Thursday, 3^rd December, 2020

 

The House met at 1430 hours

 

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

            PRAYER                

 

_______

 

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER

 

DELEGATION FROM THE PARLIAMENT OF SOMALIA

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: Hon. Members, I wish to acquaint the House with the presence, in the Speaker’s Gallery, of the following hon. Members and staff of the Office of the Auditor General and the Accounting Committee of Puntland State of Somalia:

 

Hon. Awil Hassan Daad                                          Chairperson of the Public Accounts Committee

 

Hon. Abdirahman Mohamoud Mohamed               Member

 

Hon. Abdiqani Abshir Jama                                    Member

 

Hon. Abdinour Hassan Mohammed                        Member

                                                                    

Hon. Abdirizak Hassan Abdisalan                          Member

 

Hon. Abdi Ahmed Ali                                             Member

 

Rabio Bashir Farah                                                  Director of Administration and Finance

 

Abdinasir Adam Mohamed                                     Senior Auditor

 

Anders Pilskog                                                         Legal Consultant

 

Ali Haji Warsame                                                     Senior Audit Specialist

 

Bashir Mohamed Warsame                                      Audit Specialist

 

Abdulkadir Ahmed Hashi                                       Public Financial Management/Domestic Resource Mobilisation (PFM/DRM) Project Coordinator.

 

I wish, on behalf of the National Assembly of Zambia, to receive our distinguished guests and warmly welcome them in our midst.

 

I thank you.

 

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QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

CHIKAKANTA DISTRICT FISP

 

70. Mr Mwiinga (Chikankata) asked the Minister of Agriculture:

 

1. whether the Government is aware that over 700 farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in Chikankata District are unable to access fertiliser due to the non-availability of funds in their respective accounts after they only swiped for seed; and
2. if so, what urgent measures are being taken to resolve the problem.

 

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr Katambo): Madam Speaker, the Government is aware of the 766 farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in Chikankata District that are unable to access inputs after making their deposits. For the 2020/2021 agricultural season, 13,238 farmers are targeted to benefit under FISP in Chikankata District. Investigations have revealed that 14,004 farmers have been enrolled on the programme in the district. This resulted in an excess of 766 farmers who were not on the programme being registered. Given that the Government has a fixed allocation of money for the targeted farmers in each district, the 766 farmers have not been able to access their inputs. The over enrolment is due to inclusion of farmers that were not part of the programme in the last agricultural season.

 

Madam, it is worth noting that under the Electronic-Voucher (E-voucher) system, farmers do not pay for seed, but make their K400 contribution towards the subsidy. Farmers under the E-voucher system can access different types of inputs according to their needs and not only seed and fertiliser.

 

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of Agriculture has identified the farmers and it is planning to refund the deposits for the 766 farmers, as they are not eligible to benefit in the current season. Further, the ministry intends to undertake administrative actions against the officers involved, pending conclusion of the investigations.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Madam Speaker, the sad scenario that is obtaining in Chikankata is also obtaining in various other districts where the Electronic-Voucher (E-voucher) system is being used. In other instances, the agro-dealers themselves are not providing the farmers with the inputs because the Government has not provided the money. Is the hon. Minister aware that such a situation is happening and farmers are being affected under this particular system called E-voucher?

 

Mr Katambo: Madam Speaker, for the 2020/2021 farming season, the programme already has up-front funding. We requested the treasury to return the K400 deposit by one million beneficiaries which was activated to E-voucher programme. Therefore, all agro dealers who have already registered under the E-voucher have the funding. So, it is incumbent upon the beneficiaries to see a particular agro dealer in that locality, district or Constituency, and access the inputs as per their wish of whatever they what to get from the programme. Therefore, there is up-front funding.

 

Madam Speaker, we are still dismantling the debit or the obligations that the Government owes agro dealers for the last farming season. The figure is reducing as the ministry is engaging the Ministry of Finance and the Treasury. Therefore, the Government is really paying those who it owes the debt through the agro dealership that the Ministry of Agriculture registered.

 

Madam Speaker, for this one, there is an up-front funding for it already. Therefore, I doubt where the hon. Leader of the Opposition is getting that information from because all the agro dealers on this current programme are getting the inputs, but the issue of over-enrolment is also another aspect which I have just responded to.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Mwiinga (Chikankata): Madam Speaker, farmers have been inconvenienced, especially in Chikankata. Why did the officers in the Ministry of Agriculture allow the farmers to make deposits instead of advising them of what they should have done?

 

Mr Katambo: Madam Speaker, like I alluded to, the ministry is investigating the matter and appropriate disciplinary action on officers found wanting, including the District Agricultural Coordinator in Chikankata, and in those three camps where they activated the beneficiaries who were not supposed to be included on the programme, that is, in Simutwe, the upper Kaleya and Mulandu. These four government officials will be charged accordingly because they activated beneficiaries who were not supposed to be on the current programme.  

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.  

 

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Madam Speaker, before I ask a question, allow me to commiserate with the disabled on their International Day of Persons with Disabilities, and wish them all the best, as they celebrate this day.

 

Madam Speaker, I wanted to find out from the Hon. Minister, knowing very well that in the 2021 budget –

 

Mr Ngulube: On a point of order, Madam.

 

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

 

Mr Ngulube: Madam Speaker, I thank you for according me this opportunity to rise on this very important point of order that borders on the functions of my office and the privileges of an hon. Member.

