract will overlap into 2021. Even if the works start late in the rainy season this year, the contractor could finish the works by next year.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Subulwa: Mr Speaker, I want to know from the hon. Minister what temporary measures the Government intends to put in place because the bridge is quite risky for people to be using and it is the only bridge into Shang’ombo and other parts of Sioma. I would like to hear from the hon. Minister what assurance he is giving the people of Sioma that this bridge will be worked on. Further, what temporary measures has he put in place to ensure that this bridge is passable?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, we will assign the Road Development Agency (RDA) to check on what can be done. Otherwise, our aim is to have a new good bridge that will stand the test of time. If there is anything that has to be done to avoid disasters, we can immediately dispatch the RDA to do some assessment and see what can be done.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

LIUWA SCHOOLS STAFF ESTABLISHMENT

 

74. Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa) asked the Minister of General Education:

 

  1. what the staff establishment of teachers for all the schools in Liuwa Parliamentary Constituency is;
  2. how many teachers there were in the constituency as of March, 2019;
  3. which schools had adequate teachers as per staff establishment;
  4. which schools had the least number of teachers;
  5. whether there are any schools, in the Western Province, that have more teachers than their staff establishment; and
  6. if so, what the names of the schools are.

 

The Minister of General Education (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, I did not get Hon. Musokotwane properly. Did he say Question No. 74 or 75?

 

Mr Speaker: Question No. 74.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I do not have the answer for Question No. 74.

 

A House messenger handed a document to Mr Mabumba.

 

Mr Mabumba: So, where is the answer?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mabumba: That sort of question is for Hon. Chilufya.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I think the Order Paper I have and what has been brought is different. My apologies.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mwiinga: Aah! How can that be?

 

Mr Mabumba: Yes, it is different.

 

Nonetheless, Mr Speaker, the staff establishment for schools in Liuwa Parliamentary Constituency is as follows:

 

Name of School                    Number of Teachers          Number of Teachers                  Present at the Facility                                    on the Establishment              

 

Ikatulamwa Primary             02                                            12

Kalolo Primary                     04                                            03

Kalumbu Primary                 05                                            07

Kuuli Primary                       08                                            12

Libilingoma Primary            04                                            11

Libonda Primary                  17                                            23

Liuwa Primary                     02                                            11

Lukena Primary                    08                                            11

Lukoko Primary                   05                                            09

Lumei Primary                     06                                            14

Luoke East Primary             06                                            09

Luola Primary                      07                                            08

Mishulundu Primary            05                                            15

Muchicha Primary                02                                            07

Muchicha Primary                02                                            07

Mukola Primary                   03                                            11

Mulinga Primary                  09                                            13

Munde Primary                    03                                            08

Mutaa Primary                     03                                            09

Namweti Primary                 04                                            08

Nang’ole Primary                 09                                            12

Salunda Primary                   05                                            07

Silanda Primary                    13                                            04

Siluwe Primary                     05                                            11

Sishekanu Primary               03                                            10

Mushukula Primary              04                                              0

Maoma Primary                    03                                              0

Sibemi Primary                     01                                              0

Sikunde Primary                  01                                              0

 

Mr Speaker, as at March, 2019, there were 148 teachers in the constituency. Kalolo and Silanda Primary Schools had adequate teachers as per staff establishment. The following schools were the least staffed:

 

  1. Ikatulamwa;
  2. Liuwa;
  3. Muchicha;
  4. Mukola;
  5. Munde;
  6. Mutaa;
  7. Sishekanu;
  8. Maoma;
  9. Sibemi; and
  10. Sikunde.

 

Sir, yes, there are schools in the Western Province with more teachers than their staff establishment. The names of these schools are quite many. With the indulgence of the House, I do not know whether we can circulate the names for they are quite many for me to go through.

 

I seek your indulgence, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: Read them out.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, these schools are as follows:

 

District              Organisational Unit               No. of teachers    Teacher        Excess

                                                          at Facility         Establishment

 

Mongu                      Ilute Primary                                 14                          08                    06

Mongu                      Imwiko Primary                            62                          17                    45

Mongu                      Kaande Primary                            19                          18                    01

Mongu                      Kalangu Primary                           17                          12                    05

Mongu                      Kanyonyo Primary                        91                          64                    27

Mongu                      Kasima Primary                             14                          13                    01

Mongu                      Liunga Primary                             10                          09                    01

Mongu                      Lourdes Primary                           07                          06                    01

Mongu                      Mabumbu Primary                        31                          22                    09

Mongu                      Malengwa Primary                        81                          57                    24

Mongu                      Malengwa Secondary                   25                          17                    08

Mongu                      Mongu Primary                             74                          49                    25

Mongu                      Mukangu Primary                         10                          09                    01

Mongu                      Mukoko Primary                           58                          40                    18

Mongu                      Mutwiwambwa Primary               16                          14                    02

Mongu                      Nakanya Secondary                      18                          17                    01

Mongu                      Najeko Primary                             08                          09                    01

Mongu                      Simulumbe Primary                       14                          10                    04

Mongu                      Tungi Primary                               51                          36                    15

Mongu                      Holy Cross Secondary                  54                          53                    01

Mongu                      Kambule Secondary                      63                          59                    04

Mongu                      Namushakende Secondary           21                          19                    02

Kaoma                      Chilombo Primary                         35                          32                    03

Kaoma                      Kaoma Primary                             20                          17                    03

Kaoma                      Road Camp Primary                     09                          08                    01

Kaoma                      Kankomba Primary                       13                          10                    03

Kaoma                      Namimbwe Primary                      13                          12                    01

Kaoma                      Kalukundwe Primary                    09                          07                    02

Kaoma                      Kashokoto Primary                       18                          17                    01

Kaoma                      Mahilo Primary                             39                          36                    03

Kaoma                      Kaoma Secondary                         87                          82                    05

Kaoma                      Mangango Day Secondary           31                          30                    01

Limulunga                Limulunga Primary                       58                          42                    16

Limulunga                Mupatu Primary                            43                          28                    15

Limulunga                Mweeke Primary                           13                          08                    05

Limulunga                Nangoko Primary                          23                          11                    12

Senanga                    Kaeya Primary                              08                          05                    03

Senanga                    Kakenge Primary                          05                          04                    01

Senanga                    Lui-Wanyau Primary                     10                          16                      0

Senanga                    Lukanda Primary                          26                          23                    03

Senanga                    Namanyingi Primary                     03                          01                    02

Senanga                    Senanga Day Centre                     24                          08                    16

Senanga                    Senanga Primary                           65                          48                    17

Senanga                    Senanga School for the Deaf        18                          19                      0

Senanga                    Seyi Primary                                  10                          08                    02

Senanga                    Situnga Primary                            12                          10                    02

Senanga                    Songa Primary                               10                          07                    03

Senanga                    Suunda Primary                            10                          07                    03

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, from the establishment the hon. Minister has indicated pertaining to Liuwa, it shows that that there is a deficit in terms of teachers in the constituency. Is the hon. Minister not aware that last week, the Teaching Service Commission issued a statement to the effect that more than 200 positions for teachers in the Western Province were frozen? What was the rationale of freezing positions for teachers in the Western Province, taking into account that there is a shortage of teachers in the province?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, the issue of freezing positions is not something that is deliberate. It all falls on our administrators in the Western Province. In fact, a position is not supposed to be frozen. When a position falls vacant, the administrators are supposed to recommend people to fill those positions. However, because of administrative lapses, we have had those challenges across this country. It is not only in the Western Province were positions have been frozen as a result of those inefficiencies. The Ministry of General Education and the Teaching Service Commission have been working together over the years to try and get fresh Treasury authority to have those positions filled.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kabanda (Serenje): Mr Speaker, the picture coming from Liuwa is synonymous with the picture throughout the country. Having said that, has it not been possible for the hon. Minister to transfer teachers from where there are more teachers to areas which are lacking?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, my hon. Colleagues and the public are aware that when His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, delivered his statement in September last year, one of the issues that arose out of his speech was that we are spending so much money on personnel emoluments. The Ministry of General Education being the largest employer, was affected in that regard. Moreover, my colleagues are aware that there is a payroll audit that has been going on. One of the consequences of this payroll audit will be the balancing of staff by taking teachers away from schools that are highly over populated to schools that have a deficit. From the statement I gave on the staffing levels in the Western Province, I am sure one would obviously know that some of the schools in Mongu have more teachers than they require. We are waiting for the payroll audit to be completed and then thereafter, subsequence decisions in terms of staff balancing will be done.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, I want to follow up on the question that has just been asked. Is it not a straightforward administrative matter for the hon. Minister to transfer teachers from areas where there is an excess to areas where there is a deficit, without even waiting for an audit? Is that not a straight administrative matter that can be dealt with right away?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, it is quite like he has said. These are straightforward administrative matters. However, as Hon Musokotwane may be aware, these are historical issues, and because they have been there over the years, they have become a little challenging to deal with. Like he said, we have been able to transfer some staff from schools which have more teachers to schools which have a deficit. However, when those transferred teachers go to those new schools, they do not have Payroll Management and Establishment Control (PMEC) system numbers.

 

Sir, this means that when our auditors go round schools, those teachers are reported as ghost workers. Therefore, we wanted to undertake this audit so that we establish the teachers who have been genuinely transferred from one school to another and are providing a service at those schools but they have no PMEC numbers at those schools. This is why it has been difficult for us to make these administrative decisions which look easy but are complex in nature. This is why we are waiting for the payroll audit to be conducted and concluded.

