Wednesday, 14^th April, 2021

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

________

 

MOTIONS

 

REPORT OF THE PUBLIC ACCOUNTS COMMITTEE

 

Mr Kunda (Muchinga): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Interim Report of the Auditor-General on the Audit of the Utilisation of the Coronavirus Disease 2020 (COVID-19) Resources as at 31^st July, 2020, for the Fifth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on Friday, 26^th March, 2021.

 

Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Ms Tambatamba (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mr Kunda: Mr Speaker, based on its terms of reference, the Committee considered the aforementioned. I now have the privilege to present the report to this House. In doing so, I will highlight some salient issues contained in it.

 

Sir, the COVID-19 pandemic presents an extraordinary threat that the country has not experienced before and whose impact requires considerable resources to mitigate. The Committee commends the Treasury for having released a total of K95,163,332 for the fight against the pandemic. 

 

Mr Speaker, the Committee realises that the fight against COVID-19 is ongoing and that the end of the pandemic cannot be determined at the moment. Therefore, the fight requires sustainable resource mobilisation. In this regard, the Committee contends that the National Disaster Relief Trust Fund, which is provided for under the Disaster Management Act No.13 of 2010, is a dependable mechanism that the Treasury can use to mobilise resources beyond the budgetary provisions. The trust fund has the potential to greatly enhance revenue mobilisation and contribute to ensuring effective and efficient disaster management. However, the Committee is concerned that it has taken the Executive ten years to operationalise the fund and, therefore, urges the Executive to fully operationalise the trust fund without undue delay and that the Treasury finances its operations.

 

Sir, the Committee appreciates the role played by the Ministry of Health, as the key ministry responsible for public health delivery. It is, however, disheartening to note that the report of the Auditor-General has revealed glaring irregularities related to the procurement of goods and services, poor contract management and other malpractices, such as cover bidding and over-commitment of expenditure at the ministry.

 

Mr Speaker, cover bidding by suppliers has the potential to stifle competition and is contrary to public procurement regulations. Unfortunately, the audit revealed that the Ministry of Health awarded contracts to suppliers who engaged in cover bidding. It is also shocking that the Ministry of Health over-committed expenditure by entering into contracts that exceeded the total budgetary provision of K716 million by K63,783,528 without authority. It is unacceptable for the ministry to misconduct itself in such a manner.

 

Sir, the Committee observes that these irregularitiesrampant violation of the provisions of the Public Procurement Act No.12 of 2008 and the public procurement regulations, and failure to comply with the Treasury and financial management circulars with impunity. In light of these violations and irregularities, the Committee recommends that:

 

1. the Controlling Officer takes disciplinary action against all Ministry of Health officials involved in the irregularities highlighted  in the Auditor-General’s Report and reports them to their professional bodies for appropriate action. Further, the Controlling Officer should report the matter of procurement irregularities to the investigative wings; 
2. the Controlling Officer reviews all the contracts signed and cancels all those that are out of time and those that have failed to perform in line with contract requirements;
3. the Secretary to the Treasury takes keen interest in public procurement and contract management at the Ministry of Health, and ensures that the flouting of the public procurement law, rules and regulations is not only punished, but also halted forthwith; and
4. a forensic investigation into all COVID-19-related procurements be undertaken by the relevant wings of the Government.

 

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, the Committee is grateful to you and the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the support rendered to it during its deliberations. The Committee also pays tribute to all the stakeholders for the various roles they played during the deliberations.

 

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

 

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

 

Ms Tambatamba: Now, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker, thank you for allowing me to second the Motion to adopt the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Interim Report of the Auditor-General on the Audit of the Utilisation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Resources as at 31^st July, 2020. I also thank the mover for ably highlighting the salient issues contained in the report.

 

Sir, as I second the Motion, I wish to comment on a few other issues highlighted in the report that equally caught the Committee’s attention. The key issues that I will speak about include the donation administration irregularities noted in the execution of the COVID-19 response. I will also speak about the irregularities in the administration of payments for training.

 

Mr Speaker, on the maladministration of donations, the issues that came out include the valuation of in-kind donations, which was clearly noted by the Committee. Some of the in-kind donations announced by the Ministry of Health and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) were not given a valuation. In other words, there was no valuation of the cost of the in-kind donations that the ministry and the DMMU received. So, there was no reconciliation of figures announced by the donors, and the public was left in the dark on the real value of the donations that were made. For instance, the donations made by Trade Kings Limited and the National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) were not valuated to enable verification and reconciliation, which would have enabled people to understand the value received. Much as the people appreciated the donations made, they were left in the dark on the actual value.

 

Sir, the non-valuation of some donations with tax implications left the authorities like the Auditor-General with no understanding of their real value, hence making it very difficult for them to work out the tax rebates that are usually made for donations. In view of this, the Committee urges the Ministry of Health to put in place a mechanism for verifying and recording the correct value of donations, which must then be announced to the members of the public.

 

Mr Speaker, another issue related to donations was the failure to co-ordinate in-kind donations. No guidance was provided by the ministry to well-wishers to align their donations with the priorities of the contingency and response plan. So, the donors gave as they wished and, in some cases, there could have been duplications while other areas were left lacking. For example, NAPSA and Trade Kings Limited were not well guided on what to donate to add real value to the response plan. Everybody who donated was left to make a guess. Therefore, the Committee recommends that, in future, the ministry and other implementing partners like the DMMU verify and reconcile all figures and provide guidance to the donors on donations that would be relevant and of value to any given response.

 

Mr Speaker, another issue related to donations was the lack of verification. For example, the Jack Ma Foundation donated test kits and face masks through the Zambian Embassy in Ethiopia. We found this case – 

 

Mr Speaker, I second the Motion.

 

Mr Kambita (Zambezi East): Mr Speaker, thank you very much for according me the opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion to adopt the Report of the Public Accounts Committee on the Interim Report of the Auditor-General on the Audit of the Utilisation of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Resources as at 31^st July, 2020.

 

Mr Speaker, one management guru once talked about management by thriving on chaos. This is clearly what we see as a trademark of this Patriotic Front (PF) Government, as it seems to thrive on managing through chaos. We see a situation in which the COVID-19 donations were managed in a chaotic situation, and somebody somewhere benefitted from the confusion that seemed to rock the whole system that was put in place.

 

Mr Speaker, you will agree with me that one of the important indicators of strong internal controls is management and planning. From your report, it seems there were no clear plans put in place to ensure the smooth management of the resources, which had value attached to them. No wonder, there was a situation, as your Committee reports, in which some of the donations, especially the in-kind ones, could not even be accounted in value or monetary terms. It is clear that even though the items were donated, there was value attached to them. However, because of its appetite to manage through chaos, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government left things the way they were, and here we are debating a report of the Auditor-General, which shows that resources donated to mitigate a serious disease like COVID-19 were not well accounted for.