 

Madam Speaker, I serve as the Deputy Government Chief Whip and I deputise the Government Chief Whip. The National Assembly is aware that the Government Chief Whip is unwell and a sick note was sent to Parliament and it is fully aware of his absence.

 

Madam Speaker, yesterday, by notice, I attended a meeting of the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services. However, surprisingly and shockingly, I was told that I could not represent the Government Chief Whip in that meeting because I was not a member of that Committee.

 

Madam Speaker, this position contradicts the several decisions of this House and the Committees, where I have been allowed to attend meetings on behalf of the Office of the Government Chief Whip and the Executive.

 

Madam Speaker, today, 3^rd December, 2020, another meeting was held where the Office of the Government Chief Whip and my office were not present. I would like to find out whether the Office of the Deputy Government Chief Whip has been abolished or if at all, this House is in order to allow the Office of the Deputy Government Chief Whip to attend meetings on behalf of the Government Chief Whip in selected Committees, while in other Committees, that is not allowed. This is important because we need to know how we are going to proceed from now onwards.

 

Madam Speaker, I say so, honestly believing that my office and the Office of the Government Chief Whip have the same functions. In the absence of the Government Chief Whip, I perform all the other functions of the Government Chief Whip, as his deputy. Therefore, is this House in order to allow the Committee on Privileges, Absences and Support Services to discriminate against me, personally, and my office, especially, when it comes to matters relating to my official position?

 

Madam Speaker, I seek your serious ruling on this matter and I will lay on the Table, the two notices for yesterday’s meeting and today’s meeting, both of which I believe the Executive was denied an opportunity and representation by virtue of me being told that I could no longer attend the meeting on behalf of the Government Chief Whip, when I am still holding the position of Deputy Government Chief Whip.

 

I seek your serious ruling on the matter.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Ngulube laid the paper on the Table.

 

The First Deputy Speaker: Of course, that point of order is more of a complaint. It is a complaint by the hon. Deputy Government Chief Whip, concerning his office. I reserve my ruling so that through that complaint, which the hon. Deputy Government Chief Whip is calling a point of order, the House can be advised on how some of these practices that have existed are going to be dealt with, going forward. Therefore, my ruling is reserved.

 

The hon. Member for Katuba was on the Floor.

 

Mr Ng’onga: Madam Speaker, hon. Member for Kaputa.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: The hon. Member for Kaputa.  

 

Mr Ng’onga: Madam Speaker, the 2021 budget has been premised on the fact that there will be a 100 per cent roll-out on the E-voucher system. With these happens in Chikankata, for example, over registration arising from what I would call ‘bad eggs’, these officers should have been in the fore-front to protect the integrity of this system. In this regard, does this erode the credibility of the system, going forward, and what is your comment on the action?

 

Mr Katambo: Madam Speaker, the Government through Smart Zambia Institute has developed the Zambia Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (ZIAMIS) to manage the beneficiary farmer information.

 

Madam Speaker, like I said, these Government officials were very much aware but they went ahead and activated the 766 farmers in Chikankata District, of which punitive measures will be lumped against them. Already the Provincial Agriculture Coordinating Office (PACO) in the Southern Province has already charged these three erring officers. It is a lesson to other officers within the ministry who will be found wanting.

 

Madam Speaker, if there is any other information with the hon. Members or the public at large, avail this information to the Ministry of Agriculture so that this programme which is under review could be implemented effectively and efficiently so that the one million beneficiaries are satisfied with what the Government is subsidising to them in each and every agricultural season.

 

I thank you, madam.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I will allow questions from the hon. Member for Mongu Central, hon. Member for Chimwemwe and hon. Member for Chikankata.

 

Mr Mwiinga (Chikankata) Madam Speaker, now that the Government is failing to implement the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in the Southern Province, or probably in Chikankata, does it not think that it would be best for it to deviate to the Direct Input Supply System (DISS)?

 

Mr Katambo: Madam Speaker, it is worth noting that the 1 million beneficiaries of the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) are the only ones who are supposed to be given the inputs. The Ministry of Agriculture is implementing two modalities on this programme, namely, the Direct Input Supply System (DISS) and the Electronic Voucher (e-Voucher) System. The experts in the Ministry of Agriculture recommended that we use the e-Voucher System modality in the southern region and other parts of the country that have been faced with prolonged droughts, dry spells, and high temperatures, resulting into wilting of crops and in some cases floods. So, the best option was the e-Voucher System and farmers will be able to pick inputs of their choice such as small-mechanised equipment, oxen ploughs, chemicals for agricultural activities, feed for poultry or fisheries, for those doing fish farming. So, the Government has not failed to implement the programme. However, in view of the adverse effects of climate change and the climate shocks that we are faced with, the experts recommended that we use the e-Voucher System modality in those regions.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Dr Imakando (Mongu Central): Madam Speaker, could the hon. Minister refresh our memories as to how the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) beneficiaries are recruited? Further, at what point did his officers recruit additional farmers?

