Tuesday, 6^th April, 2021

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

 

_______

 

QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

NANGOMA CONSTITUENCY SCHOOLS ELECTRIFICATION

 

158. Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma) asked the Minister of Energy:

 

1. whether the Government has any plans to electrify the following primary schools in Nangoma Parliamentary Constituency, under the Rural Electrification Programme:

 

1. Nangoma;
2. Keezwa; and
3. Nachilumbi; and

 

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

 

The Minister of Energy (Mr Nkhuwa): Madam Speaker, yes, the Government, through the Rural Electrification Authority (REA), has plans to electrify the following schools:

 

1. Nangoma;
2. Keezwa; and
3. Nachilumbi.

 

Madam Speaker, according to the Rural Electrification Master Plan (REMP), Nangoma and Nachilumbi Primary schools were earmarked for electrification in 2013 and Keezwa was supposed to be electrified in 2019. You may wish to note that in 2018, REA conducted a feasibility study for the possible electrification of the schools at an estimated cost of K8.5 million. However, due to budgetary constraints under the REA work plan and the budget itself, the schools were not electrified. It should be noted that the electrification of the schools will be done upon availability of funds.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mbangweta (Nkeyema): Madam Speaker, I want to find out from the hon. Minister when this Government will stop giving that meaningless answer that projects will be implemented when funds are available. It has become a cliché now.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Withdraw the term ‘meaningless’ and replace it with a more appropriate word.

 

Mr Mbangweta: Madam, I withdraw that word and replace it with, “it has become repetitive and not applicable in the circumstances we have passed through in the last five years.”

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Madam Speaker, we have been electrifying many areas in the rural parts of Zambia. REA is busy, but it is just that the budget cannot take up everything at the same time. So, I cannot stand here and say that I am going to provide power next week when I know that funds are not available. Hence, hon. Members will still get that answer that will be able to electrify the parts of the country that need electricity when funds are available. So, that answer will keep coming.

 

Mr Hamusonde was inaudible.

 

Mr Nanjuwa (Mumbwa): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has indicated that two schools in Nangoma Parliamentary Constituency were supposed to be electrified in 2013. Bearing in mind that if these schools were earmarked for electrification in 2013, there must have been a budget allocated for this purpose. What happened to that funding which was provided for these schools to be electrified in 2013, but they were not.

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Madam Speaker, although the projects were budgeted for, the funds were not released to REA and, therefore, the authority was not able to undertake the implementation of these projects.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Hamusonde: Madam Speaker, is it possible for the hon. Minister to tell us how much money was used for the job that was done because it was done halfway? There were wires that were installed from the grid up to the chief’s palace, but the works stalled. So, I want to know how much was spent on that work.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Do you have that information, hon. Minister of Energy?

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Madam Speaker, I do not have that information. The information I have is that the total estimated cost is K8.5 million, but I do not have information regarding how much has been spent so far.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Kambita (Zambezi East): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for the opportunity to ask the hon. Minister of Energy a follow up question. Going by his answer to the question raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Nangoma and the follow up question asked by the hon. Member for Nkeyema, the hon. Minister mentioned that these schools will be electrified when funds are available, which has been a trend. Further, going by his responses, especially for questions arising from areas that are occupied by … (inaudible)

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Zambezi East, if you can hear me, please, repeat your question.

 

Mr Kambita: … the Opposition.

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Madam Speaker, I am on record as having gone to Dundumwezi and Choma to commission some electrification works that were carried out there. There are many works that we have carried out in all the Opposition strongholds. So, this assertion that we are not working in the Opposition strongholds is not correct. We have been working in the Opposition strongholds and we have done a lot of work. In fact, we went with the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, to Dundumwezi to officially hand over that programme. However, for some reason, our friends decide to turn a blind eye when something is straight in the open.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Simbao (Senga Hill): Madam Speaker, this issue of schools not being connected to the national electricity grid is very common. In my constituency, I have about six schools that lie under the Zesco Limited lines that are not connected.

 

Could the hon. Minister tell us if there is any requirement that the schools ought to meet in order to meet the criterion used to be connected to power? The schools in my constituency are right under the power lines, yet they have no access to power. Are there other requirements that these schools need to meet? If so, have the schools in Nangoma Parliamentary Constituency met those requirements?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister of Energy, indicate the requirements.

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Madam Speaker, first of all, before any building is electrified, be it a school, clinic or a house, people have to apply for electrification. When they apply, they are given a standard form and, then, engineers from Zesco Limited get on site to assess the amount of work that needs to be done. Thereafter, a quotation for electrifying the premises is given. When a quotation is given, the applicant has to pay and then the building will be electrified. I must say that if the schools that the hon. Member is talking about are under Zesco lines, then, that should not give us a problem. I think dropping a line is not so much of a problem. It is the extension of the grid which is so much of a problem. Therefore, if the hon. Member for Senga Hill has such a situation, let us discuss and we should be able to sort it out.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Madam Speaker, this Government has been extremely proud of having delivered development everywhere, and energy is part of that development agenda. The hon. Minister gave us a schedule, on the Floor of this House, of the places that would be electrified such as Nangoma. Bearing in mind that schools depend on electricity to enable them to teach computer lessons, how much money has the Government reserved for this exercise? How much support is the ministry getting from the Government to make sure that it achieves this agenda?

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Madam Speaker, I get as much support as possible from the Ministry of Finance. The disbursement is as per budget. At times, the ministry could be shot of money, but it still disburses something. Otherwise, we do get as much support as possible from there.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I will allow questions from the hon. Member for Zambezi West and Solwezi Central, and from the Zoom platform, I will allow questions from the hon. Members for Serenje and Kantanshi.

 

Ms Kucheka (Zambezi West): Madam Speaker, the problem of not electrifying schools in Senga Hill is also prevailing in Zambezi West. In Zambezi West, we only have one school which is electrified. For a long time now, this school in Senga Hill has not been electrified.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

The school under consideration is in Nangoma Constituency.

 

Ms Kucheka: Madam Speaker, sorry I meant Nangoma. The school has been without electricity for about seven years now. Is there a time frame within which the Government plans to electrify this school so that we can, at least, have an idea if money is going to be found? Could the hon. Minister give us an idea of when he thinks money can be found, whether it is in ten or five years time?

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Madam Speaker, this is the third time I am answering this question regarding when this will be done. I said earlier that when funds are available. When the Ministry of Finance releases the money, we will be able to electrify the schools in question. I said earlier that this answer will keep recurring. As long as we do not receive the money, we will give the same answer until such a time that we receive the money.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mulusa (Solwezi Central) Madam Speaker, like the case in Nangoma Constituency, I also have such schools in Solwezi Central like Mapopo and Kakombe which have no power. These schools have been given quotations worth about K300,000 for them to be connected. Who is supposed to fund the exercise to connect power to the schools, especially the ones with high quotations?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: That question is unrelated to the main question. You want to know who is supposed to fund the electrification of schools. I do not think the hon. Minister has an answer to that.

 

Mr Kabanda: Madam Speaker, am I audible?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You are audible hon. Member.

 

Mr Kabanda: Madam Speaker, if my memory serves me right, way back in 2013, the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) had tapped in to some World Bank resources to electrify most of the schools across the country. Is it possible that at an appropriate time, the hon. Minister could give us a list of projects that were electrified under that project?

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, you may give a bonus answer at an appropriate time.

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Madam Speaker, definitely we have all the records of all the works that we have been carrying out from inception. So, we will be able to give the hon. Member that information. We can discuss off Parliament business. If at all other hon. Members are interested, we can lay that information on the Table.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr A. C. Mumba (Kantanshi): Madam Speaker, I would like the hon. Minister to further clarify on the issue of funds not being available. He will agree with me that in 2013, Zambia was in a very strong fiscal space and, obviously, resources were more available than they are now. Currently, there is a clear indication that some of these projects will have funding difficulties. So, considering that some work was carried out in 2013 and then abandoned, is it possible for the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) to come up with new ways of electrifying schools? Clearly, what is on the ground is that it is more expensive not only for schools, but also for the Government to electrify schools. Can REA not come up with other methods that could still electrify these schools so that they could function normally?

 

Mr Nkhuwa: Madam Speaker, indeed, the Rural Electrification Authority (REA) has already come up with such initiatives. For example, quite a good number of schools around the country have been electrified using the solar stand-alone system whereby you just connect a school and the houses around that area. This works like some sort of a mini-grid. In other cases, we have even much more robust grids which actually electrify a whole village. So, we do have a lot of stand-alone systems and have been applying them.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

______

 

MOTIONS

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

 

Mr Mwamba (Lubansenshi): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology for the Fifth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 26^th March, 2021.