 

Mr Speaker, notwithstanding that, right now as I am speaking, the Teaching Service Commission (TSC) is sitting in the Northern Province to make some of these decisions and deal with transfers, promotions, and confirmations. Obviously, there will be exceptional circumstances to that effect.

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, the situation in Liuwa might be slightly better compared to Chama South. This is a serious situation regarding the levels of staffing in our schools. I would like to find out when the payroll audit is likely to be finished, considering that our pupils need these teachers for them to learn. Is the hon. Minister able to give us an indication when this payroll audit will be finalised so that teachers can be moved not only to Liuwa but to Chama South?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I am not too sure when the audit is going to be concluded. There are internal discussions going on with various institutions within the Government regarding this. At the most appropriate time, I will come and update Parliament. For now, I cannot say when the Government will conclude this. I am not privileged to know when the payroll audit is going to be completed.

 

I thank you, Sir

 

Mr Kundoti (Luena): Mr Speaker, it is a known thing that most urban schools are oversubscribed in terms of teachers as compared to rural schools. Therefore, the poor child in the village is disadvantaged from getting quality education. What would the hon. Minister say is the factor leading to this situation making the urban schools have more teachers than the rural schools?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, the factors are varied. Some are on the basis of medical condition of some of our teachers, while others are on the basis of the social and economic dynamics of some of the locations where we place some of our teachers. There are a number of factors. Obviously, the Government has been trying to improve our rural areas by ensuring that there are roads and telecommunication towers there so that when we post our teachers there, they are able to stay in those locations.

 

I thank you, Sir.

Ms Kasune (Kembe): Mr Speaker, the question that has been asked by the hon. Member for Luena, which relates to the teachers in the Western Province, applies everywhere, even in Keembe. Sometimes when you interrogate this matter, you will be pushed to the Teaching Service Commission to get answers, yet when you get there, you are referred back to the ministry, to the Permanent Secretary (PS) of administration in the ministry. I just want to understand who will be doing the actual separation of staff once that audit is done. We are always moving back and forth on this issue.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, the Ministry of General Education works together with the Teaching Service Commission. For example, as I speak, my Director of Human Resources and Adminstration (HRA) has travelled to Kasama District because the Teaching Service Commission will be having a meeting there and it will need input from the Ministry of General Education. We, as the parent institution, provide recommendations to the Teaching Service Commission and it makes its decisions. We work together.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mwila (Chimwemwe): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out whether the teacher recruitment exercise for 2020 under the Ministry of General Education will wait for the completion of what the hon. Minister called the ‘audit exercise’ in his ministry.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, the teacher recruitment may not necessarily hinge on the ongoing audit. As soon as our colleagues in the Ministry of Finance give Treasury authority, we have no problem to proceed with the exercise. Teacher recruitment has nothing to do with the audit.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, 47,000 teachers have been trained between 2014 and now. Liuwa only wants a few of those. Can the ministry not come up with a policy where those teachers can be recruited as assistant teachers so that we resolve this issue of the lack of teachers? Whether the audit continues or not, the shortage of teachers in rural areas is still critical. Liuwa wants an answer. What is the hon. Minister doing about the situation?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, let me put this into context. When you look at 2011, you will find that Zambia had a population of 65,000 teachers and was forty-seven years old. In the last nine years of the Patriotic Front, 35,000 teachers have been recruited. I am giving these statistics so that notwithstanding the deficit that we have, our colleagues can see how committed the Government and President Lungu are in the recruitment of teachers.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mabumba: Sir, 35,000 is a very substantial number in terms of investment in nine years. Compare this to 2011 when there were 65,000 teachers that comprised those recruited in the twenty-seven years of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) and the twenty years of the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD).

 

Mr Speaker, our colleagues can see that we are very committed. In answering the hon. Member’s question, I am aware that we have a number of graduates on the labour market, and the ministry has been working on a paper to take to Cabinet regarding this issue. Once it is considered in Cabinet, I will come and share with my colleagues what the position will be for 2020 and going forward.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Miyutu (Kalabo Central): Mr Speaker, there are two issues involved. There is the issue of the audit and the establishment in schools. The hon. Minister has given us very clear answers. Figures do not lie, they are factual. If this issue is historical, as the hon. Minister put it, then it is easy to work on because we know where it is coming from. Are we going to continue living in the world of history when we need tangible and practical answers of transferring teachers from where they are not needed? An establishment is a factual record which indicates the demand for staff at a particular institution. When will the hon. Minister get on the ground and make the teachers move from where their energy is being wasted because the number of teachers is over the needed number? When will he make those teachers move not only to Liuwa but to Kalabo as well?

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, providing a contextual framework of history was important so that my colleagues understand that this is not a matter that started during the reign of the PF but has been there before it. In answering the earlier questions on the historical context of this issue, I said that the audit was commissioned so that we know how many teachers are in Liuwa and where they are supposed to be. I said that some schools have teachers in excess of their requirement. When we establish the number of teachers, certain decisions will be made. In case my colleague does not watch television, for his information, I have been to twenty-five districts in the last two weeks to check the number of teachers we have in some schools.

 

Mr Speaker, the Government is on top of things and as soon as practicable, my colleagues will see that we will begin to make decisions on the balancing of the deployment of teachers between urban and rural schools.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, with the statistics that the hon. Minister has revealed, is he able to state the teacher/pupil ratio in Liuwa?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, the standard is 1:40. Obviously, this standard is usually not met in our rural areas because of the deficit that we have. As for the teacher/pupil ratio in Liuwa, I cannot ascertain that with accuracy.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister knows very well that for this country to move forward economically, the quality of manpower is absolutely paramount. Without this, we will not go anywhere. The Government is spending a lot of money on all sorts of issues including debt service, defence, by-elections and whatever else. How can we, as hon. Members of Parliament, help it to ensure that those resources that go to by-elections and all sorts of things are diverted to this most important issue to make the country move forward?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, hon. Members of Parliament are the ones who consider and approve the Budget. This would be the most important time during which Hon. Dr Musokotwane and others colleagues would be handy to look at our Budget and see what they can do. However, like I demonstrated, in the last nine years, 35,000 teachers have been recruited. Being a former hon. Minister of Finance, Hon. Dr Musokotwane understands that recruiting 35,000 teachers is something that has never been done by any other Government but the PF. This goes to demonstrate that the Government has been committing money to teacher recruitment, notwithstanding that more and more teachers are needed.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mabumba: This is why, leveraging Hon. Muchima’s question, I said that the ministry is taking a paper to Cabinet to see what could be done to increase the number of teachers in our schools.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Chisopa (Mkushi South): Mr Speaker, the situation in Liuwa is the same in Luano District. I think that this is attributed to the movement of teachers from rural to urban areas. This is evidenced from what was read as a comparison between Liuwa and Mongu. What immediate step can the hon. Minister take in order to arrest the situation in Liuwa, especially in those schools where there are no teachers at all?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I was in Shiwang’andu on Sunday and one of the things that arose in the meeting that I had there was that teachers were being transferred because letters were coming from above. When I heard that, I instructed my Director for Human Resources to ensure that this practice stops. In the recent past, the transfer of teachers has been restricted within provinces. For example, if a teacher in a province is to be transferred, and the Provincial Education Officer (PEO) says that teacher is not supposed to be transferred, he will not be transferred. In the past, our lower organs in the ministry used to receive letters purportedly from Lusaka to transfer people. When you analyse some of those letters, you will realise that they were fake, hence some of our officers are appearing before the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) and other institutions. So, we decided that the transfers be handled by the PEOs and so far, we have limited and restricted teacher transfers since last year.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

MINERAL PROCESSING DUTY IMPOSITION

 

75. Mr   Kabanda asked the Minister of Mines and Minerals Development:

 

  1. whether the Government is aware that the imposition of duty on processing of mineral ores form the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and other countries has led to the following:

 

  1. under utilisation of smelters; and
  2. loss of revenue;

 

       b. if so, what measures the Government is taking to address the challenges above; and

 

        c. what other measures the Government is taking to enhance the country’s benefits from the mining sector.

 

The Minister of Mines and Minerals Development (Mr Musukwa): Mr Speaker, I wish to begin by clarifying that there is no duty imposed on processing of mineral ores from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). What the Government introduced is a 5 per cent import duty on copper concentrates and ores. Zambia has a total smelting capacity of 1.1 million tonnes per annum.

 

However, the Government is aware of the under utilisation of smelters in 2019, to be specific. The under utilisation of smelters in 2019 cannot solely be attributed to the imposition of import duty. The House may wish to know that the smelters at Mopani Copper Mines and Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) with an installed capacity of 527,000 tonnes per annum were not fully operational in 2019. The smelter at Mopani Copper Mines was shut down in April, 2019 due to a technical refractory brick failure. The smelter at KCM was also not fully operational due to operational challenges the company was facing, among many others, such as the periodical maintenance of the facility, which was long overdue, causing the company to put the smelter on maintenance.

 

Mr Speaker, as evidenced from my explanation to part (a) of the question, I wish to state that the Government has noticed a negative trajectory in the revenue attributed to the importation because the volume of the imported concentrates reduced significantly.