 

Mr Katambo: Madam Speaker, the Camp Agriculture Committees (CACs) recommend the viable but vulnerable farmers in agriculture camps and identify the beneficiaries in those localities, and they work together with our extension staff. Our extension staff in the four agriculture camps that I mentioned, they activated the beneficiaries, who were not supposed to be on the programme, in the database. So, we will have to deal with the three CACs and the extension staff who recommended the names to the District Agricultural Co-ordinator (DACO). They recommended the names to the DACO because he is in charge and he is the one who issues authority to deposit the money. That is why when the 766 farmers were activated on the database, the DACO authorised them to deposit the K400, when in actual fact they were not supposed to be on the programme. So, the CACs are the ones who identify the viable but vulnerable farmers on the programme.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Mwila (Chimwemwe): Madam Speaker, during the 2021/2022 Farming Season, will the Government prioritise the over 700 farmers under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP) in Chikankata, who have been inconvenienced as a result of the identified civil servants?

 

Mr Katambo: Madam Speaker, the main point is that if the farmers are not on the 1 million beneficiaries’ list captured in the data base of the Zambia Integrated Agriculture Management Information System (ZIAMIS) through the Smart Zambia Institute, it means that they will not benefit. Since the budget is fixed, it is only fair that those farmers are refunded. So, the farmers who are not under the FISP will not be given the inputs, but they can be refunded. Like I said, we are reviewing the programme. So, the farmers will be on the programme for three years concurrently and will be weaned off in the 2021/2022 Agricultural Season. When they are weaned off, we will activate new 1 million beneficiaries on the programme.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

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BILL

 

SECOND READING

 

THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE BILL, 2020

 

The Minister of Justice (Mr Lubinda) (on behalf of the Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya)): Madam Speaker, I beg to move that the Bill be now read a second time.

 

Madam Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak to this august House, and for allowing me to highlight the principles of the National Public Health Institute Bill No. 18 of 2020, that will provide a legal backing to the establishment of a specialised and dedicated arm of Government responsible for safe-guarding public health security in the country.

 

Madam Speaker, the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) was brought into existence by the Government in 2015, through a policy decision to operationalise the African Union Resolution AU/DEC. 554 (XXIV), which birthed the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and its three-tier operational model. As a specialised technical institution, the ZNPHI is mandated to lead in safeguarding Zambia’s health security through surveillance and disease intelligence systems, emergency preparedness, and response capabilities, specialised laboratory functions, health information management systems, workforce development, and generation of scientific evidence through research. Additionally, the institute anchors Zambia’s designated role as the Africa CDC Regional Collaborating Centre (RCC) for the Southern Africa.

 

Madam Speaker, to effectively fulfil these vital national and regional obligations, Zambia requires a strong and exemplary National Public Health Institute, which is firmly established by a legal framework that defines the institution, provides authority and protects its existence. This is in line with best practice and will assure international confidence in the institute, including among donors and co-operating partners.

 

Madam Speaker, a case in point is the recently approved Word Bank financing of US$90 million under the Africa CDC Regional Investment Financing Project (ACDCP) for infrastructure development and strengthening of Zambia’s public health security. Smooth execution of the ACDCP will be enhanced by having the implementing agency, the ZNPHI, firmly established through a legal framework. Furthermore, the legal framework shall enable effective fulfilment of cross sector health security functions in the spirit of one health. Clearly, the establishment of the institute as a centre for public health security excellence will be a major legacy for the country.

 

Madam Speaker, let me share the justification for the enactment of the National Public Health Institute Bill, No. 18 of 2020.

 

 

Establishment of a Dedicated Public Health Security Wing

 

Madam Speaker, the Bill will allow for a dedicated and prioritised management of public health security. Noting the devastating effects of public health emergencies and lessons learnt from previous outbreaks or pandemics, there is a need for a focused and well-co-ordinated multi-sectoral response approach. The institute has played a key role in co-ordinating the responses to the current Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) outbreaks, the 2017/2018 cholera outbreaks, measles and polio outbreaks as well as preparedness to respond to threats from the listeriosis and Ebola virus disease outbreak. The National Public Health Institute Bill will enhance the ZNPHI’s capacity to co-ordinate and provide leadership in public health security considering the multi-sectoral nature of the responses to health risks.

 

Preservation of the Public Health Security of Zambia and Beyond

 

Madam Speaker, the establishment of the institution will ensure that the people of Zambia are protected from devastating health threats such as the Ebola Virus Disease and other haemorrhagic fevers, Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), Influenza Hemagglutinin Type 1 and Neuraminidase Type 1 (H1N1), Avian Influenza, cholera, rabies, anthrax, bubonic plague, the current COVID-19 and other emerging and re-emerging infections.

 

Madam Speaker, to effectively fulfil this vital national and regional obligation, Zambia requires a strong exemplary institute which is firmly established by a legal framework that defines the institution and provides authority and protects its existence. This will further provide confidence and assurance to all.

 

International Best Practice for Addressing Health Security

 

Madam Speaker, globally, the management of health security has transformed with a shift to establishment and utilisation of specialised dedicated national public health institutes. This is showcased by the United States of America Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (US-CDC), China Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (China-CDC), the National Institute of Public Protection-South Korea, the National Institute of Health of Mozambique, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Ethiopia Public Health Institute and European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all of which are established by legal frameworks and which have enabled the effective and timely containment of health threats in their respective jurisdictions.

 

Madam Speaker, hon. Members of this august House may wish to take note that Zambia is not the first country to establish a National Public Health Institute supported by a specific legal instrument on the African continent. Other countries that have made strides include Nigeria, Ethiopia, Uganda, Angola and Mozambique. Additionally, other countries are in the process of establishing legal frameworks for their institutes and these include Malawi, Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Kenya.