 

I thank you.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Ms Chisangano (Gwembe): Madam Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Mr Mwamba: Madam Speaker, in accordance with its terms of reference, as set out in the National Assembly Standing Orders, your Committee considered one topical issue, namely Skills and Career Development in Primary and Secondary Schools. Your Committee also considered the Action-Taken-Report of the Fourth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly.

 

Madam Speaker, during its study, your Committee interacted with several stakeholders who tendered both written and oral submissions before it. I have no doubt that hon. Members of the House have taken time to read your Committee’s report. Therefore, allow me to only highlight a few critical findings of your Committee.

 

Madam Speaker, the House may be aware that the relevance of Zambia’s education system has been a subject of debate since the 1970s when the first education reforms were initiated. The debate has continued even after the recently implemented Zambia Education Curriculum Framework of 2013 and the education sector, as a whole, has been criticised for not being responsive to the socio-economic needs of the country. For example, the school curriculum at both primary and secondary levels is too academic and does not adequately provide for the knowledge and skills which are necessary for social and economic development.

 

Madam Speaker, in this regard, the school curriculum is perceived as being biased in favour of orienting learners towards white-collar jobs only.

 

Madam Speaker, school guidance and counselling is acknowledged worldwide to be key to realising career development among learners by ensuring that they remain focused. Unfortunately, in the Zambian education system, the provision of guidance and counselling services has not been fully implemented.

 

Madam Speaker, further, your Committee notes that the recently declared vocational career pathway is progressive and a giant step towards imparting secondary school learners with various skills for self-reliance and for the country’s social and economic development. However, its implementation remains uncertain. It is not clear how such a huge reform programme will be realised amidst limited infrastructure, limited educational materials, critical teacher shortages and limited budgetary allocations to the education sector.

 

Madam Speaker, let me now touch on some of the scientific challenges, as observed by your Committee in the course of its work. The first thorny issue is the lack of adequate and appropriate infrastructure to support vocational training in the country. Given this challenge, your Committee strongly recommends that the Government immediately puts in place necessary facilities such as workshops, equipment and laboratories to support vocational education training in schools.

 

Madam Speaker, another issue is the lack of appropriately trained instructors who can ably deliver the required skills to the learners for Technical, Entrepreneurial, Vocational Education and Training (TEVET) programmes in schools. In this vein, your Committee strongly urges the Government to ensure that teachers who are conducting TEVET programmes in schools are appropriately trained.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee is also greatly concerned that the Level 2 and 3 Trade Test Certificates awarded to learners by TEVETA are not included in the Zambia Qualifications Framework. This means that these qualifications are not recognised, thereby disadvantaging the holders of these trade certificates. Therefore, your Committee strongly implores the Government to take measures to resolve the mismatch that exists in the classification of qualifications between TEVETA and the Zambia Qualifications Authority. This should be attended to as a matter of urgency.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee observes with concern the lack of evaluation mechanisms in the implementation of vocational training, which is being conducted in schools. This makes it difficult to measure the success that is being scored by the programme. In this regard, your Committee strongly urges the Government to urgently take concrete steps to put in place an evaluation mechanism for the vocational education training programme. This will help in measuring the success scored in the programme and in providing recommendations for improvement, where necessary.

 

Madam Speaker, I urge the Executive to study and implement the recommendations contained in your Committee’s report for the benefit of the country. Let me also appeal to all hon. Members of the House to support the report of the Committee.

 

Madam Speaker, I wish to conclude by thanking all the stakeholders who appeared before your Committee. Lastly, let me thank you and the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance and support rendered to your Committee throughout the session.

 

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

 

Thank you, Madam.

 

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

 

Mrs Chisangano: Now, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker, I beg to second that this House do adopt the report of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology for the Fifth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 26^th March, 2021.

 

Madam Speaker, in seconding this Motion, allow me to make a few comments on what your Committee was privy to.

 

Non-Assessment of Skills Acquired by Learners at Senior Secondary School Level

 

 Madam Speaker, the secondary school vocation education training is only adequately implemented up to Grade 9, where the free education policy is in effect. It is unacceptable for the senior secondary school learners not to be assessed under the vocational education programme despite them having satisfactorily attended the necessary training.

 

Madam Speaker, there is a need for the Government to provide policy guidance on the plight of learners at senior secondary school level who are not being assessed in vocational training due to the lack of guidance in the vocational career pathway.

 

Inaudible 

 

Madam Speaker, the Government is implementing the two-tier career system without having adequately equipped schools with modern infrastructure and machinery that is necessary to support the vocational career pathway.

 

Madam Speaker, there is a need for the Government to urgently develop and implement a medium-term plan to equip schools with appropriate modern infrastructure and machinery, which will support the delivery of high quality training.

 

The Limitation of the Two-Tier Career System to a Few Selected Schools

 

Madam Speaker, another issue is that the two-tier career system is only being implemented in selected secondary schools in the country. This is leaving out many secondary schools which could have benefited from this two-tier career system.

 

Madam Speaker, there is a need for the Government to consider rolling out the two-tier career system to all secondary schools in the country in order to provide learners with both academic and lifelong skills training at secondary school.

 

Madam Speaker, with these few words, I beg to second.

 

Thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for this good report. Let me state, from the outset, that I support it.

 

Madam Speaker, education, and especially vocational education training, is key to this country. The report is talking about evaluation and review. Are we serious in Zambia? During the reign of the First President, Dr Kenneth Kunda, who was a former teacher, importance was placed on education and skills. You could see that the whole country had secondary and boarding schools irrespective of political lineage.

 

Madam Speaker, you and I and most of us who were born in earlier days had the opportunity to attend school without any problems. On skills, we can borrow from Zimbabwe which attaches great importance to vocational education training. This can reduce unemployment in the country because people would be already inducted into skills such as carpentry and building. Attaining skills can go a long way for the country and reduce unemployment.

 

Madam Speaker, in Zambia, we do not care. We only mind about cheap politics. We spend so much money and waste time without empowering people. We throw money about for political expedience. This should stop. We should pump more money into skills and schools, import modern equipment and train the youth so that they can be independent. Giving them little monies during campaigns is not helping us.

 

Madam Speaker, this country needs to realise its potential and, in fact, the artisan’s skills at this level are more important in this country than people who even attain degrees because they are the people on the ground.

 

Madam Speaker, what are we doing about this issue? We want to see a Government that can review the curriculum. I, indeed, agree with your Committee on the need to review the curriculum and conduct evaluation and review. However, here, we are doing chipante pante, meaning that we are doing it without direction. There is no policy direction in this country.

 

Madam Speaker, why are we so inept and without thinking? We have the future. The youth of today are the future. A certification authority has come into being and, indeed, we need to get rid of whoever is forging qualifications. We need to have quality and integrity attached to the certification of the country’s education qualifications. Whoever has qualifications needs to have them validated.

 

However, in Zambia, when you go to “Matero University”, people are printing documents and we are just looking on. Partly, even the Government is involved by letting in people who have been caught with such documents. This should stop. Education is the key. It can bring about money and it can be an export value. The more you have your people outside the country, the more money they will bring into the country.

 

Madam Speaker, look at Nigeria. Its population is very big. It is even bigger than Zambia, but it has many educated people who contribute to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of their country. However, in Zambia, we value cheap politics too much. We want to use the youth for political expedience instead of giving them skills. When they grow up, they will regret. It is like in football. You are only useful between one to thirty-five years. After that, you are rendered useless. We should look at what these youth will do when they are above thirty-five years of age.

Madam Speaker, I am very happy with your Committee for bringing up these issues. Let our education and curriculum be comparable to Cambridge levels. Let us not make it cheap to suit those who want to win elections. Let us be upholders of integrity. 

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mrs Chinyama ( Kafue): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to say one or two things, considering that the speakers before me have done justice to the topic, and just to commend your Committee for bringing out the real issues in its report.

 

Madam Speaker, the spirit of our national curriculum framework was, indeed, forward looking and some good amount of work went in to it to try to prescribe what would be of importance in the education system. The two-tier system gave us all hope that the children who excel academically would have a clear path to pursue just as those who can do something with their hands.

 

Madam Speaker, it has been very unfortunate to see the dwindling education budget over the years. This means that we have been denying resources to a very critical sector such as education, which should have been supported to help implement the new curriculum framework. Clearly, what the report is bringing out is that the sector has not been adequately funded to help it procure the necessary equipment and tools that would have supported, especially, the vocational career pathway.

 

Madam Speaker, we are missing the whole point, especially now with white collar jobs which are difficult to come by. The vocational pathway would have helped empower the youth to become their own bosses. They would have been able to set up their own industries, in line with what the Government is looking at having when it talks about setting up industrial yards where such skilled labour can work. Unfortunately, such a good policy and framework has just remained unsupported like that. This means that we will continue having this big challenge of joblessness because our school leavers just complete school, then, go and join a pool of other frustrated youths who are waiting for jobs that do not seem to come their way soon.