 

Sir, in order to facilitate the smooth flow of ores and concentrates in the country, the Government is promoting local production of the materials as a strategy. Further, I am glad to report that the operations at KCM and Mopani Copper Mines have resumed after the respective shutdowns for maintenance.

 

Mr Speaker, in order to enhance benefits from the mining sector, the Government is focusing on enhancing participation of Zambians in the mineral value chain. A local content strategy has been developed which has identified opportunities for creating domestic linkages for local content in the mining sector. Through the local content, the Government will leverage the mineral value chain to generate sustained and inclusive growth though employment opportunities as well as stimulation of growth of the manufacturing sector. The programme is anchored in the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry and has a footprint in the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development. Further, it is also a crosscutting issue for the Government and the private sector, including stakeholders such as the mining houses and general population at large.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mbulakulima (Milenge): Mr Speaker, the smelting industry has been one of the major sources of employment in Zambia, but this is not the case toay. If the 5 per cent import duty is not the major reason for the decline in the smelting industry, would the hon. Minister share with the House the major reasons for the under utilisation of the smelting industry in the country currently.

 

 Mr Musukwa: Mr Speaker, in my statement, I have acknowledged that there are various factors that have contributed to the loss of revenue and not squarely on the 5 per cent applied on the importation of mineral concentrates from the DRC. Principally, the 5 per cent import duty that was put on the concentrates was deliberate because several mining entities abandoned putting resources in development. Instead, we are relying only on the materials that were imported from other jurisdictions. In terms of the development of mines, this was causing stress. However, I would like to state that the spirit of this measure was meant to ensure that we encourage the industry to participate more in development.

 

Sir, we have noticed that the spirit in which the measure was hatched is not deriving the intended benefits. This is why my ministry is working with the Ministry of Finance in consultation with representation from the Zambia Chamber of Mines and other entities, to see how best the Ministry of Finance can provide a relief, so that instead of benefiting from the 5 per cent import duty on concentrates, we can be benefiting on the other end in terms of tolling facilities.

 

 I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr A. C. Mumba: Mr Speaker, I am glad that the hon. Minister has mentioned that the ministry has gone back to consult the mining sector, especially that 224 jobs were lost at the Chambeshi Copper Smelter through the NCF Africa Mining Plc. The hon. Minister has attributed to the 5 per cent that NCF Africa Mining Plc was using as a purpose of creating those redundancies as the main reason the jobs were lost.

 

Sir, in terms of the ministry’s consultation, is the hon. Minister able to share with the House the new measures the ministry intends to put in place to avert the problem of under utilisation of the smelting capacity in Zambia?

 

Mr Musukwa: Mr Speaker, first and foremost, the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) remains open to dialogue and engagement with the mining sector so that it can reach amicable resolutions. The measures put in place are intended to ensure that the processes where the Government was losing revenue are sealed and also allow for local participation. So, if the measure has not generated that, the Government will obviously need to ensure that it promotes other means. So, this is why the Government has said that perhaps from the technical point of view, it can allow the importation of concentrates and benefit from the tolling facilities, instead of getting nothing.  I would like to share with the House that the numbers in terms of the decline is in excess of over 500,000 metric tonnes.        

 

Mr Speaker, the mining houses in their usual way will always want to find an excuse and put the blame on the Government. There was theatre and drama regarding the Sales Tax the whole of 2019. The Government has been listening to different sectors on this issue and it has been resolved. Therefore, the Government expected the mining sector as a stakeholder to partner with it in ensuring that it cleans up this sector.

 

 Sir, the 5 per cent import duty on mineral ores that the Government introduced is not the reason for the failure by the Chambeshi Mine to operate. I had a meeting with people from Chambeshi Mine and the hon. Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare, who is the area hon. Member of Parliament. I asked them if Chambeshi Mine would be opened immediately, if the hon. Minister of Finance removed the 5 per cent import duty on mineral concentrates. They told me very clearly that they had other challenges.

 

Mr Speaker, Chambeshi Mine chose an excuse that was appealing when closing the mine. Going forward, the Government does not want to be used as an excuse for the closure of any mine. In this regard, the Government is discussing with stakeholders, who include our hon. Colleagues on your left to see how best we can structure something that should benefit the industry and the Government, in terms of resource mobilisation.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Dr Musokotwane: Mr Speaker, clearly, this measure was misconceived right from the very beginning and the outcome is not surprising to anyone. I am glad that the Government is reconsidering its decision. Given the fact that there are people who are desperate for those jobs right now, would the Government not consider reversing the earlier decision immediately, so that people can get back to work?

 

Mr Musukwa: Mr Speaker, the senior hon. Member of Parliament, Dr Musokotwane, wants to put a lot of salt in the whole issue so that the Government can feel the pinch. This measure was not misconstrued. It was meant to encourage development because mining entities were depending totally on the materials that were coming from other jurisdictions. That is why we changed so that we can encourage them to invest in development.

 

Sir, Hon. Musokotwane, as a guru in terms of these financial issues, must understand that if the measure is not generating the desired benefit, the Government cannot continue with it. The Government has to change in order to ensure that it gets the desired results. In this case, the Government is consulting mining houses to see how best they should continue to invest in development, once the hon. Minister of Finance provides a rebate on this matter. In the current position, the Government is losing both on imports and on tolling facilities; it is getting zero. So, if it is able to get something on that other side, it cannot continue with the measure that gives it zero benefits.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT REBASING

 

76. Mr A. C. Mumba (Kantanshi) asked the Minister of Finance:

 

  1. when the exercise of rebasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was last undertaken;
  2. whether the Government has any plans to conduct another exercise;
  3. if so, when the plans will be implemented;
  4. what the benefits of rebasing GDP on the fiscal space of the economy are; and
  5. whether the exercise will lead to investor confidence.

 

The Minister of Finance (Dr Ng’andu): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the last exercise of rebasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) was undertaken in 2012 using 2010 as the base year. The 2010 rebasing results revealed that the GDP was underestimated by about 25 per cent, which speaks to the significance of carrying out periodical rebasing exercises of the GDP. Due to the fiscal constraints, we did not budget for the undertaking of this exercise this year.

 

Sir, as announced in my last Budget Address, the Government planned to commence the rebasing exercise of the GDP in 2019 and it was due to be completed in 2020. However, as I have indicated, due to the resource constraints, the exercise has been delayed, but it is expected to commence as soon as resources are made available. 

 

Mr Speaker, rebasing is an exercise that is carried out in a bid to account for changes that have occurred in the economy over time. This is really to stress the point that the economy is dynamic and is constantly changing, in terms of its composition and size of the contribution of the different sectors to the economy. The rebasing also provides the Government information on the size and composition of the economy, therefore providing room for the Government to take appropriate measures to collect the correct taxes for service delivery and meet other Government obligations.

 

Sir, other benefits include:

 

  1. providing an update on economy management indicators such as revenue to GDP ratio, debt to GDP ratio, budget deficit to GDP ratio and the poverty reduction budget to GDP, thereby affecting the fiscal space which would support informed policy decision making;
  2. providing a comprehensive register of business establishments of all economic surveys to undertake the developments in the economy as well as for policy decisions; and
  3. it will be critical for providing indicators for measuring progress towards national and international development goals in a timely and reliable manner.

 

 

Mr Speaker, rebasing the GDP also provides critical information on the economy to potential investors. However, rebasing in itself or of itself will not alter investor confidence. Once the rebasing is done, an update on the economy will help to comprehend the status of different sectors, which ultimately assists investors to make investment decisions and also it creates business opportunities in the various sectors. What rebasing does for investors is to point to the structural changes that take place in the economy, which may themselves indicate where the investment opportunities lie in the various sectors.

 

Sir, as I have said before, the economy is dynamic and it is important for the investing public to understand what these changes are because it helps them to make the right decisions in terms of investments.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr A. C. Mumba: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister of Finance has highlighted the importance of this exercise. However, there was an attempt by the hon. Minister of Finance’s predecessor, Hon. Mwanakatwe, regarding the carrying out of this exercise and she made an announcement that the rebasing exercise was in the process and 70 per cent of the work had already been done. May the hon. Minister share with the House the cost of this exercise, considering the amount of benefits that he has highlighted that could reshape the economy.

 

Dr Ng’andu: Mr Speaker, I am not at this point able to give the exact extent of what would have been spent on this exercise and, therefore, I do not wish to guess at this point in time.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister of Finance for agreeing that rebasing the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is very important and that the Government decided to let the exercise pend because of lack of resources. 

 

Mr Speaker, in view of the savings that the Government realised from the pending of this exercise, can the hon. Minister of Finance assure this House that the important financing component called the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) will now be released in the first quarter of this year? The Government has made savings by not introducing the rebasing exercise. Therefore, can the hon. Minister of Finance assure this House that the CDF will be released soon?   

 

Mr Speaker: I will not allow that question to be answered.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, as the hon. Minister of Finance highlighted, rebasing is a very important exercise as it gives us the real structure and composition of the economy. In his Budget Speech, the hon. Minister gave us the microeconomic targets. Are they realistic realising that the base year we are looking at is 2010? How realistic are they?