 

Sir, what is really there to report about if there was no proper management of the whole system? This raises a number of questions. For example, one can ask, “Is it a question of a lack of capacity to ensure that such donations are accounted for?” No, it is not about capacity. The capacity is there because there are many qualified employees in Government institutions. For instance, there are professionals in procurement, stores management and finance and accounting, some of whom have Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degrees. That is especially the case at the Ministry of Health. So, we are where we are because of clear negligence of management. That is the reason we in the Untied Party for National Development (UPND) have offered ourselves as an alternative government that will make sure that such resources are accounted for to the last Ngwee. It clearly shows the kind of leadership that exists in the PF when such resources are not accounted for, and the end result is that the end user loses the benefit they were supposed to derive from the donations. So, it all boils down to how the Executive manages resources that are supposed to benefit the people we claim to represent.

 

 Mr Speaker, with these few remarks, I can only implore Zambians to look through how the PF goes around doing their business because this is a clear example of failure in a Government that does not care for its people.

 

 I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Mr Speaker, I commend your Committee for this very transparent report, and we have to take it seriously.

 

Indeed, Sir, donors want to see prudent appropriation of whatever they donate, but the Ministry of Health does not respect this fact, as this is not the first we are hearing of unaccounted for donations. Why is this the case? Why have we left the Ministry of Health to operate as it wishes?

 

Sir, I totally agree with your Committee’s recommendations on the need for a forensic audit of the ministry because a lot of money  went into the fight against COVID-19 through donations, and there were too many controversies surrounding the same. At one time, the members of the Executive defended themselves but, today, the Auditor-General’s Report has clearly indicated that there was no accountability or transparency.

 

Mr Speaker, we will discourage donors from helping us in future if we fail to be transparent and account for donations. Currently, there are hospitals in rural areas like Ikeleng’i where there are no medicines, not even Panadol, and the reason is simple: We are not accounting for our deeds. Why is the Ministry of Health, which cares for people’s health and wellbeing, being as careless as it is being today? The ministry receives a lot of money.

 

Sir, the House will recall the Kapoko issue. It seems we have not learnt a lesson. Why can we not drift to something much better? This is worrying, and we need the forensic audit to take place yesterday.

 

Sir, I urge that all the recommendations of your Committee be taken seriously and that the public be told exactly what is happening. Hon. Kambita talked about internal controls. Indeed, the report shows that there are no internal controls in the ministry. Were there any, some of these things would have been disclosed and stopped by the internal auditors in the ministry instead of being left free for all. This means that Zambia has a careless Government that does not take care of whatever is pledged to the country.

 

Sir, we need to be serious because we do not seem to be. Health matters are critical to the people of Zambia, especially the poor people in rural areas where there are no ambulances, medicines and beddings, and people are reluctant to donate because whatever they donated would not be accounted for.

 

Sir, COVID-19 has been a serious pandemic that has really affected the whole country. However, when we want to talk objectively, like your report is saying to us, we hear some people in the PF Government, especially in the Executive, defend what is done. This is really sad.

 

Sir, this is a good report that should be supported by hon. Members on both your right and your left because we should be accountable and transparent. Otherwise, it will be business as usual, especially given that the PF does not want to be accountable. Let them remain accountable to the people of Zambia

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

 Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Mr Speaker, I thank you for this wonderful opportunity to add a few lines to the debate on the Report of the Public Accounts Committee.

 

Sir, from the debate of the previous debater, Hon. Muchima, I note that he is working very hard to dent the image of Patriotic Front (PF) Government when the report does not do so.  We are aware that in all the ministries and procedures, there are sometimes serious problems, especially when there are emergencies like the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Then, there are also instances in which many people made unrealistic pledges that they did not fulfilled. There was a lot drama because even the Opposition was accusing the Government of having misapplied donations and donor funds, but when we get to the bottom of things, what we find is that, as we heard from the hon. Minister’s statement on the Floor of this House, no money or donations were misapplied. So, it is not right for Hon. Muchima to paint the picture that the PF is careless. If anything, this is one of the most efficient Governments that Zambia will ever see because we passed the Public Finance Act to make sure that the management of public resources in this country is done properly. There could be hitches here and there, but he should not generalise that to the whole PF Government.

 

Sir, one thing people must understand is that the PF Government is not as careless as the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) Government of which Hon. Muchima was a part. It is for this reason that where he is now, in the United Party for National Development (UPND), they even failed to come up with a manifesto. Instead, they had to go and steal documents from other countries and claim to them to be the manifesto of a political party that will form Government one day. So, I just want to advise Hon. Muchima that when there is very serious business of this nature, it is always important that we look at the facts as they stand.

 

Mr Speaker, without wasting much of your time, I just want to also add that Hon. Muchima is a former Minister who knows the procedures in the ministries. He also knows which people are responsible for certain tasks, and that Ministers come and go, but the civil servants remain. No wonder, the Ministry of Health has been a subject of debate since 2006. The scandals we hear at the Ministry of Health started a long time ago. So, to paint the picture that these problems only happened last year will be to miss the point. What we need to do is look at the corrective measures that must be taken at the ministry, which was there even before the PF formed Government. So, to paint the picture that all these problems we are talking about came about as a result of the COVID-19 is to misapply facts and be economical with the truth.

 

Mr Speaker, in my understanding, the PF Government has done its best in ensuring that the COVID-19 situation is brought under control. That is why when you go to some of hospitals like Levy Mwanawasa Teaching Hospital, you find that everyone has been discharged. There are no COVID-19 patients there because the PF managed the disease well.

 

Sir, I also congratulate the hon. Minister of Health on having launched the COVID-19 vaccination programme and taking the first jab. I look forward to taking mine.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Ms Katuta (Chienge): Mr Speaker, before I add my voice to this important debate, which has been brought to the Floor of the House by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), I just want to congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, on going through unopposed at the conference that the Patriotic Front (PF) held recently. I also thank those who believed him and those who believed in Zambia’s Number Two, our mother, Her Honour the Vice-President, Mrs Inonge Wina. I say, “Congratulations, Madam’ to her. To my fellow ladies, I say, ‘Well done’. Of course, I also say ‘Congratulations’ to other Members of the Central Committee (MCCs) of the PF, especially Hon. Kasandwe. It is quite encouraging to see him in the PF Central Committee.

 

Sir, I just want to say a few words on this wonderful report by the Public Accounts Committee.

 

Sir, I have looked at the recommendations of the Committee. However, when I listened to some of our hon. Colleagues who were talking about the PF Government, it made me wonder because recommendations have already been made that this is what now what the Committee –

 

Mr Livune: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity given to me to raise this serious and important point of order on my hon. Colleague who is on the Floor.