 

Madam Speaker, I wish that this Government could be reminded that education is not a cost, but an investment for the future. When you look at our youths, you will see that they are wasting away in the streets. All they do is drink illicit brews called tujilijili when they could be keeping themselves busy if they had something to do. This is a time bomb. Even as we wind up our business in this House, I would like to appeal to the Government to seriously look into the issue of our youths because they are really suffering out there. It is very saddening to meet a number of them having gone through school, – Just yesterday, I met one vibrant young lady who was selling vegetables, yet she is a university graduate. What we are doing to these youths is really sad, and I hope the Government can quickly come to that realisation and give the right amount of support, hope and a future to our children.

 

Madam Speaker, as my hon. Colleague from Ikeleng’i said, let us put money where the mouth is. Some of the youths are already skilled, but they do not have capital to help them set up businesses, yet we are splashing money all over the place. I hope the youths themselves will come – (Inaudible) as adults of this nation. Let us look at these youths as our own children. Otherwise, tomorrow, they will come back to haunt us if we continue using them just for the purposes of winning elections and not giving them real empowerment that can sustain them for the future.

 

Madam Speaker, with those few remarks, I thank you once again.

 

Thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Kambita (Zambezi East): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for according me an opportunity to debate the Report of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology.

 

Madam Speaker, the report of your Committee is a mouthful in terms of how we have performed in the education sector. What I picked out from the report of your Committee is mainly the challenge of financing the education sector. Education worldover, is the most financed sector of any national budget because of the importance that is attached to it. However, here, even when we apportion a big amount of money to the education sector, the disbursement of finances from the National Treasury is something that we cannot really talk about.

 

Madam Speaker, I also picked the issue of infrastructure. As much as we have a developed curriculum in tandem with trends in the world and the growth of the sector, we do not seem to be financing the sector appropriately. I heard the mover of the Motion lament how we are going to achieve these curriculum reforms without financing or without the infrastructure required. I have in mind science laboratories in many of these schools. Even in the constituency that I represent, it took the initiative of coming up with science laboratories from the meagre Constituency Development Fund (CDF) that we receive. Putting up science laboratories in all schools using the CDF is something that cannot be achieved.

 

However, we have situations, such as now, where this Patriotic Front (PF) Government is giving empowerment funds to churches, monies that could have gone to this sector. When I look at this act, it is simply targeted at trying to bribe the voters so that they are hoodwinked to voting for a Government that has lost direction and has failed to finance a very key sector – (Inaudible) – is on point by complementing our efforts regarding the infrastructure that we have put up, including infrastructure for those that are employed to teach the learners. We have challenges such as lack of houses for teachers. In rural areas, this is a hot issue. Teachers are refusing to go to certain schools because there are literally no houses for teachers.

 

Madam Speaker, we need to engage in introspection and correct this situation. Otherwise, we will just have these reforms on paper and not make any progress. For instance, in Zambezi East, we have prioritised the education sector in the use of the CDF, yet we are just scratching the surface. We have not even attained a per cent of what is really needed in terms of infrastructure in that constituency. Now, if the example of Zambezi East is as it is, what more the rest of the country where even bigger infrastructure is probably required?

 

Madam Speaker, we do not seem to focus on where we need to put our monies. When I look at the priorities of the PF, especially during this period when we are going towards elections, I lament greatly because the education sector seems to have been neglected. Therefore, your Committee’s report is on point. I thought I should make mention of this to let the Executive know that the nation is listening and watching the way it sets its priorities. Actually, this report exposes the Executive in terms of what it really prioritises. If the education sector is supposed to be a priority and should be allocated the largest amount from our Budget, then, that is the sector we should be giving money. If all these pronouncements that the Government is making and handouts that are being given were channelled to the education sector, they would really go a long way. I have seen millions of kwacha being donated to markets and so on and so forth. If that money was to be put, for instance, in –

 

The hon. Member’s time expired.

 

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Madam Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to also add my voice to the debate on the Motion to Adopt the Report of the Committee on Education, Science and Technology for the Fifth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly.

 

Madam Speaker, I think we must be very sincere in our debates. We must mention to the people that under the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, the education sector has performed very well. We are aware that even schools that never existed do now exist with almost all the facilities. We are aware that technical schools that have opened under the leadership of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, under the PF Government have actually reduced the gap. We are aware that in several areas, contractors have carried out 90 per cent of the work. So, it would not be true to state that the PF Government has underperformed in this area or to insinuate that the funds being donated would have done whatever people are saying.

 

Madam Speaker, we are aware that vocational training requires people who have a hands-on approach. The PF Government has actually identified several areas where our learners are now being given the opportunity to learn and grasp whatever they are learning hands-on. For instance, you cannot teach someone mechanics when you are just dreaming about it. You have to take someone to a mechanic’s workshop to do that. In other words, you cannot teach people how to perform certain skills unless done practically. They must have a workshop, and we are aware that the Government has shown a lot of support in most of these areas.

 

Madam, the biggest challenge we have had has been hon. Members of Parliament from opposition strongholds, for instance, failing or refusing to work closely with the Government to ensure that some of these facilities reach their areas. I am aware that under the PF Government, 95 per cent of the constituencies have new secondary schools, new laboratories and all sorts of things.

 

Madam Speaker, I want to commend my brother from Zambezi East who actually said that our hon. Colleagues have been using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to build schools there. Yes, it is important that hon. Members of Parliament begin to use the CDF to also touch areas which can easily be developed. However, we are aware that the CDF cannot be enough to do most of these works.

 

Madam, in conclusion, we also want to thank Hon. Ephraim Belemu from Mbabala for joining the PF, the winning team. We also want to take this opportunity to welcome all those who are willing to join the Ruling Party because the development agenda of the party speaks volumes for itself.

 

Madam Speaker, in terms of education, we are aware that recently, His Excellency the President was in Petauke where he went to commission the Edgar Lungu Technical Secondary School. We are also aware that in other parts of the country, the Ministry of General Education has also done other works to advance this kind of thing.

 

Madam, all we want to say is that we must continue with the development agenda of the PF without politicising these issues because from the time the United National Independence Party (UNIP) Government left in 1991, most of these areas remained under-serviced until the PF came into power in 2011. The majority of these projects that we are seeing being commissioned now have actually spoken volumes.

 

Madam Speaker, with those few remarks, I want to thank you and wish the hon. Member of Parliament for Liuwa is listening to what I am saying.

 

With those few words, Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Thank you, Madam.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: He always listens.

 

Mr Mung’andu (Chama South): Madam Speaker, thank you for this very rare opportunity to debate the good report laid on the Table by your Committee of Education, Science and Technology. Before I go into the details of your Committee’s report, let me, on behalf of the people of Muchinga Province and the Patriotic Front (PF), in particular, which is the Ruling Party in this country, welcome Hon. Ephraim Belemu to the mighty PF party.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, for those who do not know the importance of education, Hon. Belemu has just demonstrated that, indeed, knowledge is power. It is the knowledge that Hon. Belemu possesses which has made him make a wise decision to join the PF party. Hon. Belemu is the Member of Parliament for Mbabala in the Southern Province, in case people have –

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member, you are now debating Hon. Belemu.

 

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, we urge others to follow what Hon. Belemu has done. As President Lungu transforms the education sector, he would like to leave no one behind in the management of this country.

 

Madam Speaker, coming to the report, the two-tier system, which your Committee has indicated in its report, is indeed, what the PF Government has been advocating –

 

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

 

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

 

]]Mr Kambita: Madam Speaker, thank you very much for allowing me this point of order.

 

Madam Speaker, you have rightly guided the hon. Member, who is on the Floor, at the moment, to not take that trajectory of debating a fellow hon. Member on the Floor of this House. However, he has disregarded your guidance and gone ahead to do so, and that record has still remained in our Hansard. Could this situation be corrected?

 

I need your serious ruling, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Zambezi East, I really do not need your help in that regard. I guided the hon. Member for Chama South and from my recollection, he did heed my guidance and he immediately got back to debating the Motion on the Floor. So he is, therefore, not out of order.

 

The hon. Member for Chama South may continue.

 

Mr Mung’andu: Madam Speaker, thank you for the wonderful ruling and guidance.

 

Madam, I was saying that the two-tier system is what President Edgar Chagwa Lungu is advocating for right now. The PF Government has recognised the fact that not everyone is gifted in terms of academic prowess. Others are gifted differently. I will give an example of athletes. How much does a professor earn compared to top notch footballers of this world like Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo? Those are talents which have to be identified and nurtured quite early in our education system and the PF Government recognises that fact. It is no wonder that even in rural areas, you see early childhood education being provided to our people. That has only been achieved under the PF Government.