 

Financing and Sustainability of the Institute

 

Madam Speaker, since its establishment in 2015, the institute has been receiving support from the Government, including funding through annual grants, placement of staff and other administrative and operational support. Therefore, the required legal framework will facilitate its continuity as an effective technical arm of Government responsible for national health security. Furthermore, the legal framework will facilitate the establishment of a National Public Health Emergency Fund. The fund will ensure ring-fenced and continued availability of financial resources required for effective, efficient and timely response to public health emergencies.

 

Conclusion

 

Madam Speaker, let me inform the House that the on-going COVID-19 outbreak that has affected over 60 million people globally and close to 18,000 in-countries has exposed the weakness in global health systems and cross-border relations. The COVID-19 outbreak has disrupted lives globally, affecting the economies and social-cultural activities of the people. The current scenario with the COVID-19 pandemic and the recurrent regional epidemics across the world dictate that each country has strong and resilient public health security capacity to mitigate these threats. The leveraging of such functions with one specialised body such as the American Centre for Disease Control and Prevention or, indeed, the ZNPHI allows for a dedicated focus on public health security and the prevention, identification and mitigation of these threats.

 

Madam Speaker, such an organisation is a centre for excellence for all the core capacities required to prevent both local and international spread of disease. Until now, the institute has operated in a limited way, under the Ministry of Health, predominantly with a human health bias. Major constraints have emanated from the lack of legal cover to operate and co-ordinate public health activities, including response to health emergencies across the multiple sectors under which several determinants of health fall. In the spirit of one health and multi-sectoral collaboration, the institute will provide a platform to allow co-ordinated participation of many players in public health. This will also allow for leveraging the strengths and comparative advantages of each sector.

 

Furthermore, the legal framework shall enable effective fulfilment of health security functions which span across multiple sectors guaranteeing the preservation of our national health security. Let me again emphasise that Zambia is not the first country to establish the ZNPHI anchored by a specific legal instrument as evidenced by over 100 countries that have so far established national public health institutes.

 

Madam Speaker, I, therefore, wish to call upon hon. Members of Parliament to support this Bill.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Dr Kalila (Lukulu East): Madam Speaker, thank you very much for this opportunity to make some comments on behalf of my hon. Colleagues in the Committee on Health, Community Development and Social Services. In considering the Zambia National Public Health Institute Bill, No. 18 of 2020, which was referred to the Committee on 12^th November, 2020, the Committee was cognisant of its terms of reference as set out under Standing Order No. 1522.

 

Madam Speaker, the House may wish to know that the main objective of this Bill was to establish the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) as a corporate body and to provide for its functions and powers. Further, the Bill also sought to establish the Public Health Emergency Fund, as we have heard from the hon. Minister, and also the National Public Health Laboratory, the National Public Health Emergency Fund and the interrelationships of these entities and how they shall operate.

 

Madam Speaker, from the outset, I would like to mention that the Committee welcomes the Zambia National Public Health Institute Bill, No. 18 of 2020. It notices that the Bill, if enacted, will be a progressive piece of legislation that will address the inadequacies and gaps in the current legal and regulatory framework that governs public health emergencies. The Committee, therefore, calls upon all hon. Members of Parliament to support this very progressive piece of legislation.

 

Madam Speaker, the House will agree with me that the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has exposed a lot of gaps in the country’s public health system and also, the country’s general preparedness in terms of funding and management of the pandemic. Therefore, once enacted, it is hoped that the Zambia National Public Health Institute No. 18 of 2020, will address some of the challenges that have been observed. It will also ensure that the country is better prepared in future and that its regulatory framework is aligned to international best practices as the hon. Minister has highlighted.

 

Madam Speaker, I, therefore, wish to also state that most stakeholders who appeared before the Committee were in support of this important piece of legislation. The Committee’s findings are outlined in the report, which I believe most hon. Members of Parliament, if not all, have had the opportunity to read. Consequently, I will only point out concerns, basically very few, that were raised by those who appeared before the Committee for the attention of the Executive.

 

Madam Speaker, in appreciating that the ZNPHI has been in existence as a department under the Ministry of Health, the Committee was concerned that the objective in its current form needed to be changed as it appears to suggest that the institute as a matter of fact, was in existence under an Act of Parliament, when not. The Committee notes that the institute is being established for the first time as a new corporate body and, therefore, recommends that the object should read as follows, “To Establish the Zambia National Public Health Institute.”

 

Madam Speaker, another issue of concern that was brought was the definition of an authorised officer which the Committee felt needed to be further elucidated as it was not exactly clear. It recommends that the Bill should clearly define who an authorising officer will be, as there are also other authorising officers under other pieces of legislation such as the food safety, the Animal Safety Act and so on. This is to avoid further challenges or conflict in future.

 

Madam Speaker, the Committee observed with concern that the board, under Clause 5(A), has no representation from the Ministry of Home Affairs. It felt this was important, especially when it comes to enforcement of some of the breaches that may occur as a result of some members of the public not following strictly, this piece of legislation.