 

Dr Ng’andu: Mr Speaker, the point I made in my submission is exactly that when you use a base year that is years behind, the estimates you make based on the base year’s prices in the current year can obviously not be realistic. I did mention that when the Government rebased the GDP in 2012 using the 2010 prices, there was a difference of 25 per cent. There is most likely a shortfall in terms of the size of the economy. In all likelihood, it is reasonable to expect that if the economy was to be rebased now, we would find that it is probably much bigger than it is currently shown, based on the 2012 prices.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

CHIFUBU MARKET CONSTRUCTION

 

77. Mr Ng’ambi (Chifubu) asked the Minister of Local Government:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to construct markets in Chifubu Parliamentary Constituency;
  2. if so, when the plans will be implemented;
  3. how many markets are earmarked for construction; and
  4. what the estimated cost of the project is.

The Minister of Lands and Natural Resources (Ms Kapata) (on behalf of the Minister of Local Government (Dr Banda)): Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to construct markets in Chifubu Parliamentary Constituency.

 

Mr Speaker, Pamodzi Market will be constructed this year, whilst the Chifubu Market works are at 96 per cent completion. As highlighted, the two markets earmarked to be constructed in Chifubu are Pamodzi and Chifubu.

 

Sir, the total cost of Chifubu Market is K1.6 million, whilst Pamodzi Market is K350,000.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ng’ambi: Mr Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank the hon. Minister of Local Government for having visited Chifubu Parliamentary Constituency to inspect the market project. However, there is one more market that has been left out, which is Kawama market. The people of Kawama have been waiting for the construction of this market for a very long time. As the hon. Minister may be aware, Kawama Township is growing and has grown over the years.  The people of Kawama have been waiting for the construction of this market. Further, His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, promised the people at a public rally that he was going to build a modern market in Chifubu. What immediate plans does the Government have for the people of Kawama?

 

Mr Kapata: Mr Speaker, first of all, I wish to say that as a ministry, we are not aware that the President promised the people of Kawama a market. However, let me assure the hon. Member of Parliament for Chifubu that as a ministry, we will look into that matter and get back to the hon. Member of Parliament for Chifubu in due course.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

NYIMBA AND KATETE DISTRICT TOLL PLAZA CONSTRUCTION

 

78. Mr Phiri (Mkaika) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

  1. when the construction of toll plazas in the following districts will resume:

 

  1. Nyimba; and

 

  1. Katete;

 

      b. who the contractor for each project is; and

      c. what the cost of each project is.

 

The Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development (Mr Mwale): Mr Speaker, the construction of toll plazas in Nyimba and Katete districts resumed on 30th December, 2019. The works are being undertaken by the Road Development Agency (RDA) under Force Account. However, the construction of the canopies for the toll plazas has been outsourced to Messrs. PCA Civils Limited for the Nyimba toll plaza and Messrs. Ingenuity Technical Services Limited for the Katete toll plaza.

 

Mr Speaker, the cost of the toll plaza in Nyimba is K8.5 million, while that of the toll plaza in Katete is K8 million.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Phiri: Mr Speaker, I think the hon. Minister is aware that it has been long since works stalled on the two toll plazas, but my concern is on why contractors are allowed to block the road. Recently, lives were lost in Nyimba after a vehicle hit the barricades. Why are contractors allowed to close the road when they are not working on the road itself but the plazas along the road?

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, first of all, the project delayed because of insufficient funds. The Ministry of Finance had not released the funds on time. Secondly, the road was closed because a portion where the toll plaza was to be erected was tempered with and so the road was not the same. It was not going to be proper for the RDA to allow vehicles to pass on the portion where plazas were to be erected. The RDA took precautions and ensured that all safety issues were considered. The portion where the toll plazas were to be erected was barricaded and many road signs were put to warn motorists that they were approaching a construction site. In fact, I personally use that road each time I go to my constituency. I am fully aware that all safety measures were put in place. It is very unfortunate that some motorists may have ignored those warning signs which were put by the RDA and we ended up losing lives in such a manner. I am very aware that warning signs were put to ensure that everybody was aware of what was ahead.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mweetwa (Choma Central): Mr Speaker, happy new year to you and the whole House.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mweetwa: Welcome to the year 2020, and next year is 2021.

 

Mr Ngulube: Question!

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: And the other year will be 2022.

 

Mr Mweetwa: 2022.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mweetwa: Mr Speaker, in his statement, the hon. Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development mentioned the cost of the two plazas. If I got him correctly, he talked about K8.5 million and K8 million as the cost of the construction of the two toll plazas respectively. I would like to find out why the disparity in the costing of these toll plazas because they do the same job of collecting money from Zambians. Recently, there was a controversial toll gate that was built at US$4.3 million. Why are there disparities? They are leading to speculations that there is corruption in the construction of toll gates.

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the toll plazas that were constructed on the Copperbelt that cost that much are Class A toll plazas. These have very sophisticated equipment. Also, the lanes there are more than the ones we have on the Great East Road. So, they cost more because they are different. These ones are classified as Class B toll plazas and they are not that sophisticated. They only have simple canopies with a few booths. They are not the same as those on the Copperbelt and that is why the difference in pricing can be noticed.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

SIAVONGA DISTRICT CORRECTIONAL FACILITY CONSTRUCTION

 

79. Mr Mulunda (Siavonga) asked the Minister of Home Affairs:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to construct a correctional facility in Siavonga District;
  2. if so, when plans will be implemented;
  3. what the estimated cost of the project is; and
  4. what the estimated time frame for the completion of the project is.

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, the Government does not have any immediate plans of constructing a correctional centre in Siavonga District.

 

Sir, as stated in part (a) of the question, there are no immediate plans of constructing a correctional centre in Siavonga District. As there are no immediate plans to construct a correctional centre in Siavonga District, there is no estimated cost of the project. Since there are no plans of constructing a correctional centre in Siavonga District, the issue of time frame for the completion of the project does not arise.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

LUMEZI RIVER DAMMING

 

80. Mrs Jere (Lumezi) asked the Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection:

 

  1. when Lumezi River will be dammed in order to provide adequate water to the sub-centre in Lumezi District;
  2. what the total cost of the project is; and
  3. what the time frame for the completion of the project is.

 

The Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection (Dr Wanchinga): Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection has been undertaking a national programme for construction and rehabilitation of small dams countrywide. This programme is aimed at harnessing water to ensure availability of water for socio-economic activities. To this effect, once the Ministry of Finance makes funds available, the ministry will then continue undertaking feasibility studies at various sites countrywide, which could include the above site to ascertain their potential for dam construction. Detailed feasibility studies will be developed and used for resource mobilisation.

 

Mr Speaker, the cost of the project will only be established after developing the detailed technical designs, drawings and the Bill of Quantities (BoQ).

 

Sir, the time frame will only be determined once the feasibility studies have been conducted and the scope of works is established.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mrs Jere: Mr Speaker, I am not satisfied with the hon. Minister’s response. Feasibility studies have been conducted in the past and people have come up with reports. What is surprising is that the hon. Minister’s response is so general. I am talking about Lumezi sub-centre which has a nursing school and secondary and primary schools. It has a large population and people have shops and other things. In the absence of the funds that the hon. Minister has talked about regarding construction of a dam on Lumezi River, what interim measures has the ministry put in place to ensure the large population there can access clean and safe drinking water?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, there is no dispute as regards to the need for putting up dams in Lumezi. There is no dispute that the ministry is not providing any water services to Lumezi. Feasibility studies have been undertaken in Lumezi, but the feasibly study that the hon. Member referred to was carried out in 1985, and since then, there have been some changes with the landscape. So, it is necessary to ascertain whether the conditions in Lumezi remain the same. I think that is the relevance of additional feasibility studies.

 

Mr Speaker, as regards the interim measures, the Government is implementing a robust nationwide programme known as the National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme. In fact, we have just concluded the first phase. Last month, Cabinet approved the second phase of that programme. It is through that programme that Lumezi will meet its challenges in terms of water supply. It is through that programme that a series of boreholes will be drilled. It is through that programme that a number of water schemes which we are referring to as water power solar schemes will be put in place. Let me also hasten to add that Cabinet recently approved a contingency plan which we are calling a marshal plan to address water shortages in 121 constituencies. It is my hope that Lumezi will also benefit from that response.

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Zimba (Chasefu): Mr Speaker, I want the hon. Minister to clarify this issue because the challenge of water that the people of Lumezi are facing is not new. Even in Chasefu, we are encountering the same challenge of water. The hon. Minister spoke about the national feasibility study. Is there a timeframe to the same so that we can start accessing these dams?

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, in my response, I did say that this is a continuous programme and it is undertaken when resources are available. Once we are able to secure some funds, we will continue with the programme. Sometimes, this programme is stalled when resources are not available. I think we cannot put a timeframe to the construction of a dam in Lumezi because this is a programme that will be implemented within the broader nationwide programme in a ten-year period, which is from 2020 to 2030. So that is the timeframe, if I may mention it.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Prof. Lungwangwa (Nalikwanda): Mr Speaker, in the hon. Minister’s response to the question posed by the hon. Member for Lumezi, he has informed us that there is a programme to supply boreholes in 121 constituencies countrywide. Is the hon. Minister in a position to give us details of those constituencies?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I am in a position to give details of the 121 constituencies and there are all contained in the document. There are 121 places, which are mostly rural constituencies. The list is here with me and the hon. Member is free to consult on the document.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

SOLWEZI EAST COMMUNITY SCHOOLS CONVERSION

 

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

 

  1. how many community schools in Solwezi East Parliamentary Constituency had applied to be converted to public schools as of July, 2019;
  2. what the names of the schools are; and
  3. when the process of conversion will be completed.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that a total number of four community schools in Solwezi East Constituency had applied to be converted to public schools as of July, 2019. The names of the schools are:

 

  1. Kamabende Primary School;
  2. Kalamba Primary School;
  3. Kichele Primary School; and
  4. Wakabilwa Primary School.