 

Madam Speaker, the education system that President Lungu and the PF Government want to encourage the people of this country, particularly the youths, is that which will be able to impart skills for their livelihood. I heard the hon. Member for Kafue give an example of a university graduate selling vegetables. She said that is not how it should be. To the contrary, it is not the kind of job one does that matters. It is what it earns one in income.

 

Madam, as a Member of Parliament, I will not be ashamed to sell vegetables. I already sell chickens, but our hon. Colleagues think that is not what a graduate should be doing. To the contrary, these are skills that the PF Government is trying to impart in our youths. Not all youths will be able to, maybe, manage different academic challenges. Not all youths will be engineers or lawyers. We want a cadre of youths which will be self-sustaining and able to run our factories. We need technicians, including Grade 7 and 9 dropouts, who will be trained to run the industrialisation agenda, through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC), which President Lungu is spearheading.

 

With these few remarks, Madam Speaker, I want to urge all those who want to be part of this transformation agenda that the PF Government, under the able leadership of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, will be carrying out from August this year up to 2026 to come and join the PF like what others such as Hon. Belemu have done to –

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

The hon. Member’s time expired.

 

Mr Simbao (Senga Hill): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank your Committee for its good report. In so doing, I would like to state that you cannot take a horse to the river and force it to drink water or you can take a horse to the river, but you cannot force it to drink water.

 

Madam Speaker, you might appreciate to know that the most unfortunate thing in Zambia is that everything is politicised. There is nothing that people want to leave to professionals. If I recall well, in 1966 the English refused to establish a school of medicine in Zambia saying that we were not intelligent enough to learn in English. The Ridgeway Campus that you see now was established by Russians. The English came back later.

 

However, Madam Chairperson, today, our own and educated in this country, Dr Charles Malata, is ranked one of the best ten doctors in the United Kingdom. This was reported on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). You can check it out. He was educated at the Ridgway Campus, the same school which the British refused to establish because we were not intelligent enough. This man was educated at Malole School in the Northern Province. He did not come from outside Zambia.

 

Madam Speaker, I am sorry that this one might be related to me, but in 2018, a boy called Mpaso Simbao was ranked among the fifty smartest teens in the world. He was educated here in Zambia at Rhodes Park School. He even won the National Geographic Award at Google in California, beating all the other contestants. This was a Zambian, educated here in Zambia.

 

Madam Speaker, you can see the might of our education system. The education system that we run in this country, irrespective of a few hiccups that people talk about, is very big and strong. However, if a person does not want to drink water, like a horse at the river, there is nothing that the Government can do. The Government provides almost everything, but a person must take the initiative to get what the Government wants to achieve.

 

Madam Speaker, I have seen some very intelligent people coming out with distinctions from the Copperbelt University (CBU), yet they did their education through night school, reading under street lights. Therefore, I do not understand why we are always after ourselves even when we have proved to the outside world that our education system is very superior.

 

Madam Speaker, I believe that even today, we have some teachers teaching in the Seychelles or elsewhere because our education system is very good and the whole world has seen it. Therefore, whatever is lacking, instead of us being the people to kill our education system, we must try to give it life and see to it that it performs even much better than it is. In the way we are doing it now, we are telling the whole world that we are very bad, yet we have seen people that are excelling, like Dr Charles Malata.

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to urge my fellow politicians not to make politics out of everything. We must look at the core value of something and appreciate that this Government has done a lot for this country.

 

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mecha (Chifunabuli): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to debate the Motion. Allow me to also thank the mover and the seconder of the Motion, which is on the Floor of the House.

 

Madam Speaker, right from the outset, I would like to declare interest. I am actually a member of the Committee that has just tabled its report on the Floor of the House. I have been agitated to actually join into this debate owing to some misconceptions that have ensued during the discourse.

 

Madam Speaker, it is well noted that the two-tier academic vocational career pathway that has been introduced by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is the way to go for Zambia if it has to overcome the dwindling white collar jobs.

 

Madam Speaker, this is an initiative that requires up-scaling, and there is no doubt about it. Probably, if we have to understand this policy very well, as policy makers and representatives of the people of Zambia, we need to ask ourselves a very important question. Arising from the recommendations of the report, what really is the challenge for people’s representatives, who are the hon. Members of Parliament? I think that is a very cardinal question that we need to ask ourselves before we even mislead the public.

 

Madam Speaker, we all know that our youth need jobs and they require self-employment. The Government was right to actually introduce a two-tier academic vocational career pathway. I just want to give a demonstration so that we can give context to the debate. I can give you an example of Chifunabuli. Your own National Assembly office has risen to the challenge and is in the forefront of trying to identify the youth in Chifunabuli who have undergone vocational training, especially the youth who have been trained under various institutions under the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA). This has been one of the preoccupations of your staff in Chifunabuli, guided by their area hon. Member of Parliament. Therefore, the biggest issue or challenge has been how to link the many youth that we have identified through your own office to sources of finance. I think that is the job that everyone expects of area hon. Members of Parliament.

 

Madam Speaker, we have opportunities like the Youth Empowerment Fund, the ECL Corporative Empowerment Fund and the Zambia Aquaculture Development Project, which is managed by the Citizen Economic Empowerment Commission (CEEC). There are also various sources of finance. So, for someone to come on the Floor of this House and say that the Patriotic Front (PF) is using this for political expedience is exhibiting a lack of understanding of the role that he/she is supposed to play and, indeed, expected to perform for the youth.

 

Madam Speaker, we can come here to Parliament with all sorts of lamentations, but that will not help. Let us not run away from our responsibility to help the youth. Let us get them linked to appropriate programmes so that they can start up something.

 

Madam Speaker, as we speak, people are making arrangements in Luapula for our youth to actually access the Youth Fund under the Ministry of Youth Sport and Child Development. This will be launched in Luapula Province tomorrow, and Chifunabuli has not been left out.

 

Madam Speaker, for the information of some hon. Members of Parliament, Chifunabuli has actually facilitated the establishment of more than 100 youth clubs registered under the National Youth Development Council (NYDC). This is what we expect. Already, some youth are being linked. Some of the youth are rearing chickens under the ECL Presidential Empowerment Fund. Recently, Hon. Prof. Luo was in Chifunabuli, and several youths benefited. Tomorrow, Hon. Mulenga will be in Mansa –

 

The hon. Members time expired.

 

Ms Katuta (Chienge): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving the voice of Chienge an opportunity to add on to the debate on this important Motion on the Floor.

 

Madam Speaker, after listening to some of my colleagues, I just want to say one or two things. Our issues in the education system in Zambia should not be politicised. Since being among the first Grade 8s to write examinations in Zambia, I have seen change in the education sector. In the past ten years, even though I was outside of the country for part of it, I have seen what the Patriotic Front (PF) has done in the education sector.

 

Madam Speaker, as we speak, Chienge is one of the districts which has benefited by getting a Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Secondary School. In the entire Luapula Province, only three schools were picked. What I am saying? If we always want to refer to the so-called distribution of money and connect it to education leaving what is on the table, we are not doing justice to our people. What we are supposed to talk about is how we improve our education system. I expect all of us to talk about that.

 

Madam Speaker, if we are to develop our curriculum, we need more money to be allocated to the Ministry of General Education and the Ministry of Higher Education. We need to have the very people who are in the system such as teachers and retired teachers, like Mr Chasaya and others, to help us come up with our own syllabus that will help our children to be empowered. (was Inaudible).

 

Talking about empowering our children, there is nothing practical that they have. What we should be talking about is how we will change from this theoretical kind of education to skills development. We need to start from the crèche or Grade 1, if possible, to train our children with the kind of education that will help them to develop a robot, for instance. That is what we should be talking about.

 

Madam Speaker, personally, I do not see how this debate should be connected to someone distributing K10 or millions of Kwacha at the market. We should talk about where we feel the Government needs to do a, b, c and d.

 

Madam Speaker, my contribution to the report of your Committee is that we should look at coming up with a syllabus which will help our children to be skilful. We do not need to have the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETAs) in the future. We need to have the so-called TEVETAs from Grade 1 whereby even if a child dropped out of school by Grade 5 or 7, he/she would be able to be self-sustaining with the help of the knowledge he/she would have acquired. That is what we should be looking at.

 

Madam Speaker, I just want to remind my colleagues that Zambia is our country. We do not have to take politics into everything. What we talk about or suggest in our debates, I believe, the Government listens and can it pick up from there. What we are saying is that let us change our curriculum in our country. We should strive to be like China where a child who is four or ten years is able to dismantle an engine of a vehicle. This is what we should be talking about. Then we can start talking about more allocation of monies to the Ministry of Education budget unlike what we have now. Even if we pumped in more money, we have graduates who have done theories and have graduated with distinctions, but cannot even make anything. However, if the vocational education started at an early stage, and not at university, we would be able to have university graduates who could invent a lot of machines and other things.