 

Mr Speaker, the hon. Member for Chienge has just congratulated the Patriotic Front (PF) on holding a selective conference, not an elective one. She is a woman of God, yet she is congratulating a group that does not respect democratic tenets, which require people to be able to elect the people of their choice, rather than just come up with a list of selected people who are loved by the President, but not elected by the people. Democracy is about giving power to the people. So, is the hon. Member on the Floor, a woman of God, in order to congratulate people who do not mean well for this society?

 

I seek your serious ruling.

 

Mr Speaker: This is an abuse of the opportunity I gave you to raise a point of order.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Speaker: This point of order has nothing to do with the proceedings before the House. We have very earnest proceedings underway and, for this reason, I will not allow further points of order today.

 

That is my ruling.

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, I will still congratulate His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu –

 

Mr Speaker: Order, hon. Member for Chienge!

 

You had moved away from that subject.

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, the Public Accounts Committee has already made recommendations on what should be done. So, I wonder why anybody should stand up and say that this is the way PF is and such things. We are here to talk about the way forward; how are we going to carry out the business of the day after this report? So, I just urge the House and the Executive to follow the recommendations of the Committee because they were made in the interest of the nation.

 

Mr Speaker, I agree with what Hon. Tutwa Ngulube has just said. The civil servants will always be there. In most of my debates, I always talk about them because they are responsible for what is happening. We are in this predicament because of them; they always come up with something to manipulate and outmanoeuvre the laws that pertain to procurement.

 

Mr Speaker, I can only say that we should take the recommendations seriously and see to it that those who are irresponsible for procuring our supplies or those in charge of donations are held accountable. If somebody says that this is a sign that PF is corrupt or whatever they call it, why would the Government even allow the Auditor-General’s Report to come out to the public when it has the power to manipulate things? It is obvious that the Government allowed the report to come out in the interest of the nation; it wants everyone to be able to read it. So, I just urge this House to encourage the Executive to bring the culprits to book so that the civil servants can know that they are there to serve the people of Zambia, not their stomachs. I also urge the hon. Minister of Health to make sure that the culprits are brought to book and that they stop abusing their offices. They have to account for what was donated, if there was any, and the distribution thereof.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to add my voice to this debate.

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Mr Speaker, from the outset, I would like to appreciate His Excellency the President and the Patriotic Front (PF) Government for providing leadership in ensuring that the first wave of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the waves that followed were combated efficiently. I also commend the men and women in the health profession and all the support units that assisted in the fight against this disease. As a result of their effort, Zambia has been recognised as one of the role models in the fight against COVID-19.

 

Sir, let me continue to appreciate the Government, particularly His Excellency the President, for appointing to the supreme audit institution, the Auditor-General’s Office, persons who are professional and able to show when there is an ill or financial irregularity; they do not shove it under the carpet. In tandem with what the President says, we will fight corruption wherever it is found and – (inaudible) – or appointed persons who are professionals for this fight. Today, Zambia is a country that the world can trust because if there is an ill, it will be shown, not hidden. That is why I remind our friends in the United Party for National Development (UPND) that even when it comes to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), especially with regard to the 2021 elections, they should not portray Government institutions as being what they are not. Just like the Office of the Auditor-General, Government institutions are excellent, and they serve our governance system. No wonder, today, the world respects Zambia.

 

Mr Speaker, let me now get to the ills, particularly those of corruption, in institutions.

 

Sir, as it has been shown, many people in the Ministry of Health are doing a commendable job. Nomba ulubalala ulubi, that bad groundnut, should be taken out. I commend the Public Accounts Committee for making the recommendation that the bad groundnut, wherever it is found and at whichever level, be taken out. The technocrats serving in the ministries, provinces and spending agencies (MPSAs) should know that what they do does not just reflect on themselves, but also on the country and the Government. This PF Government will not tolerate – (inaudible) – His Excellency – (inaudible) – continue in 2021, August 12^th.

 

Sir, as we go forward, we will continue to support the Office of the Auditor-General. In fact, I call upon the Government to provide that office with more resources to produce more audit reports of what is happening at all levels so that the finances of the taxpayers in the country and of those in partner countries are preserved. That is what we need to build the Zambia we want.

 

Mr Speaker, I will not take much of your time, but I also want to caution the UPND to not politick at every stage like it is doing. If the PF Government did not mean well, it would not have appointed professionals to the Office of the Auditor-General and the ECZ. Zambians are able to see that there are institutions that are providing checks and balances, and we should have confidence in these institutions. I also call on the law enforcement agencies to ensure that the bad seeds or groundnuts are rooted out because the resources being abused are required. Those who are employed in the Public Service should not hide behind the density of multi-layered authority to do ill. I am glad that His Excellency the President –

 

Mr Speaker: Order!

 

The hon. Member’s time expired.

 

Mr Simbao (Senga Hill): Mr Speaker, from the outset, I want to declare interest because I was part of the Committee that considered the report.

 

Sir, there are issues that I will raise so that those who are listening to us can understand things correctly. One of those issues is the fact that the Office of the Auditor-General is part of the Government and that the Government created it for the work that it does. The other point is that the auditing of the Ministry of Health was sanctioned by the Government. The Office of the Auditor-General cannot just carry out an audit without permission or authority. Therefore, it is clear that the Executive is not afraid of having somebody else look at what it is doing.

 

Sir, when the Executive learnt about what happened to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) funds, it acted, and that is in the public domain. Many people were removed from their positions, which shows how serious the President is. When he has facts, he acts against the person involved regardless of who they are, and we must respect that. Very few people would have acted they he did. 

 

Mr Speaker, the report found the technocrats, not the Executive, wanting, and we must respect that. The Executive only gives direction while the technocrats execute the directives. In the execution of directives, the technocrats are not controlled by the Executive; they are left to work because they are the professionals. So, they do what they think will work well for the country, and the Executive believes that they will do the right things. No wonder, when the technocrats are audited, there is no way the Executive, that is, the Ministers and all the elected officials, can be brought; they do not append their signatures anywhere. If you find their names anywhere, it would be when they held a meeting to give direction on how things should be done. However, because of politics, these occurrences have been turned around to paint the Executive bad or corrupt, which is making the country look insecure from the outside, and that is not right.

 

Sir, people must call a boat a boat and a spade a spade instead of bringing in things that are not supposed to be there. I would rather we worked more with our brains than with our mouths as we do currently because it is uncalled for. Our Executive arm is very clean and made up of men and women of integrity. So, of course, we must extol them. Unfortunately, they have to shoulder the burden when things go wrong in their ministries even when they were not involved hands-on in what happened.