 

Madam Speaker, the Committee, therefore, recommends that the provision be revised so that the Ministry of Home Affairs, just like other ministries, can be included on the board. Concerning the qualifications for the Director-General, the Committee felt that his qualifications should go merely beyond the academic requisites but should include, also, that such a person should not have a criminal record or having been convicted of any offence under any written law as is the case with the board members.

 

Madam Speaker, the Committee observes with concern that the Bill under Clause 14(1) only speaks to the establishment of the National Reference Laboratory. Reference would imply that it will be receiving samples from various parts of the country or from satellite laboratories. The Committee felt, in this regard, that perhaps a sentence be added to Clause 14(1) to read, “The laboratory will be supported by satellite laboratories across the country as the board may establish.”

 

Madam Speaker, as I said, this is a very progressive piece of legislation that will manage academics better, and generally also provide a legal framework which was absent. We, therefore, support it fully and call on all hon. Members to support the Executive in establishing this legislation. I, therefore, thank you more sincerely for affording the Committee an opportunity to study the Bill. The Committee wishes to thank all stakeholders who appeared before it and tendered both oral and written submissions. The Committee also wishes to congratulate the hon. Minister of Health for having endeavoured very hard, to establish this Bill, together with his team, especially the officers and also those from Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI).

 

With these few words I want to thank you for this opportunity.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Ngulube (Kabwe Central): Madam Speaker, thank you for this opportunity to support the Committee’s recommendations on the Bill proposed to establish the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI).

 

Madam Speaker, this Bill comes at the right time when this country is grappling with various diseases like the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and a lot of diseases that affect cross border relations.

 

Madam Speaker, although ZNPHI already exists, we are aware that there was no legal backing or legal framework within which it was operating, and that is why it is important that this Bill be passed in order to give the legal framework within which this institution must operate.

 

Madam Speaker, when COVID-19 just ravaged the whole world, each and every country was trying to find ways and means of not only combating this scourge but also scaling it down. Amongst the functions of ZNPHI was disease control, conduct surveillance and make sure that it acts more like the security wing for the health institutions.

 

Madam Speaker, we are also aware that this institution did a very good job and that is why today, when you look at the global ratings, you will see that in terms of COVID-19, Zambia only has up to 18,000 confirmed cases. This was very commendable. We want to commend the hon. Minister of Health and his team as well as the staff at ZNPHI.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to add that we must also give this institution additional powers. This is in view of the fact that when COVID-19 became very serious, the Government issued two Statutory Instruments to try and regulate the movement of people and public gatherings and so on. Now that this Bill is coming into existence, we want these powers to be given to this institution so that it should be the one to either enforce the law or make sure that whenever there is a public emergency like cholera and other diseases, its relevance is exhibited.

 

Madam Speaker, we also want to add that it will be important to give this institution immunity. We are aware that there are a lot of other institutions that would want to operate the way ZNPHI is operating, but I think this is a specialised institution which must be safeguarded and given the protection that it deserves under the law.

 

Madam Speaker, we are also aware that when it comes to the qualifications and members of staff, this institution already exists and we just want to urge the Ministry of Health to find ways of motivating our staff. We want to thank His Excellency, the President of this country because during COVID-19, he gave the Ministry of Health and staff a lot of incentives and encouraged them. This is because our health staff worked in very difficult conditions but also worked with the bravery to actually conquer the ravaging COVID-19.

 

Madam Speaker, in conclusion, I want to thank the hon. Minister of Health for his initiative. We saw those daily updates on COVID-19. We also saw how different people got involved and this is how it should be. The hon. Minister of Health is commended and we want to say that had it not been for us being in this Chamber, we would have actually clapped for him. With those few remarks, I want to thank you and also thank the chairperson of the Committee, Dr Kalila for the well presented report. When I grow up, I want to be like Dr Kalila.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

The Minister of National Guidance and Religious Affairs (Rev. Sumaili): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to say a few words in support of this very important and progressive Bill on the Floor of the House, which is the Zambia National Public Health Institute Bill.

 

Madam Speaker, the Bill could not have come to the House at an appropriate time than this when the nations of the world, including Zambia are under attack with the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) which has devastated the nations, clearly indicating the importance of having such an institution.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to take this opportunity to commend His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu for the systematic and strategic manner in which COVID-19 has been managed in our nation. The President has provided leadership and superintend over a multi-sectoral approach in dealing with this pandemic. We also commend the Government through the Ministry of Health and the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) for handling COVID-19, effectively.

 

Madam Speaker, because of handling the COVID-19 pandemic effectively, Zambia has been rated the fourth safe location for travel in the world and it is the only country in Africa with such an achievement. It is, indeed, a great achievement to us a nation and to the Patriotic Front (PF) Government.

 

Madam Speaker, I strongly support the recommendation that ZNPHI be firmly established by a legal framework so that necessary authority and systems are provided for, to further strengthen and protect the institution and enable it to deliver more effectively. The ZNPHI has a very important mandate of safeguarding Zambia’s health security through surveillance, emergency preparedness and also through research.

 

Madam Speaker, as a nation, we need to adequately and professionally position ourselves to deal with outbreaks such the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), Ebola and other diseases.

 

With these few words, I support the Bill.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam First Deputy Speaker: I note that the substantive hon. Minister is in the House. Hon. Minister, I will allow you to wind up debate.

 

The Minister of Health (Dr Chilufya): Madam Speaker, let me begin by thanking the chairperson of the Committee for the due diligence done with the Bill. The Committee has brought out salient points, and I would like to assure him that these will be taken into consideration.