 

Madam Speaker, once again, I urge my fellow hon. Members of Parliament, who have Zambia and our children at heart, to give proper suggestions. This is life that we are talking about. We cannot separate education from development. We should not only talk about the allocation of more monies, but about a curriculum that will help our children to say, I want to be a farmer. There now is smart kind of farming and that is what we should be talking about. We are introducing STEM, how do we take this STEM to another level at all levels of education?

 

Madam Speaker, I hope and I believe everyone has heard me.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Madam Speaker, I would like to start by commending your Committee on Education, Science and Technology for producing and tabling this elaborate report. The report has highlighted important issues pertaining to skills and career development in primary and secondary schools. Obviously, the benefits, as highlighted, include among other things, curriculum enhancement, the recruitment of career guidance teachers in schools, the establishment of the Higher Education Authority, the establishment of the Technical Education, Vocation and Entrepreneurship Training Authority; and the establishment of the Zambia Qualifications Authority.

 

Madam Speaker, we take note of the challenges highlighted in the report of Committee. One of the challenges, of course, has been the issue of facilities which should have proper laboratories and workshops in order for our learners to acquire necessary skills.

 

Madam Speaker, you may wish to note that this hardworking Patriotic Front (PF) Government has tried to establish these skills and vocational training facilities across the country. I can give a recent example of an area well-known by the Hon. Madam Speaker, without risking bringing her into the debate. The northern region only had one vocational training centre which was catering for the whole of that region, the Lukashya Trades Training Institute. Through it, we had a number of our citizens from the northern part who not only gained employment after acquiring skills, but also created employment for others.

 

Madam Speaker, now, in addition to the Lukashya Trades Training Institute, we have the Isoka Trades Training Institute, which is taking care of Muchinga Province. I was also impressed to find a training facility being built in Kalabo in the Western Province. So, what that entails is that we are not only training people or youth to seek employment, but also training youth who, after acquiring skills, can request for empowerment. Let us say, some mechanics who have acquired skills come up together and seek empowerment. There are so many vehicles everywhere. Our people in rural areas, including teachers, are now driving vehicles, which never used to  e the case before. So, the opportunity is already there. All that these youth need to do is to package themselves with the skill that they have, then, apply for empowerment. There are various empowerment facilities which the Government has put forward through the Ministry of Youth, Sport and Child Development, which is empowering co-operatives and other youth. It is easy for these youths to create employment for themselves and others.

 

Madam Speaker, the workshops which had closed in most schools are being reopened. All the schools that are being built now are coming with laboratories and technical workshops where those who want to acquire skills in wood processing can start from that tender age so that as they choose their career pathway, to go technical will not be a problem for them as it is to just have their skills enhanced through tertiary technical education.

 

Madam Speaker, this is a Government which is doing all this. Now you can understand why people can now cross from the other side of the House to this side. They are seeing what we are doing. Sometimes, you can argue, but this politicking must add value to our people. So, all of us who are representatives of the people must play a role in ensuring that all these technical institutions that have been created get to benefit our youth and change their mindsets of only thinking of white-collar jobs as the way of living.

 

Madam Speaker, as the Government, we are doing everything possible to ensure that this two-tier career pathway is the way to go and shall continue to implement the programme under his Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, beyond August 2021.

 

Thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Ngulube: Hear, hear!

 

The Minister of General Education (Dr Wanchinga): Madam Speaker, I would like to commend the Committee on Education, Science and Technology, which produced the report. It contains many useful ideas, but also more importantly, I would like to thank the Government of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for the massive development agenda which has been implemented in the education sector.

 

Madam Speaker, when you look at the performance of the sector from 2011 to 2021, you do not need to look very far. Let me start with some of the issues which have been raised by hon. Colleagues who do not seem to see even though they have eyes to see.

 

Madam Speaker, first and foremost, there was a question on the Education Policy. The hon. Member for Ikeleng’i said that the Government is chipante pante and there is no policy in the education sector. We have a robust educational sector policy which was implemented in 1996 called “Educating Our Future”. We have revised this policy and the new policy which is going to be implemented beginning this year is currently being circulated in the ministries for comments. It is our hope that this will be tabled before the Cabinet before the end of this month and we want to make sure that this policy is approved before Parliament rises.

 

Madam Speaker, there were a lot of comments concerning school infrastructure. The Patriotic Front (PF) Government has been constructing many schools. It is building 115 secondary schools using Government resources and, currently, it has also brought on board the World Bank, which is assisting it to build eighty-two secondary schools throughout the country.

 

Madam Speaker, the Government has also upgraded many primary schools into secondary schools. This has added a lot of space for our children from primary to secondary education. You may have noticed that when the Grade 7 results were announced, all the candidates were able to enrol into Grade 8. This was not the case before, which means that the kind of policies and infrastructure we have put in place are paying a lot of dividends into the education sector.

 

Madam Speaker, there was debate on the issues of the two-tier system. This is a well-conceived idea and it is the intention of the ministry, riding on the experiences that we have had in implementing this programme, so far, to scale it down to lower educational levels. We want this to start as early as Grade 2 or Grade 3 to be able to identify the talents of our children and move them into the streams where they will be able to perform well in their lives. Therefore, the two-tier system is working well and the Government would like to make further improvement by bringing it down to the early years in the education system so that children are identified as soon as possible and put in the streams that are appropriate for them.

 

Madam Speaker, there was a question on standards which was raised. The education system in this country is of a high standard, and I agree with the hon. Member of Parliament for Senga Hill that we are demeaning a system which has produced men and women of a very high calibre.

 

Madam Speaker, currently, we have schools from South Africa that are requesting to have their students sit for our examinations here in Zambia. They are asking us to examine their children in their schools in South Africa. This is in recognition of the high standard of the education system of this country.

 

Madam Speaker, on the issues of science laboratories in schools, the Government has been addressing and it will continue to address this issue. We have the science centre which has been producing science equipment and mobile laboratories which are being distributed in various schools. However, where this is not being done, it is the Government’s intention to build and ensure that every secondary school has, at least, a science laboratory.

 

Madam Speaker, the Government is controlling the certification of its standards. The hon. Minister of Home Affairs made reference to the Zambia Qualification Framework Authority. We also have the Higher Education Authority (HEA) and the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ), which is why most of the people who do not have good qualifications are being identified because the Government has rigorous procedures and systems to be able to ensure very high standards.

 

Madam Speaker, teacher recruitment is an issue which the Government is addressing. Not long ago, I announced that the Government would recruit 1,200 teachers to be deployed in schools. On top of that, we are also conducting a head count in various schools because we have noticed that a number of schools, particularly in the urban areas, are over staffed with teachers. Therefore, we want to redistribute these teachers into the rural areas. This will be in addition to the deployment of teachers which we are going to undertake. We have made a programme to recruit 5,500 teachers every year for the next ten years. This is in our master plan. We have just been waiting for fiscal space for us to be able to implement this programme as planned.

 

Madam Speaker, educational reforms are a continuous process. The Ministry of General Education undertakes review of the curriculum frequently. At the moment, it is working on a framework under which it is going to review the curriculum beginning 2021 for the next five years. We have been reviewing this in addition to the policy review which I mentioned earlier so that we are able to constantly keep abreast with the developments in the education sector.

 

Madam Speaker, the issue of funding is one which we have discussed. Indeed, many people say that, on paper, we, as Ministry of General Education, receive a lot of money. When you look at these issues in quantitative terms, you will see that the budget for the Ministry of General Education looks big. However, let me hasten to mention that the Ministry of General Education is the biggest public sector employer with 115,000 teachers. Therefore, most of the money we receive goes to public expenditure (PE) leaving very little for investment in terms of expansion of our programmes. However, we are very fortunate that despite this challenge, we have a good load of co-operating partners who are working with us in the education sector to support our programmes.

 

Madam Speaker, the issue of trades training has been mentioned. Indeed, as the Ministry of General Education, our concern has been the creation of an effective linkage between what we are doing at lower levels and higher levels of education. We have been working with the Ministry of Higher Education to ensure that there is a very good transition from primary/secondary school level education into tertiary education especially in skills training.

 

Madam Speaker, therefore, the policy which we are going to implement this year is going to include a very good transitional ladder from primary and secondary level education into training skills sector. This is an issue we have identified and we think that the new policy, once implemented, will cover any deficiencies that have existed in the past.

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to encourage my hon. Colleague to be a little bit more positive and acknowledge that despite the various challenges that the ministry may have gone through, the education sector has performed well in making sure that this sector adds value to the lives of the people in the country.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mwamba: Madam Speaker, I am overwhelmed by the support I have received and given to the report from the hon. Members. I would like to thank Hon. Mecha, Hon. Katuta, Hon. Simbao and the hon. Member for Kafue. I also thank Hon. Mung’andu and the hon. Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Muchima and the hon. Minister of General Education.