 

Mr Speaker, I want to tell the people who are listening across the country that as long as there is a problem with the technocrats, no Government will do any better. So, we should concentrate on where the problem is. Somebody said politicians come and go, and it is true. However, if you look all the way back, you will see that we have had the problems we have ever since. So, the problem is not with the leadership as some people claim. That idea is not right. Even if we changed the leadership today, that would not change what is happening in the ministries or with the technocrats. So, we should base our judgment on the right people and see how we can correct the situation.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: We will begin winding up as follows: Firstly, I will have the hon. Member for Chama South, who will be followed by the hon. Minister for Transport and Communication. Thereafter, the hon. Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection will debate and be followed by the hon. Minister of Finance. Then, I will invite the hon. Minister of Health before the debate is wound up.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, thank you for, once again, giving the people of Chama South the opportunity to contribute to the debate on a report laid on the Table of the House.

 

Sir, the citizens out there have to realise that all the concerns raised by the Office of the Auditor-General are in the public domain because of the good efforts and policy decisions of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government. The PF is the only Government that has put in place a policy that makes it impossible for anyone to engage in any financial mismanagement in the Government and go be undetected. That has been brought about through empowerment of the Office of the Auditor-General. 

 

Sir, the Office of the Auditor-General does not only audit the income and expenditure of the Government, but also the evaluation of many projects and services that the Government offers. In this case, the PF Government led by His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, through the presentation of this report on the Table of the House, has demonstrated that it is impossible, and I repeat, that it is impossible for anyone in this country to mismanage, especially, public funds without being detected. In view of this, we are very grateful to His Excellency, Her Honour the Vice-President and the entire PF Executive for the wonderful work they are doing in this country.

 

Mr Speaker, the report has indicated that there was inflation or mismanagement of tenders involving Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) finances. This is a concern that His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, has raised on many fora. He has also raised a concern over the procurement of road works and asked why our roads cost more. The President has not ended at raising concerns, as the Executive has introduced laws in Parliament. Not long ago, for example, an Act of Parliament related to certification of poor works by engineers was laid on the Table and enacted by this Parliament. That is a demonstration of how the PF Government means well for this country.

 

Sir, the report on the Table of the House urges the Government to ensure that all those involved in mismanagement are not only pursued by our security agencies, but also dealt with by their professional bodies. What more can the Government do to protect its people apart from laying this report on the Floor of this House? The citizens out there should know that all the reports that come from the Office of the Auditor-General are owned by the Government led by His Excellency Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Therefore, I urge them to continue supporting this working Government because it means well, and we look forward to ensuring that the recommendations made by your Committee are well implemented.

 

Mr Speaker, with those few remarks, I thank you.

 

The Minister of Transport and Communication (Mr Kafwaya): Mr Speaker, I thank you sincerely for giving me the opportunity to make a short contribution to the Motion on the Floor.

 

Sir, let me start by thanking your Committee for producing a very competent report, which has highlighted very important issues.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to adopt the words of Hon. Simbao as mine, and add that accountability and transparency are very important hallmarks of good governance. Indeed, the Patriotic Front (PF) Government under the leadership of His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu has shown tremendous levels of accountability and transparency, and that is why, today, the operations of the Executive are being scrutinised on the Floor of the House even through this virtual platform.

 

Sir, being accountable means being responsible, liable or answerable. Today, the Executive is making responses because it is accountable to Zambians through this Parliament. Being responsible, from a government perspective, means ensuring that there is a good legal framework to support the internal controls that are being talked about today. In this regard, the PF Government introduced the Financial Services Bill of 2018 in the House and, today, that law provides the legal requirements for effective internal controls. However, I must add that internal controls are applied by specific individuals; they cannot be applied by the entire system, and that is why those individuals who did not apply the internal controls properly have been asked to step aside and we are seeing other people taking up their positions. It is wrong to attribute the application of internal controls in one specific department to the entire PF Government because that is a demonstration of a lack of capacity to understand how internal controls are applied.

 

Sir, if you permit me, I will briefly talk about transparency, which means refusing to mask anything or making everything known to the public by the use of a Government system which, in this case, is the Auditor-General’s Office. Today, everything that is perceived to be negative has been brought into the open and Zambians are able to see all of these things; nothing is being masked. Therefore, President Lungu’s PF has been very transparent by resourcing an institution that is capable of bringing out issues like the Office of the Auditor-General has been able to do insofar as this report is concerned.

 

Mr Speaker, I urge my colleagues, particularly those in the United Party for National Development (UPND), to isolate issues and address them in a manner that can enhance their resolution. The way the party is bringing out issues to the public is dangerous not only to the country, but also to itself as well, and that is why people think it lacks the capacity to rule this country. It is also why it has been losing elections. So, I encourage its members, if they want to have a slight chance of ever forming Government in this country, to begin to tell the people how solutions can be found and applied.

 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Speaker: I want to be sure. Does the hon. Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection intend to debate, or do we have a technical problem on our screen?

 

The Minister of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection (Mr Nakacinda): I think it is a technical issue.

 

Mr Speaker: Technical problem? Very well.

 

The Minister of Finance (Dr Ng’andu): Mr Speaker, I would like to start by thanking the Public Accounts Committee for examining the utilisation of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) resources by various Government entities responsible for addressing the pandemic in the republic. Let me also commend the Committee’s members under the leadership of the hon. Member for Muchinga Constituency, Mr Howard Kunda, for producing a clear and commendable report.

 

Sir, this is a serious and factual report without any drama; it does not throw baseless accusations at anybody or any collection of individuals, and it gives factual information based on the evidence presented to the Committee. Therefore, any attempt to create drama around the topic has nothing to do with it. The drama is coming from somewhere else, and those who have read the report will attest to that fact.

 

Mr Speaker, as hon. Members may be aware, the review of the report generated a lot of interest in the nation because the general populous, and various local and foreign donors were interested in knowing how the public resources allocated to the control and management of the pandemic were utilised. I will comment on some of the issues that your Committee noted in this respect.

 

Sir, your Committee recommends that the Treasury ensures that the National Disaster Relief Trust Fund, which is provided for in the Disaster Management Act, No. 13 of 2010, is operationalised in order to enhance revenue mobilisation and improve co-ordination of resources for pandemics beyond COVID-19. I wish to inform the House that the Treasury takes note of this recommendation, and that the process to operationalise the fund commenced with the opening of an account with Zambia National Commercial Bank (ZANACO). The guidelines for disbursement into and from the fund have been developed and approved by the Disaster Management Technical Team of Permanent Secretaries and are currently awaiting approval by the National Disaster Management Council of Ministers.