 

Sir, the process of conversion will be complete when funds are available.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Kasune (Keembe): Mr Speaker, after the four schools have been converted from community to primary schools, have they been capacitated with teachers from the Public Service? This is because we usually discover that untrained teachers are the ones who teach at the community schools. We are wondering if this has been followed, given the new status.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, this was my answer to part (c) of the question and I want to repeat it. I said that the process of conversion will be completed when funds are available. Obviously, this is in support to those particular four schools with teachers as well as decent school infrastructure.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

LUAPULA CONSTITUENCY PALACE CONSTRUCTION

 

82. Ms Kabanshi (Luapula) asked the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs:

 

  1. when the construction of palaces for the following chiefs in Luapula Parliamentary Constituency will commence:

 

  1. Senior Chief Kalima Nkonde;
  2. Chief Kasoma Lunga;
  3. Chief Nsamba; and
  4. Chief Bwalya Mponda;

 

     b. what the time frame for the completion of each project is; and

     c. what the cost of each project is.

 

The Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs (Mr Sichalwe): Mr Speaker, the Government is currently constructing chiefs’ palaces in phases. In the first and current phase, the following chiefs’ palaces in Luapula Province are under construction:

 

  1. Senior Chief Mununga – Chienge District;
  2. Chieftainess Kanyembo – Nchelenge District; and
  3. Chief Munkanta – Kawambwa District.

 

Sir, in this regard, the construction of palaces for Senior Chief Kalima Nkonde, Chief Kasoma Lunga, Chief Nsamba and Chief Bwalya Mponda in Luapula Parliamentary Constituency will be implemented in the subsequent phases.

 

Mr Speaker, the estimated time frame for completion as well as the estimated total cost of the palaces will be determined once the procurement process of construction has been completed.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker. 

 

Ms Kabanshi: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what measures have been put in place for the chiefs’ palaces in my constituency which were badly affected by the floods last year. The palaces will be affected this year because there will be a lot of rainfall and we are also expecting to experience more floods this year.

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, coincidentally, I had an engagement this morning with three chiefs. I do not know whether they were aware that I would be responding to this question. The three chiefs did bring to my attention the position of their palaces. I endeavoured to engage our colleagues in the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) to do the interim measures as to how they will rehabilitate the palaces. Looking at the weather conditions, it is not certain that we can start on the new construction right now. Therefore, we are engaging the DMMU to see how best it can assist us to take care of these chiefs.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Nanjuwa (Mumbwa): Mr Speaker, I want to find out which palaces will be in the second phase. Has the hon. Minister already identified those palaces which will be in the second phase? Also, can the hon. Minister confirm whether the mentioned palaces in Luapula Constituency are part of those that will appear in the second phase.

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, apparently, we have not yet come up with the list of the second phase and this is dependent entirely on the provincial administration that will prioritise the palaces. We will depend on the listing that will come from the provincial administration.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr A. C. Mumba: Mr Speaker, in one of the hon. Minister’s responses, he has referred to the procurement process that is taking place at his ministry. Not too long ago, his hon. Colleague, the hon. Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development, referred to the same procurement process. In short, the hon. Minister was saying that it only takes about nine months to do this procurement.

 

Sir, my concern borders on service delivery. Could the hon. Minister share with us how long the process takes to make procurement, bearing in mind that we all know what is stipulated in the Zambia Public Procurement Authority (ZPPA) Act for the delivery of chiefs’ palaces.

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, the procurement process that I referred to is the one which will be taken when considering the second phase. Currently, we are still in the first phase. We have not yet started with the procurement process. It will only be undertaken once we have completed the first phase and then we will start looking at the second phase. Thereafter, the procurement will begin.

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Kucheka (Zambezi West): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister how many palaces have been completed in the first phase.

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, in the first phase, we have completed and handed over ten palaces. Sixteen palaces are well above 80 per cent completion, whereas four palaces are below 80 per cent completion.

 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo): Mr Speaker, of the four palaces which are below 40 or 60 per cent completion, does that include Chief Kucheka’s palace, which was one of the first to be declared on the list?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, yes indeed, it does include Chief Kucheka’s palace, which is standing at 20 per cent complete.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Fungulwe (Lufwanyama): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that about sixteen chiefs’ palaces are above 80 per cent complete. When does he intend to complete constructing these palaces that are above 80 per cent complete?

 

Mr Sichalwe: Mr Speaker, apparently, we have submitted Interim Payment Certificates (IPCs) to the Ministry of Finance, which is totalling K4 million. We are awaiting payment of these IPCs and then we shall proceed to complete those palaces that are above 80 per cent complete.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

MOVEMENT WITH PMEC NUMBERS AFTER TRANSFER

 

83. Ms Kasanda (Chisamba) asked the Minister of General Education:

 

  1. whether teachers are allowed to move with their Payroll Management and Establishment Control (PMEC) numbers when transferred from one school to another;
  2. when the PMEC numbers will be normalised for all the teachers in Katuba Parliamentary Constituency;
  3. when all the schools in the constituency will be put on the establishment register; and
  4. what the cause of the delay in including newly established schools in the establishment register is.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that teachers are not allowed to move with their Payroll Management and Establishment Control (PMEC) numbers. The terms and conditions of service for the Public Service states that:

 

“An officer who wishes to be considered on transfer, other than on promotion, to another ministry, institution, province or district shall apply to his or her responsible officer giving the reasons for the request and listing his or her qualifications for the post he or she wishes to fill provided such a post is vacant and funded.”

 

However, there are special circumstances under which teachers have been transferred, notwithstanding this particular proviso.

 

Sir, the ministry working together with the Office of the Accountant-General and Public Service Management Division (PSMD), like I said in response to Hon. Musokotwane’s question, embarked on a countrywide clean up of the payroll for teachers who have been transferred, but their payroll numbers are retained at their previous station. The process started with Lusaka and Copperbelt Provinces and it is expected to be extended to other provinces. Katuba Parliamentary Constituency will not be an exception.

 

Mr Speaker, the school should be first gazetted. The structures are granted by the Management Development Division (MDD) at Cabinet Office and then are submitted to the PSMD for inclusion in the establishment register.

 

Sir, the delay in including the newly established schools in the establishment register is due to the reason that schools should first be gazetted, granted structures, treasury authority obtained from the Ministry of Finance for the operationalisation of the school and then teachers put on the payroll. The House may wish to note that most of the newly established schools have no treasury authority, but many of them have establishments.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Kasanda: Mr Speaker, I just wanted to find out from the hon. Minister if he is aware that some teachers in quite a number of constituencies have been moving with PMEC numbers as they are being transferred?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, yes, I am aware and that is why in my answer to part (a) of the question, I did say that officers are not supposed to be transferred with their PMEC numbers. However, due to special circumstances, that has been happening and I will give an example. If, for instance, we are establishing a school in Katuba Constituency and have not been given treasury authority, we are compelled to provide a service to the people in that particular area by transferring teachers from a school that has been established to this new school. So, those are the special circumstances. Many of our teachers who have been transferred with PMEC numbers are falling into that category.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kambita (Zambezi East): Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the hon. Minister of General Education a follow up question as regards a system that is being used to track such challenges in terms of management of the payroll in the ministry. I do recognise that our colleagues do have human resource officers at the district, provincial and national levels. Does the ministry have a system where these officers submit returns to detect such kind of challenges, so that peculiar cases like those spoken to as regards new schools that are established, are actually separated and so that we have a clean payroll system in the Ministry of General Education?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, the system exists, but it is anchored on the example I gave that most of our teachers who have been transferred with PMEC numbers are those who have gone to serve in schools that have been established and gazetted. However, at the time that they are waiting for treasury authority, the ministry has got no choice but to transfer teachers from one existing school to a new one.

 

Sir, this is why I did indicate that the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) decided to undertake a countrywide payroll audit, so that we begin to clean up the exercise. This will also ensure that the PMEC numbers of those teachers who have been transferred into schools that had no treasury authority can be defined in those particular schools, so that those vacancies they were occupying in those schools were we have transferred them from remain vacant. This particular exercise is going on as part of the cleaning up of the payroll arrangements.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Kasune: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for acknowledging the challenges regarding this matter. There is also a situation where the reverse is true, where teachers are still on certain Payroll Management and Establishment Control (PMEC) numbers, but they are not in the designated schools. We have had this challenge in Katuba being in Chibombo District. This situation has gone on for years. We are just wondering because this is not only for Katuba, but other districts as well. What is being done on the immediate because that is where the challenge is?

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, the immediate remedy is the audit that is going on. The audit that is going on will begin to align teachers where they are, so that if, for example, a teacher was in Katuba Constituency and has been transferred to Chisamba Constituency, that teacher will be defined now on the payroll for Chisamba Constituency. So, I can only appeal to my hon. Colleagues to give us a bit of time, so that we are able to do a better job for them in terms of teacher realignment and redistribution.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Ms Kasanda: Mr Speaker, I appreciate the hon. Minister’s answer that he would like us to give him a bit more time. However, is there a time frame as to when we can get that information? The answer that he has given us that we give him a bit more time is not good enough. Maybe he could give us a time frame as and when this process could be done and concluded.