 

Madam Speaker, the National Reference Laboratory is referring to a very highly sophisticated laboratory. This will not only be the centre but it will be a complex one and will be related to other laboratories in the country.

 

Madam Speaker, the laboratory that we shall build, shall be at a very bare minimum. It will be a P3 laboratory. It will also be a reference laboratory for the region and beyond. Just like Zambia has been sending samples to countries as far as Senegal, there will be many countries that will be sending samples to Zambia and that shall form a very important basis for medical tourism.

 

Madam Speaker, we have taken note of the comments from Hon. Tutwa Ngulube, Hon. Rev. Sumaili and the chairperson himself commending the health workers for the tremendous work during the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) and cholera outbreaks. This will go a long way in motivating the frontline staff, and this is appreciated.

 

Madam Speaker, let me conclude by stating that the House is unanimous in supporting the establishment of this technical arm of Government to provide health security and ensure that lives, livelihoods and the economy are shielded from public health hazards and shocks that contract the economy.

 

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 Thursday, 10^th December, 2020.

 

_______

 

COMMITTEE OF SUPPLY

 

[THE DEPUTY CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES in the

Chair]

 

VOTE 88 – (Muchinga Province – K51,578,374), VOTE 90 – (Lusaka Province – K78,609,714), VOTE 91 – (Copperbelt Province – K78,676,308), VOTE 92 – (Central Province – K77,212,343), VOTE 93 – (Northern Province – K70,389,238), VOTE 94 – (Western Province – K87,459,646), VOTE 95 – (Eastern Province – K71,829,539), VOTE 96 – (Luapula Province – K70,831,835), VOTE 97 – (North-Western Province – K67,889,677), VOTE 98 – (Southern Province – K81,535,981).

(Consideration resumed)

 

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Mr Chairperson, thank you for this opportunity to debate this Vote. The Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP) seeks to reduce developmental inequality. Now, when you look at the North-Western Province, as we were speaking yesterday, it looks like it is still very difficult to reduce these inequalities.

 

Mr Chairperson, we had a Budget for 2019 and 2018 where we talked about resettlement schemes in the North-Western Province, in particular Mufumbwe, which were going to help the youths find employment. To date, nothing has been done. However, we have heard that the same youth resettlement schemes have been established in other places and provinces.

 

Mr Chairperson, let me now talk about feeder roads. Yesterday, many hon. Members of Parliament talked about feeder roads and how they have been worked on in various provinces and yet that has not been the case in the North-Western Province. So, we are wondering why. For example, in Mufumbwe District, we have got feeder roads that have not been worked on for some time. We are wondering why this should be the case. We need those feeder roads to be worked on. We have the Mwinilunga Road, which has not been worked on. We also have Kalengwa Mine, which we would like to ask the Provincial Minister to give us feedback. If Kalengwa Mine was opened, it would help to reduce unemployment. These are some of the issues that make us feel that there is a lot of inequality towards the North-Western Province. I do not know what we are waiting for. Are we waiting for Hakainde Hichilema to become President so that he can sort out these problems?

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Mr Kamondo: Mr Chairperson, I thank you.

 

The Deputy Chairperson: We are done with the Vote for the North-Western Province. We will now go to the Southern Province. Oh, sorry, we move to the Minister for the North-Western Province.

 

The Minister for North-Western Province (Mr Mubukwanu): Mr Chairperson, thank you for the opportunity to make a few comments on the Vote for the North-Western Province. May I also take this opportunity to acknowledge the contributions that have been made by the hon. Members from the province who debated Vote 97 – Office of the President – Provincial Administration – North-Western Province.

 

Mr Chairperson, we take note of some of the concerns that were raised, particularly the issue of road infrastructure, health delivery systems, lack of teachers, as well as the completion of Chavuma Police Station.

 

Mr Chairperson, on the issue of road infrastructure, I would like to state that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government under the leadership of His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu was unanimous in resolving permanently the issue of the Solwezi/Chingola Road. That was not rehabilitation but a full reconstruction of the road. So, it is an understatement for anybody to indicate that that road was only rehabilitated. Currently, the contractor is on site working on the Solwezi/Kipushi Road. This is not a road only leading to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) but beyond to the Great Lakes Region. That is an active project.

 

Mr Chairperson, we would also like to state that the North-Western Province had been allocated sixty seven health posts and out of these, forty seven are fully completed and operational.

 

Mr Chairperson, there was a complaint that was raised to the effect that the North-Western Province does not have teachers. Again, this is not a fair statement to make because the teachers might not be adequate. Our establishment as at now stands at 13,885, and the current strength is about 10,485. We have a deficit of 3,000 plus or minus. So, there is quite a lot that is also happening in the education sector. That is how even last year, at Grade 9 level, the North-Western province came out number three in the entire Republic. The North-Western Province at Grade 12 level came out number six. So, how would this miracle have happened without teachers? I think we need to communicate adequately and put our needs accordingly.

 

Mr Chairperson, as for the Chavuma Police Station which is incomplete, we know that this contract has had challenges and it has nothing to do with the Government. The Government had done its part by allocating resources accordingly. However, to cut the long story short, the contract is currently being finalised by the Attorney General’s Chambers.