 

Mr Speaker, your Committee also observes that the various values attached to aid-in-kind support in monetary terms appeared to be higher than the actual donations, and urges the Treasury to put measures in place to have all the donations quantified for ease of accountability. I wish to inform the House that most of the support from co-operating partners was not provided as direct finances to the Government, but in kind and in form of support through provision of training, capacity building of frontline health staff, food packs and equipment. For example, the pledges by the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the World Bank (WB) were managed by the Country Project Implementation Units while the pledges from bilateral partners were channelled through the World Health Organisation (WHO), the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Therefore, no funds were managed or mismanaged, if you like, by the Government.

 

Mr Speaker, the hon. Members of your Committee have also made various observations and recommendations as regards the abrogation of public procurement processes and failure to adhere to Treasury and Financial Management Circular No. 3 of 2020 by Ministry of Health officials. Specifically, your Committee notes that there was failure to use the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) system and simplified bidding. The House may wish to note that this was a serious omission by the Controlling Officer, and her contract has since been terminated. The other office holders under the Procurement Unit have been demoted for their failure to adhere to procurement regulations and guidelines. I just want to underscore the fact that we respond to all instances of abuse of responsibility by those to whom it has been given.

 

Sir, the other issue is the failure to adhere to the Treasury and Financial Management Circular No. 3 of 2020.  Again, disciplinary action has been taken against the erring officers. On serious omissions, recommendations have since been made to the relevant authorities that they deal with the officials involved. I just cannot name the people involved because the matter is still under consideration.

 

Mr Speaker, I would like to conclude by making one point, which is that we take seriously any abuse of resources that are at our disposal.

 

Mr Speaker: I am advised that you still have another five minutes.

 

Dr Ng’andu: Oh! Why was I told that – I am sorry.

 

Mr Speaker, the members of your Committee have also made various observations and recommendations as regards the abrogation of the public process and failure to adhere to the Treasury regulations. As I was saying, the House may wish to note that the Treasury has enhanced the internal controls by ensuring that all payments are monitored through the Integrated Financial Management Information System (IFMIS) and the Treasury Single Account (TSA). This system allows us to monitor in real time what is happening so that if there is any abuse, action can be taken immediately.

 

Mr Speaker, it is important to stress the point that there is no recklessness on the part of this Government in dealing with offenders. The fact that we have made all the necessary efforts to ensure that we have in place the right management systems and monitoring mechanisms that allow us to know when things are wrong speaks to the fact that there is no recklessness on the part of the Government. We try our best to deal with issues as and when they arise.

 

Mr Speaker, we are mindful of the fact that our people deserve the very best in terms of accountability for public resources. In furtherance of the common and greater good, we have no option but to conduct our affairs with integrity and probity, and in an ethical manner so that the responsibility that our people have invested in us is justified. I, therefore, support the adoption of this very good and factual report, which creates no drama and speaks to the wrongs that took place, bearing in mind that this is an interim report. A full report will eventually follow this one. We have drawn information from this report to address the weaknesses that were observed, and we hope that when the final report comes to the House, many of the challenges and problems identified in the interim report will have been dealt with.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chanda): Mr Speaker, I thank you for according me this opportunity to respond to some of the observations and recommendations made by the Public Accounts Committee on the Interim Report of the Auditor-General on the Audit of  the Utilisation of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Resources as at 31^st July, 2020. Allow me to also thank the Committee for the report and assure the House that my ministry will, in due course, submit a comprehensive progress report in accordance with the established practices and procedures.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to say that Zambia’s COVID-19 response, as led by His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has been a huge success despite some challenges that have been highlighted. As we can see today, there are reduced numbers of COVID-19 patients, community transmissions, hospitalisations and deaths. Indeed, today, following the Cabinet’s approval, we have commenced the national vaccination programme, and I urge all hon. Members to get vaccinated just like I did today.

 

Mr Speaker, the fact that we are discussing this report today shows the Government’s commitment to good governance and democracy. The Auditor-General’s Report has been presented unhindered; no one is blocking anything. In the past, we used to hear the allegation that the Auditor-General’s Reports could not be tabled. This time around, the Government has been very supportive of all the key recommendations of the Auditor-General’s Report and the forensic audit that has been done at the Ministry of Health. We are happy that Parliament has exercised its oversight function through the Committee and made very progressive recommendations. We expect the investigative wings and prosecuting agencies to similarly do their job, just like the courts of law have to perform their functions.

 

Mr Speaker, allow me to respond briefly to some of the key recommendations made by your Committee on this report.

 

Mr Speaker, on failure to adhere to issued guidance or circulars on COVID-19, I wish to report that systems have been strengthened, with all procurements and payments now done through the Electronic Government Procurement (e-GP) and Integrated Financial Management Information Systems (IFMIS), as stated by the hon. Minister of Finance. I should also say that many preventive, detective and corrective internal controls have been instituted in the Ministry of Health. Further, the procurement of medicines and medical supplies has been transferred to the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency (ZAMSA), formally called Medical Stores Limited, as prescribed in the Zambia Medicines and Medical Supplies Agency Act. The commencement order has already been issued to bring the Act into operation. Other actions have included the dissolution and reconstitution of a number of the boards of the statutory bodies in the Ministry of Health.

 

Mr Speaker, on financial and procurement irregularities, I wish to report that in addition to strengthening the systems, disciplinary actions have been instituted against the officers involved, including the termination of the contract for the Controlling Officer and demotion of a number of officers in the procurement departments at both the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Finance, as is publicly known. Realignments will be announced once the Public Service Management Division (PSMD) and the Ministry of Health finalise the new Ministry of Health organisational structure. A number of people are being moved around.

 

Mr Speaker, as stated earlier, the observations and recommendations of the Committee are noted and appreciated. In that regard, I also want to talk about the donations being made to the Ministry of Health.

 

Sir, I am very happy today to report that the donor community has a lot of confidence in the Patriotic Front (PF) Government following all the corrective measures that have been taken, and it is very indicative that I am coming from launching the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme where many uninvited ambassadors went to show their willingness to participate in the COVID-19 response in Zambia. The ambassadors were from various governments, including the United States of America (USA), France, Europe, Canada, Saudi Arabia, India and China. Basically, everyone is running around to the Government’s calls. Even when we were receiving the COVID-19 vaccines at the airport two days ago, there were many ambassadors. Basically, all the accredited diplomats from the powerful countries are showing their confidence in this Government, and we are happy because all that is because of what His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu has directed to be done at the Ministry of Health.

 

Mr Speaker, I should mention that all donations to the Ministry of Health, whether financial or material, are accounted for and declared daily, and that is why we have seen many donors really supporting us, especially in the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The game changer in the fight against the second wave of COVID-19 has been oxygen, and many Co-Operating Partners have supported us in that regard.