 

Madam Speaker, finally, I thank you and the Clerk of the National Assembly for the support you have given to the Committee.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Question put and agreed to

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL SECURITY AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): I beg to move that this House do adopt the Report of the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs for the Fifth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on Friday, 26^th March, 2021.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Is the Motion seconded?

 

Ms Chisangano (Gwembe): Madam Speaker, I beg to second the Motion.

 

Dr Malama: Madam Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order No. 157(2), your Committee considered the topical issue − The Ratification of International Agreements in Zambia: Challenges and Opportunities.

 

Madam Speaker, bearing in mind that hon. Members have read your Committee’s report, I will only highlight a few salient issues contained therein.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee notes that being a member of forty-four international organisations, the United Nations (UN) the World Trade Organisation (WTO), the African Union (AU) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC), among most notable, Zambia is party to several international treaties and agreements. However, Your Committee notes that many of these instruments have not been ratified and some that have been ratified have not been domesticated for periods spanning more than a decade in some instances.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee is cognisant of the fact that according to the ratification of the International Agreements Act No. 34 of 2016, the responsibility to initiate a process of ratifying an international agreement lies with the line ministry. However, it is apparent that many ministries are under the impression that this responsibility lies with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. This is attributed to the lack of understanding of the provisions of verification of International Agreements Act, No. 34 of 2016 that the responsibility for ratifying international agreements lies with the Minister responsible for the subject matter of the international agreement. In this regard, your Committee urges the Secretary to the Cabinet to ensure that Permanent Secretaries (PSs) in all line ministries acquaint themselves with the provisions of the Act and fulfil their obligations in line with the provisions.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee notes that the situation has been compounded by the absence of a dedicated desk in the line ministries to handle these treaties. Further, the absence of an overarching institution tasked with the responsibility of co-ordinating the process of ratification and domestication across various ministries. In addition, your Committee is cognisant of the submission by the Secretary to the Cabinet that creating a super ordinate body would be a costly undertaking, particularly in view of the limited fiscal space currently obtaining in the economy. In this regard, your Committee recommends that each line ministry has a desk dedicated to the ratification of international agreements. Additionally, the Secretary to the Cabinet should create an inter-ministerial coordinating committee to superintend over the ratification of international agreements across the ministries as a long term panacea to the problem.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee learnt further that line ministries do not have a budget line dedicated to the processing of international agreements and are subsequently either underfunded or not funded at all for this function. This has resulted in Zambia being unable to send competent and requisite numbers of officers to the negotiating fora, thereby hampering the country’s capacity to negotiate some of the provisions of these agreements. In this vein, your Committee recommends that the Government should henceforth send competent staff and provide adequate funding in order for sufficient numbers of officers to be part of the delegation so as to widen the scope of consultation prior to entering into international agreements. Your Committee is particularly concerned over those agreements which have significant financial implications.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee is saddened to learn that Zambia owes the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organisation (CTBTO) a cumulative total of US$66,299, which is K1, 352,499,60, over a five-year period. Zambia signed a Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty in 1996 and ratified it in 2006. This outstanding amount has resulted in the country being suspended and her right to vote or speak during important CTBTO events has been lost.

 

Madam Speaker, coupled with the non-ratification, not being up-to date with subscriptions to the treaty organisations means that Zambian nationals are denied the opportunity to compete for jobs in organisations related to those treaties. In this regard, your Committee urges the Executive to settle these outstanding subscriptions and any other arrears in order to enable the country to maintain its voice on critical international fora such as the CTBTO. This is particularly important as the country seeks to embrace nuclear power generation as an alternative to hydropower generation. The country stands to benefits greatly by being a fully-fledged member of this treaty organisation.

 

Madam Speaker, as I conclude, allow me to thank all witnesses that appeared before your Committee for providing relevant information.

 

Madam, finally, I wish to thank you and the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance and services rendered to your Committee throughout its course of work.

 

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

 

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

 

Ms Chisangano: Now, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker, I beg to second that this House do adopt the report of the Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs for the Fifth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly laid on the Table of the House on 26^th March, 2021.

 

Madam, as I second the Motion, allow me to highlight a few more issues contained in your Committee’s report, such as limited financial and human capacity. Due to financial constraints, Zambia fails to send the requisite number of officials with the requisite expertise to undertake the cost benefit analyses and to negotiate international agreements. This results in reduced capacity in the signing of international instruments that do not resonate with the country’s aspirations. As a result, long and costly consultations to convince stakeholders locally to achieve a buy-in have to be undertaken after signing such agreements.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee recommends that the Government provides adequate funding in order to increase the number of staff in delegations so as to widen the scope of consultation prior to entering into international agreements, particularly with regard to financial implications.

 

Madam Speaker, there is also an issue of poor record-keeping. The Registry of International Instruments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has remained in hard copy format. This has made retrieval and tracking of international agreements a tedious undertaking. Consequently, individual ministries also have problems in determining the status of the international agreements under their purview. The situation is even worse with the general public. Therefore, your Committee recommends that the process of digitising the international instruments registry be accelerated to enable the public to have easy access to data.

 

Madam Speaker, the other issue is that Zambians are denied jobs in international organisations related to those treaties. As a result of not ratifying certain international agreements or not being up-to-date with subscriptions to the treaty organisations, Zambian nationals are denied the opportunity to compete for jobs in the organisations related to those treaties. Your Committee urges the Executive to ensure that all international agreements that are beneficial to the nation are ratified without undue delay and outstanding subscriptions settled at the earliest opportunity.

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank your Committee Members who worked tirelessly to come up with this report. I also wish to thank you, Madam Speaker, and the Clerk of the National Assembly for the guidance and services rendered to your Committee throughout its course of work.

 

Madam Speaker, I beg to second.

 

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Madam Speaker, for the second time, allow me to welcome Hon. Belemu to the Patriotic Front (PF). We are waiting for the hon. Member of Parliament for Liuwa –

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Deputy Chief Whip, we have a Motion and we really do not have the luxury of time.

 

Mr Ngulube: Madam Speaker, allow me to congratulate the new member of the PF, Hon. Belemu, for joining the winning team.

 

Madam Speaker, when international agreements are proposed for ratification, it is important that Zambia scrutinises them very carefully. In the past, there was a tendency to just sign everything that came without understanding exactly why it was being signed and what the implications were.

 

Madam Speaker, I also know that some of these international treaties and agreements have implications of conflict and collision between the provisions of our local legislation and the provisions of those statutes. So, sometimes, the Government takes a bit of time to sign them because it needs to understand the implications.

 

Madam Speaker, once you sign some of these documents, you are bound. It is very easy to join an organisation and ratify agreements, but it is very difficult to come out of them. Sometimes, it is difficult to even understand them and some of the clauses of some of these agreements might not favour our own situation.

 

Madam Speaker, yes, your Committee is in order to make recommendations, but I think there is a need also to note that we have our own laws. For instance, there is the issue of gay rights. So, where an international treaty says a country must recognise gay rights or must allow people to have homosexual marriages, you find that it is difficult for one country to accept such a clause because under its own laws, it is criminal to actually allow such practices.

 

Madam Speaker, there are also times when some of these agreements come with conditions that might not be favourable to this country, for instance, where our national policies, values and so on and so forth would actually be relegated to mere rhetoric. So, there are many reasons countries like Zambia or State parties, as we call them, actually delay in implementing some of these things.

 

Madam Speaker, when it comes to the issue of payment of outstanding dues, it is a reminder. I think there is not so much to debate on that issue. If the subscriptions are due, they should be paid.

                                         

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, allow me to also state that there are several international treaties and agreements which Zambia has signed and ratified, but I also note that most of our people would not be given jobs in those organisations despite Zambia having ratified the said documents. So, it is not absolutely true that the moment an agreement is ratified and the subscription is paid, then, your people will be able to compete for jobs.

 

Madam Speaker, let us talk about the international atomic agencies, for instance. When such organisations are looking for, for example, a Secretary-General or a Director General, the qualifications on their own would actually take one forty years in class to achieve. For some of these things like nuclear programmes, which appear so strange in Zambia, it would be very difficult for us to say with certainty that the moment we ratify an agreement, Zambian people will be given jobs. So, I think that what we need to do, first of all, is to build our own capacity. We need to enhance our own capacities to compete for some of these international jobs.

 

Madam Speaker, I also know that some organisations like the United Nations (UN) will require that before one applies for a job, such a person must have the capacity to speak, at least, two or three international languages. They will even tell you that you must choose from English, French, Dutch, German or something like that. When you look at yourself, you can only speak either English or your mother tongue or some Zambian dialects and English. So, you fail to get the job based on that disqualification.