 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I will only ask that I am given a bit of time to come back to the House to give specific details because I have to consult my colleagues at Cabinet Office and PSMD.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

CHAMA SOUTH STALLED FEEDER ROAD CONSTRUCTION

 

84. Mr Mung’andu (Chama South) asked the Minister of Local Government:

 

  1. why the construction of the following feeder roads in Chama South Parliamentary Constituency stalled:

 

  1. Chamu/Chikwa;
  2. Chikwa/Mapamba; and
  3. Chifunda/Mnyukwa;

 

      b.when works on each project will resume; and

     c. what the time frame for the completion of each project is.

 

Ms Kapata on behalf of Dr Banda: Mr Speaker, our response is that construction of feeder roads in Chama Parliamentary Constituency stalled because the contract had expired without works being completed.

 

Sir, the works are scheduled to resume after the rainy season as the Ministry of Local Government has concluded all the renewal processes of the contracts. The works are scheduled to be completed in 2021, but this will be dependent on the availability of funds.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, we are grateful to hear that the contracts have since been renewed. I want to find out if the hon. Minister is aware that on the Chifunda/Mnyukwa Road, the contractor is in the process of trying to install culverts and has dug deep ditches which have led to the people of Chifunda being completely cut off from the rest of the district. Previously during the rainy season, people were able to access Lundazi. I am sure the hon. Minister is aware that the nearest town on the southern side of Chifunda is Lundazi, but because of those ditches that the contractor dug, the people are now completely cut off from Lundazi.

 

Sir, I want to find out from the hon. Minister what measures our working Government is putting in place to ensure that this contractor opens the road up, so that the people are able to access services in Lundazi.

 

Ms Kapata: Mr Speaker, I assure the hon. Member of Parliament that the road will be given priority. Like I said earlier on, the Government will wait for the rains to subside before moving to the site.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

ZAMBIANS WITH ACCESS TO SAFE AND CLEAN WATER

 

 

85. Mr Miyutu asked the Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection:

 

  1. what percentage of the population in Zambia has access to safe and clean water as of July 2019; and
  2. what measures are being taken to ensure that more people, especially in rural areas, have access to safe and clean water.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, the percentage of the population in Zambia that has access to safe and clean water as of July 2019 is 65 per cent. This is the national average. The average figure of access to safe and clean water for urban areas stood at 89 per cent in July 2019, while access to safe and clean water for rural areas was at 47 per cent.

 

Sir, the second part of the question is similar to the question I answered earlier on. I did mention that the Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation, Environmental Protection is implementing a national rural water and sanitation programme which is running from 2019 to 2030. This is a sister programme to a national programme referred to as the National Urban and Peri-Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Programme. These are the main programmes. However, I did say when answering an earlier question that we have prepared a contingency plan addressing rural areas in which we hope to provide clean water supply.

 

Sir, this plan involves the construction of 4,500 solar powered water schemes, drilling of 3,500 hand powered boreholes, and rehabilitation of about 1,500 boreholes throughout the country. That is what we want to do through the contingency plan in 121 rural constituencies.

 

Mr Speaker, let me also hasten to mention that apart from these Government efforts, we are also harnessing the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) which are active in the water sector. For instance, we have created a platform where we are engaging these NGOs such as World Vision, Care International and Caritas so that we share efforts in supplying water to rural areas. These are the efforts being made to supply clean water to rural areas throughout Zambia.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister talked about the programme which will run from 2020 to 2030. These rural areas have been in existence. This means the towns which the Government is concentrating on are new areas. The rural areas have not been attended to ever since Zambia was created. The hon. Minister is aware of climate change which is affecting much of the rural areas which are not serviced by piped water. For example, the Western Province has had low rainfall and therefore, the ground water level was affected. Even the shallow wells where people used to get water from are dry. If we had to follow the ten year programme, what is going to save the lives of people now? My interest is the immediate solution to this issue because people in places like Miti Ward and Nguma Ward have no water. One ward has only eight boreholes but there are numerous people there. What immediate plan does the Government have to save lives?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I sympathise with the hon. Member, although his lamentations are very generalised. I do not know whether he wants me to respond specifically to the Western Province as to how the Government is responding to the effects of climate change in that area. If he allows me to narrow my response to the Western Province, my answer is that we are implementing a number of programmes which involve water supply to improve rural livelihoods. Also, the Government just signed a financing agreement with the African Development Bank (AfDB) for a programme we are calling the ‘Integrated Water Supply and Sanitation Programme’. Through this programme, we are going to create robust water supply programmes in selected districts in the Western Province. Indeed, we have noted the impact of climate change and that is why we are implementing the kind of programmes that I talked about earlier. As regards the Western Province, I think it will benefit very much from the integrated water supply and sanitation project which is going to be implemented. The contract has been signed and contractors are currently being recruited. All these activities are taking place as we are talking.

 

I thank you, Sir. 

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, we all know that water is life. Fortunately for Zambia, 40 per cent of all the water in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region is domiciled here. However, it is so painful to find that our rural constituencies have no access to clean and safe drinking water.

 

Mr Speaker, I am interested in the rehabilitation of the 1,500 boreholes, which is far too short. The Patriotic Front (PF) Government has done a lot since 2011 as regards the drilling of boreholes which are scattered everywhere. However, rehabilitation of the boreholes has been lacking. When will we have a programme to rehabilitate the boreholes that were dug, but are not operational? How soon will we have this programme so that people can have safe drinking water?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I mentioned in my response to the earlier questions that last month, Cabinet approved a contingency plan in which we hope to rehabilitate 1,500 boreholes. We are trying to mobilise resources for this exercise to begin. How soon will depend upon the rate at which we will access resources. The ministry has to lobby for financing from co-operating partners and the coffers of the Ministry of Finance. So, as soon as we get this, we will roll out the rehabilitation programme.

 

Mr Speaker, let me also hasten to add that the ministry has a programme to put up some kiosks to facilitate the purchase of some of the small parts which may be missing from hand pumps which are scattered all over the country. We want to assist our people. In cases where they are faced with very small challenges, they should be able to access small spare parts and rehabilitate the boreholes as communities.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr A. C. Mumba: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister’s statistical data is quite impressive. Nonetheless, I would like to refer him to his response to part (b) of the question following the feasibility studies that he talked about earlier. He talked about drilling of boreholes and everything else. We have had consistent rain water which tends to become a problem to our people. I have a country like Namibia in mind which has invested a lot in rain water harvesting. I would like to find out if there is any programme around this issue under his ministry in all these feasibility studies that he has been carrying out, especially for the rural households?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, let me first try to interpret the question before I answer it. Is the hon. Member asking me what we are doing as a country in terms of water harvesting since Namibia is doing this?

 

Mr Speaker nodded in assent.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I thank you. I think that the issue of water harvesting is an issue we have also recognised as very critical, especially in view of climate change. We are addressing this issue at various levels. The first level, of course, is that we want to harvest this rain water which is draining into the river systems by damming the river systems. This is one way of harvesting rain water.

 

Mr Speaker, we would also like to work with our technical experts to see if we could work towards developing technologies for harvesting water even from roof tops. For instance, I know that this is being done in some countries like India. You can harvest water from roof tops and put it into some kind of underground tank in your background and use it to support your small gardens. I also know that the Ministry of Agriculture is interested in water harvesting on farms by promoting technologies that are appropriate for the retention of water on farm lands. This is another approach that we are advocating.

 

Mr Speaker, let me also mention that Namibia is a very small country.  Perhaps the population is just about the population of Lusaka or so. What we actually could do if we have to scale this up in our country may require a slightly different approach. However, all in all, I would like to say that the hon. Member has raised a very important point that we need to invest in the development of technologies for water harvesting so that some of this water that ends up in the ocean can be retained at later times within the country when the rains have gone.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, I heard that 4,500 boreholes will be powered by solar energy and 3,500 hand pumps and 1,500 will be repaired. However, I did not hear the hon. Minister talk about damming in rural areas. What is being done to improve the 47 per cent which is the number of people who have access to clean water in rural areas? Why has the Government not thought of constructing dams so that they can serve both human beings and animals? Unless I did not get the hon. Minister well, I did not get anything on dams. What is the position of the Government on dams?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, the hon. Member is very concerned about damming because this is the second time he has made reference to the issue of damming. It is also the second time that I am saying that the programme of putting up dams was initiated in 1985 when a special programme was created to identify places and build dams where appropriate when resources are available throughout the country.

 

Sir, the hon. Member may recall that it is not long ago when we were able to build twelve dams with the support of the World Bank. I was in the Eastern Province last week and was able to inspect some of the dams which have been constructed and which we intend to rehabilitate. I was also in Luapula Province last week and visited some dams like Chibalashi Dam. So, we are constructing dams. I think that given adequate resources, we should be able to implement at full throttle the 1985 dam construction programme, but we have been slowed down because of the lack of funds. The hon. Member should be aware that the Government has a programme for dam construction because we believe that dams have three purposes. They are very important for agriculture and livestock production especially in rural areas.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: I will take the last three questions from the hon. Members for Kasenengwa Constituency, Chilanga Constituency and Keembe Constituency.