 

Mr Speaker, as I announced earlier, I am happy that the donors are willing to go a step further by not only giving oxygen cylinders, but also, in the case of UNICEF and some Co-operating Partners in Europe, helping us to construct the first-ever oxygen plant on the Copperbelt at a cost of over US$1 million. We have also received a lot of support in form of personal protective equipment (PPEs), drugs, vaccines and personnel support, and all that shows the high confidence the donors have in the Government. I am happy that the people of Zambia also have a lot of confidence in the Government of His Excellency the President’s COVID-19 response.

 

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, let me reiterate that a comprehensive progress report will be submitted to the House in accordance with the established practice and procedures. I also wish to mention that the Nation Disaster Relief Trust Fund will be operationalised soon after it is taken to the Cabinet for scrutiny and approval.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Mr Kunda: Mr Speaker, before I wind up the debate, allow me to state that the need to find solutions to the problems we come across, not to politick on serious national issues, is what we need for our country to move forward. In that regard, I congratulate the hon. Members who have debated because this is how it should be. However, we need to be mindful that these are serious national issues that need sober minds, and not add emotions to what we say. I also express my gratitude to the hon. Ministers for their kind words for the Public Accounts Committee. We have done what we have done because we had access to the report of the Auditor-General that has come out. I also thank the Auditor-General and his staff for the good job done.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON ENERGY, WATER DEVELOPMENT AND TOURISM

 

Mrs Chinyama (Kafue): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Performance Audit on the Control of Water Pollution in Zambia for the Period 2016 to 2019 for the Fifth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on Friday, 26^th March, 2021.

 

Mr Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mrs Chinyama: Mr Speaker, based on its terms of reference, as set out under Standing Order No. 157(2), the Committee considered the Report of the Auditor-General on the Performance Audit on the Control of Water Pollution in Zambia for the Period 2016 to 2019.

 

Sir, allow me to highlight some of the salient points deliberated on by the Committee on the issues contained in the Auditor-General’s Report.

 

Mr Speaker, I commend the Government for developing the Ambient Water Quality Standards and Guidelines. However, during interactions with stakeholders, the Committee was informed that the standards have not been operationalised despite being gazetted. It is of utmost importance that the standards are implemented, as they are meant to be used as a yardstick for monitoring adherence to set standards. In this regard, the Committee urges the Government to accelerate the implementation of the standards in order to enhance compliance in the water sector and, ultimately, improve water quality.

 

Mr Speaker, the Auditor-General’s Report has revealed serious challenges that the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) faces which, if not urgently addressed, may negate the very existence of the institution.  Among the most critical challenges are inadequate funding and low staffing levels.

 

Mr Speaker, a member of the Committee might have to take over from me because my tablet is warning me that it may shut down any time.

 

Sir, during interactions with stakeholders, the Committee was informed that because of a lack of funds and inadequate human resources, ZEMA failed to discharge most of its functions, which–

 

Mrs Chinyama went offline.

 

Mr Speaker: Any member of the Committee to continue where the hon. Member for Kafue ended?

 

The Vice-Chairperson?

 

Hon. Member for Chama South, can you pick up the Motion from where the hon. Member for Kafue left it?

 

Mr Mung’andu: Mr Speaker, I will take it up from where my hon. Colleague ended.

 

Sir, let me begin by commending the Government for developing the Ambient Water Quality Standards and Guidelines. However, during its interactions with stakeholders, the Committee was informed that the standards have not been operationalised despite being gazetted. It is of utmost importance that the standards are implemented, as they are meant to be used as yardsticks for monitoring adherence to set standards. In this regard, the Committee urges the Government to accelerate the implementation of the standards in order to enhance compliance in the water sector and, ultimately, improve quality of water.

 

Mr Speaker, the Auditor-General’s Report has revealed serious challenges that the Zambia Environmental and Management Agency (ZEMA) faces which, if not urgently addressed, may negate the very existence of the institution. Among the most critical challenges are inadequate funding and low staffing levels. During its interactions with stakeholders, the Committee was informed that because of a lack of funds and inadequate human resources, ZEMA failed to discharge most of its functions, which included, but were not limited to, environmental audits and monitoring of other activities of licensed facilities. ZEMA’s failure to undertake these activities entails that facilities may be wantonly polluting the environment and, thereby, impinging on human health and the wellbeing of the environment. In light of the above, the Committee strongly urges the Government to prioritise and increase funding to ZEMA. The Committee also urges the Government to ensure that the staff establishment at ZEMA is filled as a matter of urgency.

 

Mr Speaker, another finding in the Auditor-General’s Report that has captured the Committee’s attention is the failure by the Government to establish laboratories for ZEMA.  The Committee notes that the establishment of laboratories is provided for under Section 48(1)(f) of the Environmental Management Act No. 12 of 2011. It is notable that the legislation was enacted over ten years ago, but no action has been taken towards establishing the laboratories. The Committee is of the view that the establishment of the laboratories is critical to ZEMA’s ability to fulfil its mandate, and finds the current situation unacceptable. Therefore, it urges the Government to abide by the provisions of the law and establish laboratories for ZEMA.

 

Sir, in conclusion, the Committee is grateful to you and the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance and support rendered to it during the consideration of the Report of the Auditor-General. The Committee also greatly appreciates the input of the witnesses it interacted with during its deliberations.

 

With those remarks, I urge all hon. Members to support the report of the Committee.

 

Mr Speaker, I beg to move.

 

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

 

Mr Mung’andu: Now, Sir.

 

Mr Speaker, I am delighted to be given the opportunity to second the Report of the Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism on the Report of the Auditor-General on the Performance Audit on the Control of Water Pollution in Zambia for the Period 2016 to 2019.

 

Sir, the Auditor-General’s Report has revealed that sixteen facilities were allowed to operate without licenses during the period under review. That is a serious anomaly and threat to the quality of water, and it poses a risk to human health and the water security of the country. The Committee, therefore, urges the Government to provide adequate resources to ZEMA so that it can perform its functions.

 

Mr Speaker, another finding from the Report of the Auditor-General points to the fact that ZEMA does not fully enforce the Polluter Pays Principle on defaulting facilities. A case in point is the unpaid amount of K4,992,666 that Nkana Water and Sewerage Company incurred as access treatment cost when Konkola Copper Mines polluted the Mwambashi and Kafue rivers. In this regard, the Committee recommends that the Government ensures that ZEMA effectively enforces the Polluter Pays Principle so that the defaulter bears all costs associated with pollution.

 

Sir, the Committee notes that ZEMA audited only three out of thirty facilities that were due for auditing during the period under review, and that two of the facilities audited were found to be non-compliant. The Committee finds this totally unacceptable, as it leaves room for some facilities to discharge effluent without following set standards. In this regard, it reiterates its earlier call for the Government to allocate more resources to ZEMA to enable it to carry out environmental audits as mandated by the law.