 

Madam Speaker, therefore, I think there is a need for Zambia to begin to advocate, for instance, that it does not use French in its locality. Therefore, to insist that someone must also have a second foreign language to get an international job defeats the purpose of us joining some of these organisations. What is the purpose of interpretation if we all have to understand such kinds of languages?

 

Madam Speaker, with those few remarks, allow me to thank the Chairperson of your Committee and the seconder for having raised the issues that they have raised. I also want to say that the mover of the Motion on this report, my own uncle, is looking extremely smart.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Dr Malama: Correct.

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Madam Speaker, thank you so much for giving me an opportunity to make a few comments on the Motion ably moved by the Chairperson of your Committee on National Security and Foreign Affairs. I also want to commend the seconder of the Motion.

 

Madam Speaker, indeed, we agree with the Chairperson of your Committee that Zambia is a member of a number of international organisations, beginning with the United Nations (UN), the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) and many others. It is important that resolutions that are passed at these international organisations are, in one way or another, ratified or domesticated. I will take part of the debate from the hon. Deputy Chief Whip as mine.

 

Madam Speaker, the ratification of these treaties and international agreements is a collective responsibility and I will just talk a bit about the procedure that is undertaken so that we are on the same page.

                                          

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is responsible for international affairs, is the co-ordinator and plays the role of conveying all these treaties and agreements from various international institutions. Bearing in mind that all these treaties have legal implications, the Ministry of Justice, through the Attorney-General, who is the chief legal advisor to the Government has the responsibility to scrutinise them. In doing so, it also looks at the relevance to the nation because they are done in the kind of one-size-fits-all. So, each Member State has the responsibility to scrutinise the treaties and see the relevance of ratifying and domesticating them. Upon satisfying himself or herself with the provisions from the line ministry, the Attorney-General will, then, indicate to proceed to seek approval from Cabinet.

 

Madam Speaker, it is this approval given to the line ministry which is then forwarded to this august House. As you all know, in the current Constitution, it is a requirement that all international agreements and treaties be approved by this august House. Therefore, it is a collective responsibility. This august House, through various Committees, equally looks at the treaties to scrutinise and see whether we have the legal framework which would automatically permit for their domestication. If not, recommend what sort of legal framework would be required in order to ensure that the particular international agreement is recommended for ratification. After that process is done, the line ministry will receive the recommendation or the approval from Parliament and forward it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which, then, deposits the agreements with the relevant international organisation.

 

Madam Speaker, this is important because the cost and the arrears that accrue, like the arrears the hon. Chairperson spoke about, come about as a result of the issue of relevance.  Treaties that were probably signed before we came into office ourselves lacked a thorough system to scrutinise their relevance. Therefore, once they were signed, it was realised that those who were supposed to observe those obligations are not compelled to observe them. As a result, you end up in arrears. So, we have to be careful and make sure that we only pay, out of the resources that are limited, towards those agreements that add value to the lives of our people.

 

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I know that the Ministry of Finance has equally taken note of the issue that your Committee raised. I also know that the Ministry of Finance will come up with a report which will look at all these other treaties and where we are in arrears. It will ensure that it comes up with ways of liquidating the arrears that are outstanding.

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to assure this august House that through the detailed report of the Ministry of Finance we shall, then, be guided on the way forward and how these issues will be addressed to the satisfaction of your Committee and that of the Executive.

 

Madam Speaker, with these few remarks, I thank you.

 

Thank you, Madam.

 

Dr Malama (Kanchibiya): Madam Speaker, allow me to thank the seconder of this Motion, the Member of Parliament for Gwembe, Hon. Attractor Chisangano. I also want to appreciate the Deputy Chief Whip, Hon. Tutwa Ngulube, Member of Parliament for Kabwe Central, for his contribution to the debate and the Minister of Home Affairs, Hon. Steven Kampyongo, for having taken time to put the Executive’s sentiments across.

 

 I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Question put and agreed to.

 

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BILLS

 

SECOND READING

 

THE ACCOUNTANTS (Amendment) Bill, 2021

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo) (on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Dr Ng’andu)): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, the rationale for amending the Accountants Act No. 13 of 2008 is to align it with the Higher Education Act No.4 of 2013 and the Zambia Qualifications Authority Act No. 13 of 2011 to ensure that the provisions for training in various fields and accreditation of learning programmes and qualifications are amended in the statute book. The implementation of the Bill will streamline the regulatory functions in the higher education sector and the Higher Education Authority. The Zambia Qualifications Authority will retain the sole mandate of accrediting learning programmes and, thereby, reduce the cost of business on higher education institutions.

 

Madam Speaker, I beg to move.

 

Mr Kunda (Muchinga): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for according me an opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Accountants (Amendment) Bill No. 22 of 2021.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee was tasked to scrutinise the Accountants (Amendment) Bill, No. 22 of 2021, which was referred to it on 9^th March, 2021. To help it with the task, your Committee consulted various stakeholders who made both written and oral submissions before it.

 

Madam Speaker, let me hasten to state that all the witnesses who interacted with your Committee, with the exception of one, are in support of the Bill. However, the stakeholders raised a few concerns which are recorded in your Committee’s report for the consideration of this august House, as it debates the Bill.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee is also in support of the Bill. In supporting the Bill, your Committee makes the observations and recommendations I now highlight.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee noted that Section 9(1) (c) of the Zambia Qualifications Authority Act No. 13 of 2011 mandates the authority to accredit a qualification or part-qualification recommended by an appropriate authority if its meets the relevant criterion. This is the same mandate that the Zambia Institute of Chartered Accountants (ZICA) has under Section 5(2)(e) in relation to the accountancy qualifications and it is, therefore, duplicated. Your Committee recommends that the mandate of Section 5 by the deletion of Section 5(2)(e) be enacted so as to eliminate the current duplication of powers to accredit qualifications.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee is confident that this amendment will also level the playing field among institutions of learning offering accountancy training as an independent authority will perform the function of accreditation of qualifications.

 

Furthermore, your Committee agrees with stakeholders’ observations that ZICA has the expertise in the field of accountancy and, therefore, it is well placed to continue adding value to the accreditation process through a formal process of collaboration between ZICA and the relevant authorities charged with the mandate of accreditation of local and foreign institutions and qualifications. In this regard, your Committee, in agreeing with the proposed amendment of Section 5, recommends that the law should provide for ZICA’s representation on the appropriate Committee’s responsible for the accreditation process at both the Higher Education Authority and the Zambia Qualifications Authority. This will ensure that ZICA continues to provide input in the accreditation process relating to the accountancy profession.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee supports the proposal to delete Sections 5(3)(c) and 13 of the principal Act, as they will be redundant following the deletion of Section 5(2)(e). Therefore, your Committee recommends that the amendments be enacted.

 

Madam in conclusion, I wish to pay tribute to the witnesses who interacted with your Committee. I further wish to thank you for affording your Committee an opportunity to scrutinise the Bill. Gratitude also goes to the Clerk of the National Assembly and her staff for the services rendered to your Committee. I also commend the hon. Members of your Committee for their dedication to the work of the Committee.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the Chairperson and the entire Committee on Public Accounts for the job well done and all the hon. Members for supporting the Bill. I want to assure them that the issues raised by the Chairperson of your Committee such as duplication of authority and accreditation process are matters that will be taken into account by the ministry to ensure that these sections that seem to be conflicting are harmonised.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

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

 

Committed to a committee of the Whole House.

 

Committee on Tuesday, 13^th April, 2021.

 

THE ZAMBIA INSTITUTE OF MARKETING (Amendment) BILL, 2021

 

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Yaluma): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

 

Madam Speaker, the Explanatory Memorandum seeks to explain the Zambia Institute of Marketing (Amendment) Bill, 2021 for possible use by the Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters.

 

Madam Speaker, the rational for amending the Zambia Institute of Marketing Act No. 14 of 2003 is to give effect to the Cabinet approval in principle to amend the Higher Education Act of 2013 and ensure that the provisions providing for training on various fields and accreditation of learning programmes and qualifications are amended, as in the statute book.

 

Madam Speaker, the object of the Bill is to amend the Zambia Institute of Marketing’s Act, 2003 so as to revise the functions of the institute.

 

Madam Speaker, the following are the proposed amendments:

 

1. the deletion of subsection (1) and the substitution thereof of the following:

 

Section 2 of the principal Act is amended by the insertion of the following new definitions in the appropriate places in alphabetical order:

 

“Higher Education Authority” means the Higher Education Authority established under the Higher Education Act of 2013, and “Zambia Qualifications Authority” means Zambia Qualification Authority established under the Zambia Qualification Authority Act, 2011.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Minister, do you intend to read the entire Bill as it has been circulated?