 

Mr S. Banda (Kasenengwa): Mr Speaker, it is gratifying to note that the Government has provided intermediate measures to deal with the issue of water through the contingency plan. Among them is the maintenance of 1,500 boreholes. Is the hon. Minister able to inform us the percentage of the allocation to the rural areas like Kasenengwa? Further, could he also provide the catchment area for this particular intervention.

 

Mr Speaker:  Hon. Minister, is the question not clear?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, it is not clear.

 

Mr Speaker: Repeat the question, hon. Member for Kasenengwa.

 

Mr S. Banda: Mr Speaker, out of the 1,500 boreholes, I would like to know the distribution percentage for the predominantly rural constituencies. Further, can the hon. Minister also highlight the beneficiary constituencies.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Sir, I will pretend that I understood everything.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: No, I would not like you to pretend.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Speaker: You need to understand the question. Hon. Member for Kasenengwa, can you please slowly put your question.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I think I heard the most important part.

 

Mr Speaker: Very well.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Sir, the hon. Member wants to know the percentage for rural areas among the 1,500 boreholes. In the first part, he was talking about the number of the boreholes which are going to be rehabilitated throughout the country in relation to rural areas.

 

Sir, I would like to say that the 1,500 boreholes are all in rural areas and are fairly distributed in the 121 rural constituencies. However, as regards to the percentage of the 1,500 boreholes which perhaps could be given to his constituency, I wish to inform the hon. Member that the details are in here.

 

Dr Wanchinga showed a document to the House.

 

Dr Wanchinga: Sir, just like Prof. Lungwangwa came to consult this document, I would like to invite the hon. Member to come and consult and be able to find out how many of the boreholes will be rehabilitated in his consistency.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker. 

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mrs Phiri (Chilanga): Mr Speaker, the Kafue Bulk Water Project passes through Chilanga, but the people of Chilanga do not have access to clean and safe water. I would like to find out from the hon. Minister what the ministry is doing to ensure that the people of Chilanga Constituency and Chilanga Ward in particular have access to this clean and safe water.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Chilanga, if you look at Question No. 85, particularly part (b), you will note that this is skewed towards the rural areas. Your question is a new one.

 

Ms Kasune: Mr Speaker, water is a basic human right. So, given the percentage of the access to portable water in rural areas, which is at 45 per cent, I wonder whether the ministry is putting in place mechanisms to work with the Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) such as Water Aid, World Vision and Living Water. If so, does the ministry have a database somewhere so that even hon. Members can help with the interactions to increase the access to water percentage in the rural areas?

 

Mr Speaker: The hon. Minister seems to be wearing a puzzled face.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Speaker: I always do.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Wanchinga:  Sir, I just could not get the core issue being raised here.

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Keembe, repeat your question.

 

Ms Kasune: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister presented to the House that the access to portable water for people in rural areas is about 45 per cent. So, with that information, I would like to know the measures the Government is putting in place to alleviate the current situation. I would like to know whether the ministry has engaged NGOs such as Water Aid, Living Water, World Vision and others. If it has, does it have a database, so that hon. Members of Parliament can also access it and help to increase the access to portable water to avert the current sad situation?

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, as you can see a smiling face, it means that I got the question.

 

Laughter

 

Dr Wanchinga: Mr Speaker, I suppose the hon. Member was out of the House when I was answering an earlier question. I said that among the things we are doing, apart from the programmes we are implementing like the National Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme, National Urban and Peri-Urban Water Supply and Sanitation Programme and Marshal Plan, the ministry has also engaged Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). 

Sir, as a matter of fact, last year, we organised a general gathering which called a troika where we invited governmental agencies, NGOs and all those who are playing an important role in the water sector. Others organisations were World Vision, Care International, Caritas Zambia and all the people came to attend the meeting. In fact, we were supposed to have a similar meeting this week, but it was postponed to a later date, where we again want to bring the same people and share the Government’s vision in terms of water supply in rural areas and to also find out how we can partner with the NGOs in terms of water supply. Therefore, the platform has been created to work with the NGOs.

 

Mr Speaker, in terms of how hon. Members can get involved through a database, I wish to state that this is an important value addition to the discussion. So, we can consolidate the list which is already there and perhaps make it available to hon. Members of Parliament and all the partners in the water sector, so that the Government can work with the NGOs to improve water supply in the rural areas.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

FISP EXTENSION TO OTHER SEASONS

 

86. Mr Ng’onga (on behalf of Mr Mecha (Chifunabuli)) asked the Minister of Agriculture:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to extend the implementation of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) to other seasons other than the rainy season, in order to promote irrigation farming; and
  2. if so, when the plans will be implemented.

 

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Katambo): Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the Government is making attempts to extend the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) beyond and rainy season through the Electronic-Voucher (e-Voucher) System. Under the e-Voucher System, farmers are encouraged to redeem a diverse range of inputs, including inputs for irrigated farming such vegetable seeds and chemicals. So, the Government is already implementing such plans through the e-Voucher System.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, we know that FISP in its current form has a number of shortcomings, including targeting beneficiaries and delivery of inputs to famers at the right time. Does the ministry have a plan to review FISP?

 

Mr Katambo: Mr Speaker, indeed, the ministry is in the process of doing that. The process has already begun and involves various Government institutions such as the Ministry of National Development and Planning, Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Ministry of Community Development and Social Welfare and Ministry of Finance, just to mention a few. The key objective is to remove the loopholes and propose measures for sustainability of the programme. This is a comparative exercise that will be done in phases to reduce disruption of the programme.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr A. C. Mumba: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister knows that the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) consumes a huge amount of money in our Budget. Further, the hon. Minister has just mentioned that the programme is being reviewed now. Would the ministry not think that it is about time that the private sector took over this programme, so that the Government can use such resources on something else like education and health?

 

Mr Katambo: Mr Speaker, indeed, that is part of the review. So, we will look into all those solutions for us to effectively implement the programme.

 

 I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1640 hours until 1700 hours.

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

SAMU LYA MOOMBA DECLARATION AS NATIONAL MONUMENT

 

87. Mr Michelo (Bweengwa) asked the Minister of Tourism and Arts:

 

  1. whether the Government has any plans to declare Samu Lya Moomba in Bweengwa Parliamentary Constituency, a national monument;
  2. if so, when the plans will be implemented;
  3. what has caused the delay in declaring the site; and
  4. if there are no such plans, why.

 

The Minister of Tourism and Arts (Mr Chitotela): Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to declare Samu Lya Moomba a national monument. The report that is pertaining to the historical significance of this site was brought to the attention of the National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) in 2015. In July, 2016, the commission visited the site to confirm the existence, location, condition and other aspects of the site. The site is located in Chieftainess Choongo’s chiefdom and was found in a good state. The commission was informed that it was at that site where the Lwindi Ceremony of the Tonga people of Chieftainess Choongo was celebrated annually.

 

Sir, before the site is declared a national monument, there are certain specific steps that need to be undertaken by the NHCC. These include, but are not limited to:

 

  1. engaging the relevant key stakeholders such as her royal highness Chieftainess Choongo and others;
  2. carrying out of research to gather more information about the site. This involves the conducting of oral interviews and library research. The research, therefore, will assist to establish the significance of the site for the purpose of declaration and later interpretation and presentation to the public; and
  3. conducting a survey to determine the boundary of the site.

 

Mr Speaker, once these steps have been completed, all the relevant information would then be placed in the facility that will help facilitate the implementation of the declaration of the site as a national monument. This process was completed by the end of 2019.

 

Sir, the NHCC has been involved in the re-identification of the boundaries for Fort Monze, Kalomo Mound as well as the administrator’s house in Kalomo in the same area. Currently, a draft statutory instrument is being worked on and will be submitted to the Ministry of Justice for finalisation. Therefore, part (d) of the question does not stand.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Nkombo (Mazabuka Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Minister for coming through on this subject.  We are looking forward to Samu Lya Moomba being a heritage site.

 

Sir, for those who may not know Samu Lya Moomba, this place has more significance than the site for the traditional ceremony for Chief Choongo, as indicated by the hon. Minister. Therefore, is he able to just briefly indicate to the House, and through it to the nation, the significance of Samu Lya Moomba vis-à-vis the travels of the freedom fighters that went to Lancaster House to go and sign the paper for the independence of this country?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, this is a very important site, as I stated. During the consultation with the stakeholders and the relevant authorities, that information was brought to the attention of the NHCC, that it is a significant site in the political history of the country. That is why the Government decided to declare it as a national monument.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Michelo: Mr Speaker, this place that is called Samu Lya Moomba was the site where Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula, Dr Kenneth Kaunda and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe convened to form a political party called the Africa National Congress (ANC). This is the place where farmers sold their animals to raise money to send the three people to England, where they went to sign the white paper and brought it here, which represents our freedom today. Therefore, how soon is the Government going to declare that place a historical site?

 

Mr Chitotela: Mr Speaker, there are a number of different sites where political meetings were taking place before independence. I must state that one of the considerations the Government takes into account before declaring a site as a national monument is its importance to the history of the country and the research that it provides. In this case, some of the activities that were taking place at this site is the issue that has been raised by the area hon. Member of Parliament. This is the more reason the Government considered it very important to declare the site as a national monument.