 

Mr Speaker, during its interactions with stakeholders, the Committee learnt that ZEMA does not have in place a central information system and uses a manual filing system. This is a great impediment to ZEMA’s in effective management of its data. The Committee was informed that in order to enhance data management at ZEMA, the Zambia Mining and Environmental Remediation and Improvement Project has provided financial support for the development of a central information system and installation of an automated filing system at the agency. The Committee notes that the Government is not taking the lead in putting in place measures to enhance data management at ZEMA. Instead, the Government relies on external support. While the Committee commends the Zambia Mining and Environmental Remediation and Improvement Project for its support, it is of the view that the Government should take responsibility and reduce dependence on external support in order to ensure sustainability of such programmes.

 

 Mr Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mr Ngulube: Mr Speaker, I wish to add my voice in support of the Report of the Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism by stating that the operations of the Zambia Environmental and Management Agency (ZEMA) appear to be below par.

 

Sir, in the report that has just been presented, it appears our lives are not safe, especially when it comes to water quality. Sixteen is too big a number for facilities operating without licences and, probably, an audit ought to be done to establish why or how such a huge number of facilities could be allowed to operate without following the set guidelines.

 

Mr Speaker, I am aware that, being a watchdog, ZEMA is supposed to control many factors before facilities can be allowed to operate. A stream in Lusaka called Ngwerere appears to be one of the most polluted a person can ever come across here in Lusaka because all the industries in Lusaka that produce whatever type of product are busy discharging their effluence, including sewage, into it. Unfortunately, that is one of the streams the people of Chongwe count as a source of water. The water quality in Ngwerere Stream shows that ZEMA either does not exist or there is very big problem that explains why it does not function. Even in the stream that passes through Garden Compound, just near Golden Peacock Hotel, the water is actually dark blue, and that shows you that there is a high amount of poison that industries throw into the stream, whose water the people of Chongwe use. So, ZEMA must up its game.

 

Mr Speaker, we are also aware that if only three – (inaudible) – the biggest problem we have is not the – (inaudible) – when you talk about two of the three companies – (inaudible).

 

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Kabwe Central, we have lost you. I am advised that you are now disconnected. So, we will move on.

 

Ms Katuta: Mr Speaker, I thank the Committee for its report.

 

Sir, it is quite concerning to realise that we have an institution like the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) when there are places, rivers and streams that are being polluted, and it seems like the agency concentrates on urban areas. I will give the example of Ndola Town, where I grew up. The Kafubu Stream is quite polluted. Further, in Chienge, there is a stream that is being polluted by the mines in a neighbouring country, and I have been waiting to see ZEMA in full force go to the aid of the people of Chienge, but nothing has been done.

 

Mr Speaker, I just want to urge the House that as we support and adopt this report, we do not only do so, but we also see to it that its recommendations are implemented. We need to see ZEMA up on its feet and working for the people of Zambia, and not to be selective. For instance, if I want to put up, maybe, a borehole in an urban area, I will see ZEMA come through very quickly to make the assessment. So, why is the agency not attending to the Zambians in Chienge, in particular, and other places, in general? There are so many places that require its services. Just here, in Lusaka, there are sewer ponds in Chamba Valley. You can even see – I do not know if the word that I want to use is parliamentary – the faeces flow in the furrows.

 

Mr Chitotela: It is faecal matter.

 

Ms Katuta: The faecal matter, thank you, Hon. Chitotela.

 

Sir, the place stinks in a manner that you can even tell that many people are affected. The people who live there cough so much you could think they are infected by Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), and there is no one to control the situation. The sewage from those ponds goes into a stream and some people use the same water from the stream to water vegetable gardens, and innocent people buy those vegetables. So, I urge the ministry to take keen interest in such matters. Even if it are manpower, budgetary and whatever other issues, we have to see, at least, something being done. A Motion can even be moved in this House on the need to increase manpower or the budgetary allocation for ZEMA, if that is the reason the agency cannot reach out to Zambians. The agency should not only be pursuing companies that are well known. It can even deal with the smaller ones.

 

Sir, if you go to some markets, there is no water there. In Kalikiliki Compound, there used to be a beautiful stream, but people are now building houses on the stream. Where is ZEMA when all that is happening? We have to see this institution operate like a watchdog because water is life, and the environment should be protected by such institutions.

 

Mr Speaker, I support this report, but I have a few words that I want to say to ZEMA, in particular, because it has to wake up. The agency has been in a deep sleep. People are getting sick because water is contaminated. In places like Chienge, there are rivers that come all the way from other places. If we have an institution that is concerned, we will be able to avoid some of the diseases that are affecting our people.

 

Sir, with those few remarks, I support the Motion. However, I want to see ZEMA being more effective and the ministry starting to push hard to save many lives in our country.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Muchima: Mr Speaker, the Auditor-General’s Report is well received, and I commend your Committee’s report. I am happy that my hon. Colleague, Mr Tutwa Ngulube, is now debating objectively. Indeed, the lives of most people in Zambia are in danger, and the Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) needs to be very effective by going around the country.

 

Sir, as you are aware, people in most places of the country drink water from streams, which is very unsafe. The Government is supposed to show concern and make sure that people’s lives are safe. However, people are sharing dirty water with animals. ZEMA is supposed to be our priority number one. In developed countries, the safety of the lives of people is a key issue. In Zambia, it is business as usual.

 

Mr Speaker, I totally agree with your Committee’s report. I am here in Ikeleng’i, which has been a district for eleven years now, but come and see what is happening here. Water is still drawn from streams, yet we have money to play around with and buy certain things that are not even important. The Government is supposed to be responsible for the lives of the people because a responsible government is supposed to take care of its citizens. Therefore, the Government should not look at partisan politics or pay attention to the noise from the Opposition and such issues. Instead, it is supposed to safeguard the lives of people everywhere.

 

Sir, this is a serious report. I am happy that these revelations have come out,  and the Office of the Auditor-General should be encouraged to continue doing its work. In Kalumbila, there is mining of uranium in Kalumbila, and most of the water sources there are contaminated by uranium, which is quite dangerous to the lives of people. In most areas where there are mines, the water is dirty because it is polluted. We are endangering the lives of the people.

 

Mr Speaker, this report should be taken seriously. People in rural areas, especially, are drinking dirty water. Lucky enough, we are immune, and we should thank God for that. Otherwise, we would all be in trouble because this is a more serious problem than the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). So, we need to be very serious and prioritise things that can affect the lives of the people. This is an early warning.

 

Sir, ZEMA should be empowered, and the issues of inadequate capacity, manpower and money should be looked into. So, I am happy that the hon. Minister of Finance is there and is listening. When he presents the Supplementary Budget for this year, those who will be in the next Parliament should look at ZEMA’s operations as vital to the safety of the people of Zambia.