 

Mr Chairperson, as regards the Kabompo Hydro Power Station Project, this is an issue which was a privately sponsored project by Copperbelt Energy Corporation (CEC).

 

Mr Chairperson, it is very unfair for anybody to state that there is no development taking place in the North-Western Province. This goes back to the question of whether the glass is half empty or half full. When you look at these massive projects that are currently taking place in the province, they are as a resolve and the determination of this Government. The North-Western Province is entirely connected to the national power grid and it has its own share of the communication towers across the province.

 

Mr Chairperson, as we speak, we also have in excess of 47,000 beneficiaries under the Social Cash Transfer Programme (SCT). Therefore, how can we say that the North-Western Province has been left behind? We are not being fair to ourselves and to the people of the province.

 

Mr Chairperson, I would like to state that the North-Western Province has not been allocated the lowest amount. We have K67.9 million which is far much higher than the K51 million that Muchinga Province has received. This is not the only allocation for the province. There is still a lot of support that is coming through the line ministries allocations, which may eventually and ultimately end up in the North-Western Province.

 

Mr Chairperson, as far as we are concerned, President Edgar Lungu, who is the President of this country and the Patriotic Front (PF) Government in totality, is resolved never to leave any region behind, and this is our commitment. We have demonstrated this practically, and we have made sure that the people of the province also come on board and feel part and parcel of this country.

 

Mr Chairperson, with those few remarks, I would like to sincerely thank you, once again.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

The Deputy Chairperson: We move to Vote 98 – Office of the President– Southern Province.

 

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Chairperson, before I interrogate the Vote pertaining to the Southern Province, I would like to take note of the decision that was made by my hon. colleagues from the Northern Province who decided to boycott the debate pertaining to the Northern Province.

 

Mr Chungu: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: I have no doubt in my mind –

 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

 

Hon. Leader of the Opposition and the hon. Minister for Northern Province, resume your seats.

 

I will not allow the hon. Member who is currently debating to take that route. We are looking at the Southern Province.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Chairperson, I take note of certain hon. Members of Parliament who did not debate the Vote for their province because they are very unhappy with the Patriotic Front (PF).

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: I also want to thank Hon. Putu who indicated that ...

 

Mr Bwalya: On a point of order, Sir.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: ... the developmental projects in the Western Province, in particular the districts –

 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

 

Hon. Minister, I have guided. I do not think the hon. Member who is on the floor will continue debating the Northern Province. Therefore, allow him to debate. Let the hon. Member on Floor help us by debating what we are looking at, which is, the Southern Province.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Chairperson, in the same vein that my colleague, Hon. Putu indicated by stating that there was a question mark for the creation of districts, for there is no tangible development. The same scenario is obtaining in the Southern Province. Districts were created, but no infrastructure has been put in place. I would like to thank Hon. Putu, for recognising this fact.

 

Mr Chairperson, I would also like to state that as the Southern Province, we are inter-connected with other provinces through the railway link and roads. We have noted with sadness, that despite the release of US$120 million through the Eurobond to rehabilitate the railway line from the Copperbelt to Livingstone, nothing has been done. The railway line from Copperbelt to Livingston is worse than those railway lines that existed in the Wild West. There are no communication links whatsoever. One would think the railway line itself is a long snake that is warping. That is how it is.

 

Mr Chairperson, this particular railway line which I am talking about, links the Copperbelt and inter-connects with the Tanzania/Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) railway line. Even the TAZARA itself, which links Kasama to Dar-es-Salaam, is in a deplorable state hence certain hon. Members could not appreciate what the PF have done.

 

Mr Chairperson, therefore, I would like to urge the hon. Minister for Southern Province to take note. His colleagues from other provinces, made sentiments, praising the PF and indicating that their areas are heaven on earth. However, as for the Southern Province, the situation is totally different.

 

Mr Chairperson, I want to state that currently, we are hearing that road infrastructure, and rural roads are being worked on in other provinces. However, in the Southern Province, there is no rural inter-connection that is being worked on, currently. The question that begs an answer is: Why is the hon. Minister being discriminated against?

 

Mr Chairperson, most of the power generation in this country emanates from the Southern Province, but the people in Gwembe Valley, where most of the electricity is being generated from, are just watching the towers as an attraction. There is no particular incentive or development that has been made to ensure that the people of the valley benefit from the electricity that is being generated in those areas.

 

Mr Chairperson, under the reign of the late Michael Chilufya Sata, we were promised that the Bottom Road would be completed while the Maamba/Batoka Road, Kalomo/Kabanga Road, Chisekesi/Gwembe and Monze/Niko Road would be constructed. All these roads are in a deplorable state and nothing has been done. We cannot celebrate disaster ourselves.

 

The other rail link between the Western and Southern provinces, which is the Katima Mulilo rail-link, is the worst rail-link one can ever think of in Africa and not just in Zambia. In many instances, when there is a breakdown on that railway line, passengers have to lift the coaches and put them back on the railway line.

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: You have never been there. That is what happens.

 

Mr Chairperson, the Southern Province is supposed to be linked to the Western Province through the Livingstone/Sesheke Road. There were promises that the Government was going to work on this road but nothing has been done. This road is an international road, and it is in a very deplorable state. The Southern Province is supposed to be linked to the Western Province through the Namwala/Itezhi-Tezhi Road, and through the Kafue Hook Bridge. The Mongu/Lusaka Road, which we are supposed to be using to get to Mongu, is in a very deplorable state. That is a fact. That is how unfortunate the situation is.