 

Sir, I did state that we are drafting the statutory instrument that will be submitted to the Ministry of Justice for clearance. The hon. Minister will thereafter sign and declare different sites as national monuments including Samu Lya Moomba in Bweengwa Parliamentary Consistency.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

MUSA SECONDARY SCHOOL COMPLETION

 

88. Mr Munkonge (Lukashya) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

  1. when the construction of Musa Secondary School in Lukashya Parliamentary Constituency will be completed;
  2. what has caused the delay in completing the project which has been above 80 per cent completion for the past three years;
  3. when the construction of Ntumpa Secondary School will be completed; and
  4. what has caused the delay in completing the project.

 Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the construction of Musa Secondary School is almost complete. What is remaining is a septic tank which will be constructed after the Rainy Season in the second quarter of 2020.

 

Sir, the delay in completing Musa Secondary School which has been above 80 per cent completion for the past three years has been due to financial constraints.

 

Mr Speaker, the construction of Ntumpa Secondary School will be completed by the end of the fourth quarter of 2020. This is subject to availability of funds.

 

Sir, the delay in completion of Ntumpa Secondary School has been due to financial constraints.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Munkonge: Mr Speaker, even though these structures may be 80 per cent complete and above, they are still much better than some of the structures currently being used as temporal facilities for teaching our secondary school pupils. Can the hon. Minister not entertain the thought of handing these schools over at 80 per cent level of completion? These structures would still be better than the ones which are currently being used. The current situation is inconveniencing the pupils in the neighboring primary schools as they are given schedules and spend less time in class in order to facilitate the education of secondary school pupils. Would the Government consider handing over these structures, especially classrooms, and build pit latrines while waiting for the construction of a septic tank?

 

Mr Mwale: Speaker, such a decision will have to be made by the Ministry of General Education which is the users. If the Ministry of General Education wishes to have a particular school project which is 60 per cent complete to be used and is happy with it, then it can be used because the Ministry of General Education is the one to determine that. I think the ministry has some standards it follows before allowing pupils to use such facilities. Perhaps the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development, the Ministry of General Education, and the hon. Member of Parliamentary for Lukashya need to have a meeting to discuss that matter. Ultimately, it is only the Ministry of General Education which can decide on that matter. We as the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development only construct for it and we are obliged to do so until the project is completed. However, if the Ministry of General Education wishes to receive a project before it is complete, that can be discussed. Perhaps, let me invite the hon. Member of Parliament for a meeting tomorrow to discuss this matter.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Nkombo: Mr Speaker, I heard the hon. Member of Parliament for Lukashya firmly say that the school in question 80 per cent complete or above. If I am right, I would like to find out from the hon. Minister whether the pronouncement which was made about a year or two ago that only projects that are 80 per cent complete and above will be completed because of austerity measures. If so, what explanation does the Government have for projects that it has embarked upon in the country that are below 80 per cent complete. For instance, just yesterday, I saw His Excellency, the President of the Republic, assuring the people of Chilubi that the Government had allocated K20 million to rehabilitate a road which is damaged in Chilubi. Could I please be answered?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the Government made a decision that it was going to focus on projects which are above 80 per cent completion. For example, when I was asked about the construction of Sikongo Road project and some bridges, I said there could be exceptions to emergency cases. I have said this several times. It does not matter where an emergency case occurs, the Government will deal with such a project even if it happens to be below 80 per cent complete.

 

Mr Speaker, for prudence’s sake, the Government wants to direct resources towards projects that are above 80 per cent and finish them. However, if there is an emergency, the decision can be reviewed to accommodate such a project. I suppose I followed what the President said on the road in Chilubi. This road is terribly bad and there are people who need to go to hospital for maternity and other services. Moreover, the road project in Chilubi already has a contractor and he is on site. Only certain portions of the road need to be patched. That is where the K20 million went to. The Government is still using the 80 per cent and above pronouncement for completing projects, but emergency issues can still be addressed.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Mwila (Chimwemwe): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that construction works at Musa Secondary School are almost complete. What is remaining is the construction of a septic tank, which may be finished by the second quarter of this year. I would like to find out how many months exactly the Ministry of Housing and Infrastructure Development needs to complete the construction of a septic tank.

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, as I said, the septic tank will be dealt with in the second quarter. The contractor is on site and this is the information the Government has been given. Even that septic tank requires finances as well and that is why I do not want to give much hope and say that it can be constructed next week or next month. The worst case scenario regarding the completion is the second quarter. However, it can be completed before the second quarter, and that is what the Government is hoping for. I cannot give a specific month but it will be completed in the second quarter. 

 

I thank you, Sir.

MUMBWA SOCIAL CASH TRANSFER TARGETED BENEFICIARIES

 

89. Mr Nanjuwa asked the Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare:

 

  1. what the targeted number of beneficiaries of the Social Cash Transfer Programme in Mumbwa Parliamentary Constituency was, in 2018;
  2. whether the target was met;
  3. if the target was not met, why;
  4. when the last disbursement of the Social Cash Transfer in the constituency was made; and
  5. what the total amount disbursed was.

 

The Minister of Community Development and Social Welfare (Ms Mulenga): Mr Speaker, Mumbwa District has two constituencies, namely Nangoma Constituency and Mumbwa Constituency. As at the beginning of 2018, the Social Cash Transfer Programme had a case load of 3,564 beneficiaries broken down as follows:

 

Constituency                            Number of beneficiaries

 

Mumbwa                                 2,117

 

Nangoma                                 1,447

 

Mr Speaker, the ministry planned to scale up the Social Cash Transfer Programme in Mumbwa and the district was given the targeted case load of 3,577 in 2018 and this case load is only disaggregated at the stage of validation to determine how many beneficiaries belong to which constituency.

 

Mr Speaker, out of the targeted 3,577 beneficiaries, the ministry managed to capture 3,564 leaving a shortfall of thirteen household beneficiaries to meet the projected targeted number.

 

Mr Speaker, the ministry did not meet the target. It had a shortfall of thirteen household beneficiaries as of 2018 for the following reasons:

 

  1. data capturing errors;
  2. marginal errors; and
  3. limitations in terms of accessibility to some places.

 

Mr Speaker, despite the above challenges, the enumeration and targeting processes are ongoing under the Social Cash Transfer Programme. Therefore, the shortfalls are expected to be met subsequent to enumerations.

 

Mr Speaker, the last payment made to the beneficiaries in the district was in February 2019. A total amount of K813,600 was paid to the 2,117 beneficiaries in Mumbwa Constituency.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Nanjuwa: Mr Speaker, there are so many qualifying beneficiaries who were omitted on the 2018 submitted lists whose names are coming now to be registered. I wish to know if there is still room to increase the targeted number of beneficiaries in Mumbwa.

 

Ms Mulenga: Mr Speaker, I did indicate that we had a shortfall of thirteen households. Countrywide, we were supposed to have met a target of 700,000 beneficiaries. As the process is ongoing, I want to assure the hon. Member of Parliament for Mumbwa that we will capture the remaining beneficiaries. The beneficiaries are still being uploaded into the system and when we disburse the next payment, I am sure they will be on the list.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Nanjuwa: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister indicated that the last disbursement was done in February 2019. When will the next disbursement for the beneficiaries in Mumbwa be?

 

Ms Mulenga: Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Finance has released K22 million. At the end of February and beginning of March, we will begin the disbursement of these funds to the various beneficiaries.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Miyutu: Mr Speaker, I seek clarification on the last payment that was made last year in February. Were there pending payments before this payment in February? Were there other months before February 2019 which were not catered for?

 

Ms Mulenga: Mr Speaker, as far as we are concerned, we are up to date with the payments.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

VUBWI BOARDING SCHOOL COMPLETION

 

90. Ms Miti (Vubwi) asked the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development:

 

  1. when the construction of Vubwi Boarding School in Vubwi District will be completed;
  2. how much work, in percentage terms, had been undertaken as of June 2019; and
  3. what the total cost of the project is.

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, the construction of Vubwi Secondary School in Vubwi District is expected to be completed by the end of December 2020.

 

Sir, as of June 2019, construction works were 60 per cent complete, and the contract sum is K36.6 million.

 

 Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Ms Miti: Mr Speaker, Vubwi has no secondary school and with the increase of the number of primary schools being upgraded to secondary schools, the number of pupils in secondary schools has continued to go up. I am sure the hon. Minister has been to Vubwi and has seen that some structures such as dormitories have been constructed at Vubwi Boarding Secondary School. If it is possible, could the hon. Minister liaise with the hon. Minister of General Education to see if there could be a partial opening of the boarding secondary school? I am saying so because what is happening at the moment is that our children, especially the girls, are in weekly boarding secondary schools and most of them are renting unsuitable structures. This has put the lives of the girl child in danger. Is it possible for the hon. Minister to liaise with the hon. Minister of General Education to consider partial opening of the boarding secondary school?

 

Mr Mwale: Mr Speaker, this question is similar to the one that was asked by the hon. Member for Lukashya. I think that this teaches us that maybe we need to factor in various stages in the way we construct our schools and hospitals to make use of the structures that we are putting up at every stage. I will consult my colleague in the Ministry of General Education. Perhaps the hon. Member of Parliament would like to join us. We could arrange outside this Chamber to meet with the hon. Minister of General Education to see what can be done to utilise the structures that have been constructed so far as we strive to find the money to complete this project by December 2020. It is possible to do that. We could discuss that. If the Ministry of General Education agrees, we could end up doing that.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

MOTION

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

_______

 

The House adjourned at 1726 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 12th February, 2020.

 

___________