 

Mr Speaker, if the PF loved the people of Zambia, it would take action even tomorrow. However, its actions are mostly about campaigning and telling the people what it would do if it won. If it were a very responsible Government, it would take this report seriously and, by tomorrow, get things moving; it would begin testing water everywhere. ZEMA offices are supposed to be established in every area to make the lives of the people safe. Who does not drink water? Water is life. The educated and working people can drink mineral water, but how about our mothers or uncles in the village? Why can we not protect the lives of everybody?

 

Mr Speaker, on behalf of the people of Ikeleng’i, I say this is a wonderful report and that its recommendations have been well received. So, the Auditor-General should be encouraged to continue carrying out such audits because they will safeguard the lives of the people in the whole country. We should run away from partisan politics, remain objective and deliver to the people. The Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) was removed from power because the people thought it was not doing well. The people brought in the PF, which has not even performed well or done most things the way they are supposed to be done.

 

Mr Speaker, I am very happy that the Committee has done what it was expected of it. What remains is for the PF Government to wake up and attend to these ills we have been told about in the report.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker, for according me this opportunity to contribute to this debate.

 

Mr Speaker: The hon. Deputy Chief Whip may complete his debate.

 

Mr Ngulube: Mr Speaker, allow me to continue my debate by saying that we have heard the Committee’s recommendations and that I think we support the report in its entirety. All we need to do is ensure that water testing can be done, even before the establishment of laboratories, in mobile laboratories or using the already existing laboratories like the one at the University of Zambia (UNZA), the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS) and other places where testing can be done.

 

Mr Speaker, as I conclude my debate, allow me to state that ZEMA must conduct on-the-spot checks to see where pollution is coming from. I think visits to factories, industries and some water utility companies would be a good source of the information needed to safeguard the lives of our people. I say so because I have seen pollution with my own eyes. In the evening, between 1600 hours and 1900 hours, Ngwerere Stream becomes a different colour. It also changes colours in the morning and in the afternoon. At night, you can even see foam like people were washing in the stream, and that shows you that the people in Chongwe and Kasisi areas who depend so much on the stream are being killed every day. Also, we have been advised that some cancers we see in hospitals are a result of people drinking pollutants without knowing the levels at which the water they drink must be purified.

 

Mr Speaker, with those few remarks, allow me to thank you most sincerely and apologise for the earlier interruption of my debate due to network problems.

 

Mr Nakacinda: Mr Speaker, thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to speak on the issues that have been raised by your Committee.

 

Mr Speaker, let me hasten to state that the Government, through my ministry, appreciates the work that the Committee has done and the recommendations contained in this report regarding the issues of control of water pollution in our country.

Mr Speaker, let me take this opportunity to also reaffirm the Government’s commitment to addressing the issues raised, which include licensing of facilities, enforcement of orders, implementation of Polluter Pays Principle, collection of information on pollution, establishment of laboratories and implementation of environmental audits. Most of these challenges are historical in nature, but I think it is important to put on record the fact that under His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu’s Government, there have been collective measures undertaken, including the establishment of the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA), which is mandated to regulate the usage of our water resources and activities around our water bodies, obviously, not only to prevent pollution, but also to make sure the utilisation of water resources is sustainable.

 

Mr Speaker, the control of water pollution is central to the sustainable development agenda of this country because of the critical role that sustainable environmental management plays in the socio-economic development of our country. The Government has continued to prioritise pollution prevention and control, as evidenced by the over 40 per cent increase in the budgetary allocation to environmental management and protection in order to enhance the implementation of programmes.

 

Mr Speaker, as it has been noted, the Government has developed the Ambient Water Quality Standards, which are key in the prevention and control of water pollution. Let me inform this House that my ministry has embarked on the development of regulations for monitoring and control of water pollution. Actually, by this coming Friday, we should have launched the operationalisation of the regulations. Currently, we are still consolidating the regulations with the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry because of our collaboration with the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS). We hope to be done with everything by next week. I must also say that the Government will continue to galvanise the much-needed support from Co-operating Partners and other stakeholders in its quest to enhance the prevention and control of water pollution. Speaking about the need for more resources so that Zambia Environmental Management Agency (ZEMA) can discharge its mandate effectively, there are a few issues that we are addressing to tinkle its operations, and make sure that it is more efficient and effective. 

 

Mr Speaker, I must state that the fight against water pollution requires the concerted and collaborative effort of stakeholders, including hon. Members of Parliament. Pollution prevention and control requires vigorous and sustainable public awareness campaigns that require the participation of hon. Members of Parliament. I must state, on the operations of ZEMA, that we have to engage the public, particularly in the mining towns where there have been challenges. We need to take a few corrective measures that we think will help us in terms of preventing pollution of water. In this regard, some of the recommendations that have been made have been taken on board, and we will run with them to make sure that the pollution of water is not only minimised but, possibly, also eradicated.

 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

 

Mr Speaker: Is the hon. Member for Kafue available to wind up the debate?

 

Mrs Chinyama: Mr Speaker, sincere apologies for that disruption earlier.

 

Sir, I thank all the hon. Members who have debated our report. Indeed, we welcome the Government’s commitment to looking into the issues that our report has raised.

 

Mr Speaker, with those few remarks, I thank you.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

_______

 

BILLS

 

HOUSE IN COMMITTEE

 

[THE CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the

Chair]

 

THE ZAMBIA INSTITUTE FOR TOURISM AND HOSPITALITY STUDIES (Amendment) BILL, 2021

 

Clauses 1 and 2 ordered to stand part of the Bill.

 

CLAUSE 3 – (Amendment of Section 5)

 

The Minister of Tourism and Arts (Mr Chitotela): Madam Chairperson, I beg to move an amendment in clause 3, lines 12 and 14, by the deletion of clause 3 and the substitution therefor of the following:

 

“3.   Section 5(1) is amended by the deletion of paragraph (a) and the substitution therefor of the following:

 

‘(a)   conduct training programmes accredited by the Higher Education Authority of persons in tourism and hospitality sectors;”’.

 

Amendment agreed to. Clause amended accordingly.

 

Clause 3, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.

 

Title agreed to.

 

________

 

HOUSE RESUMED

 

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

The following Bill was reported to the House as having passed through Committee with amendments:

 

The Zambia Institute for Tourism and Hospitality Studies (Amendment) Bill, 2021

 

Report Stage on Thursday, 15^th April, 2021.

 

THIRD READING

 

The following Bills were read the third time and passed:

 

The Accountants (Amendment) Bill, 2021

 

The Zambia Institute of Marketing (Amendment) Bill, 2021

 

________

 

MOTION

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

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

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

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The House adjourned at 1627 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 15^th April, 2021.

 

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