 

Mr Yaluma: I presume that was my intention, but we can conclude if the House needs me to. I just wanted to read what has been deleted and inserted.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: You can proceed, but normally, the hon. Members are expected to read these Bills.

 

Mr Yaluma: Madam, having read the object of the Bill, I will talk of the expected outcomes of this Bill.

 

Madam Speaker, the amendment Bill will streamline the regulatory functions of the higher education sector, as the Higher Education Authority will retain the sole mandate on accrediting learning programmes and, thereby reduce the cost of business in higher education institutions.

 

Madam Speaker, in light of the information provided above, it is necessary to introduce the Bill in Parliament to amend the Zambia Institute of Marketing Act of 2003 so as to revise the functions of the institute. It is the hope of the ministry that the information provided will be useful to your Committee.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Madam Speaker, your Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters was tasked to scrutinise the Zambia Institute of Marketing (Amendment) Bill, No. 25 of 2021, pursuant to its mandate as set out in Standing Order no 157(2) of the National Assembly Standing Orders, 2016.

 

Madam, the proposed amendments in the Bill seek to amend the Zambia Institute of Marketing Act No. 14 of 2003 so as to revise the functions of the Zambia Institute of Marketing. The move to introduce the Bill arose out of the realisation that various higher learning institutions have authority to accredit learning programmes for both foreign and local higher learning institutions. This has resulted in the duplication of functions between the Higher Education Authority and other higher learning institutions. In this regard, there is a need to ensure that there is no overlapping of functions when it comes to accreditation of learning programmes and qualifications.

 

Madam Speaker, this is a straight forward Bill and although a number of stakeholders made proposals to amend some of the provisions of the Bill, they all supported it. As I am confident that all hon. Members have familiarised themselves with the report, allow me, now, to only highlight some of the content of your Committee’s report.

 

Madam Speaker, your Committee noted that the enactment of the Zambia Institute of Marketing (Amendment) Bill, No. 25 of 2021 is a step in the right direction with regard to quality assurance in as far as the marketing profession in Zambia is concerned. The enactment will help to ensure that everyone who acquires a marketing qualification is duly registered and that the qualifications they acquire are genuine and authentic. This is progressive, as it will allow the Zambia Institute of Marketing to only conduct training programmes accredited by a specialised body with a mandate to co-ordinate, regulate, supervise and monitor standards of higher education in Zambia. It will also enable the institute to produce marketing professionals who are internationally recognised and are well equipped to contribute to national development.

 

Madam Speaker, a concern was raised regarding the role of the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA). Your Committee was informed that given the separation of quality assurance functions between higher education and Technical Education and Vocational Training Programmes, there is a need for the Bill to recognise the role undertaken by TEVETA in accrediting programmes under the trades and occupational sub-framework of the Zambia Qualifications Framework. Your Committee also observes that the Higher Education Authority will have a large portfolio of programmes to accredit and this may affect its efficiency.

 

In this regard, your Committee recommends that TEVETA be mandated to accredit training programmes of all learning institutions providing qualifications up to diploma level while the Higher Education Authority be mandated to accredit and register institutions providing qualifications above diploma level only. This will help to improve the efficiency levels of the Higher Education Authority.

 

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, your Committee fully supports the Bill and thanks all the stakeholders who made both written and oral submissions before it. Your Committee also wishes to place on record its gratitude for the guidance and support services provided by the Office of the Speaker and the Clerk of the National Assembly throughout its deliberations.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Muchima (Ikeleng’i): Madam Speaker, the responsibility of governing this nation lies with us, as Zambians. It is not right to allow the status quo to continue. We need to review and see what is best for our country in comparison with those who are doing very well.

 

Madam Speaker, Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) provides a very important skill to our people. Everyone in Zambia depends and wants white collar jobs. However, those are not the only jobs. Some of us who were born years before Independence had formal education, which was more critical to the values of the nation than academic qualifications. Indeed, TEVETA should be enhanced. Let it stand alone so that it can provide skills everywhere. That way, when graduates leave school, they will be able to fend for themselves, rather than what we are seeing where we have a ka ntemba here and another one there. Ka ntemba means small stores. We want people to acquire skills and be able to apply them in society.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member for Ikeleng’i, the Bill is to amend the Zambia Institute of Marketing Act. I do hope you have had time to familiarise yourself with the Bill. Focus on the Bill.

 

Mr Muchima: Madam Speaker, I am coming to the Zambia Institute of Marketing Amendment Bill, which is well received. However, we need to transform this country for us to be relevant. Let us see what is important to this nation. What is happening today is that we just want to wonder around. The relevance of this country should be based on competition. The world is competitive and so, for us to fit in, we must focus on value addition. These are issues that should be brought on the table. Where do we place Zambia? When we look at the Act, what will others learn from it? What are we learning from other people? It is not just a matter of amending the Act and putting it out there to appease those who want to rally behind it, it is the values that are contained therein that need to be enhanced and brought on the table.

 

Madam Speaker, my debate will be o the content of the Act, generally. However, the issue is whether we are being relevant or it is just a matter of whoever thinks to change the Act we go their way like a whirlwind. Instead, we should come up with issues that affect the whole nation and what value they will add to this country, as well as what our grandchildren will pick from it. We should not have situations where we change an Act today, and another Government changes it tomorrow. That is not helping the country at all. We need an Act that goes beyond you and I. It should cater for the whole nation of Zambia and in the interest of everyone.

 

Madam Speaker, we should run away from this academic issue of copying and pasting. Therefore, in the field of marketing, we need to bring in things that will stand the test of time. This is what is lacking in this country. We have researches in universities and colleges which are accumulating dust. We have not gone there to see what values these can bring in if put on the table for the satisfaction of the entire country.

 

Madam Speaker, we have to transform ourselves. In supporting this Bill, personally, I need us to sit down and relook at what issues we should bring on the table. You should not just bring an Act because you are targeting an individual or targeting an opponent. Rather, bring an Act that can add value and protect all Zambians. Otherwise we are just wasting time as another Government may come and rubbish it.

 

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

 

Thank you, Madam.

 

The Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry (Mr Yaluma): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank the Chairperson and the Members of the Committee on National Economy, Trade and Labour Matters. Equally, I would like to thank the hon. Member of Parliament for Ikeleng’i for his submission.

 

Madam Speaker, of course, what has been highlighted as the major concern is the lack of a definitive role for the Technical Education, Vocational and Entrepreneurship Training Authority (TEVETA) and that it should be given a mandate to accredit institutions that provide qualifications above the diploma level. This will be taken very seriously. We will ensure that it is taken into serious consideration.

 

Madam Speaker, as regards the issues raised by my colleague, the hon. Member of Parliament for Ikeleng’i, yes, we will ensure that whatever we do as regards the amendment of this Bill, brings about issues which make a difference to the country.

 

Madam Speaker, finally, I would also like to thank all my hon. Colleagues for supporting this Bill amendment.

 

Madam Speaker, I submit.

 

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

 

Committed to a committee of the Whole House.

 

Committee on Tuesday, 13^th April, 2021.

 

 

REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORT, WORKS AND SUPPLY

 

(Debate resumed)

 

Mr Zimba: Madam Speaker, before business was suspended on Thursday, I was belabouring the aspect of how we can enhance participation of local people in the construction industry and the Committee’s recommendations are as follows:

 

Madam Speaker, the Government should ensure that contracts with foreign firms should be on condition that contractors demonstrate willingness and ability to build the capacity of local contractors through skills, technology and operating capital transfer partnerships.

 

Madam, the 20 per cent subcontract should be the minimum of the contract value and should not only be restricted to roads works, but also extended to other construction sub-sectors.

 

Madam Speaker, lastly, I also join the Chairperson of the Committee in thanking you for according us a chance to serve on this very important Committee.

 

Madam Speaker, I beg to second.

 

 Madam Deputy Speaker: Hon. Member for Liuwa, you had changed your mind.

 

Dr Musokotwane (Liuwa): Madam Speaker, yes, but I realised that it was going to close. I thank you for the few minutes available to discuss this report done by your Parliament.

 

Madam Speaker, we have been given a report as to why Zambians are not active participants in the construction sector. This report basically says that Zambians are spectators because most construction sites in Zambia are by foreigners.

 

Madam Speaker, to start with, the report says that the construction sector has been growing quite fast in Zambia in the past few years, averaging about 4.1 per cent.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Musokotwane: Madam Speaker, construction, of course, means roads, offices and other buildings growing fast to the extent that it is now about 15 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). However, the problem that the report is highlighting is that Zambians are mere spectators in all of this.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Question!

 

Madam Deputy Speaker: Order! Hon. Member for Liuwa, you will continue tomorrow.

 

(Debate adjourned)

 

_______

 

The House adjourned at 1656 hours until 1430 hours on Wednesday, 7^th April, 2021.

 

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