 

Mr Chairperson, we have been hearing, on the Floor of this House, issues pertaining to the issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) in the Southern Province. Evidence is abound, that NRCs have not been issued adequately in the Southern Province. I am aware that currently, in other provinces, mobile issuance of NRCs is going on. Hon. Minister, why are we being discriminated against? When there was the extension –

 

Mr Ngulube: On a point of order, Mr Chairperson.

 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

 

 I will not allow any points of order. Also, I want the hon. Member who is on floor to debate through the Chair. That may help to avoid some disturbances.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Thank you, Mr Minister.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Thank you, Mr Chairperson.

 

For those who may not be aware, all the National Registration Card (NRC) centres in the province are managed by the province through the hon. Minister, and that is why I am raising the issue through the hon. Minister. They are departments under him. I am raising the issue of why NRCs are not being issued in the Southern Province, like in other provinces. Why? Currently, mobile registration is taking place in other places. We were assured by Her Honour the Vice-President that the Mobile Issuance of NRCs would recommence before the closure of voter registration. We are remaining with only six days before voter registration is over. When are our people going to be issued with NRCs to enable them to vote?

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Chairperson, can you tell the Deputy Chief Whip not to be undisciplined?

 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

 

Hon. Member debating, I am listening to you, and obviously, the listeners out there are following you very well.

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Chairperson, thank you.

 

The Deputy Chairperson: You are protected. You may continue.

 

Interruptions

 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order!

 

Mr Mwiimbu: Mr Chairperson, I was making the point that the assurance by Her Honour the Vice-President is being expected by the people in the Southern Province and the Western Province, in particular. She assured us on the Floor of the House that the issuance of NRCs would take place before the closure of issuance of voter’s cards.

 

I thank you, Mr Chairperson.

 

Mr Kamboni (Kalomo Central): Mr Chairperson, thank you very much.

 

Mr Chairperson, today, I will talk on behalf of the whole Southern Province, which has people who burn their fingers to feed the country yet the Government marginalises or segregates them for reasons that I do not know. A good example is the situation under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). People in other provinces have been receiving eight bags of fertiliser. Money was increased to buy these inputs. Now, fertiliser is about K530 per bag. However, the money for FISP in the Southern Province was not increased, and people are only able to buy three pockets of fertiliser. Hunger will loom in the province. This is very unfair but the Government is just watching. The President, the Vice-President and the hon. Minister of Agriculture were told about this issue, but they simply do not care. 

 

Mr Chairperson, let me talk about the foot and mouth disease. The Province was engulfed with the foot and mouth disease. The reaction from the Government was pathetic but it did not care. Up to now, cattle is still dying from the foot and mouth disease. For a long time, people could not sell their meat beyond the Southern Province because of the foot and mouth disease. This disease is supposed to be controlled by the Government. In my constituency, many animals are affected, but very small amounts of drugs were delivered. The Government did not care. The disease is still killing animals day and night yet there is a Government responsible for this issue.

 

Mr Chairperson, as regards boreholes, one time, I mentioned that during the dry season, more than forty schools had dry boreholes. We asked for dams and boreholes to be dug, but we were not even given a single one. Many years after independence, the province still has problems of water yet we hear people from other provinces talk about their paradise that many boreholes are being dug, and roads are being constructed. That is what we hear. However, nothing is being done for us. Internal roads are not being rehabilitated. Mapatizya Road has also not been rehabilitated. One time, a section of the road from Sinazongwe to Maamba was washed away and cars could not pass, but the Government did not react. It took Maamba Collieries Limited to mend the road. Otherwise, nothing would have been done.

 

Mr Chairperson, look at how the economy degenerated. It is in a bad state. From 1964, we have never experienced this in the Southern Province. Our youths now feel that they are second class citizens in the country. Our people have been fired from their jobs on tribal lines. They have been fired ...

 

Mr Ngulube: On a point of order, Mr Chairperson.

 

The Deputy Chairperson: I have guided. Resume your seat.

 

Mr Kamboni: ... on the basis that they belong to a certain political party. I have a list of those who have been fired like medical doctors, teachers, and many others. They feel they are being treated like they are not in their country. This issue must stop. I want everyone to be treated equally. When it is discovered that people are Tonga, they are suspected of belonging to the United Party for National Development (UPND), even when they do not belong there. That is not what a national Government does. A national Government must treat people fairly.

 

Mr Chairperson, let me come now to the issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs). This has been a disaster. Yesterday, I spent some time at the National Registration Office in Kalomo. There were forty workers from farms which are owned by white farmers, and only one got an NRC. The rest were chased and given many funny reasons. The other day, there were about fifty people from Dundumwezi, only four got NRCs. On the ground, workers are being told that they cannot issue cards to more than twenty people. This is what people are experiencing.  Now people are asking what crime they have done as a province. These are issues that will make these people not to vote for the Patriotic Front (PF). Instead of bringing people near and offering them services, this Government is not doing so. There is nothing that we have seen as a province. 

 

Even the road engineer in the Southern Province has not received any money for many years. So, I wonder what he is doing in Choma because no money has been sent to the province. When we go to the offices, we are told that it is very difficult to carry out any project in the Southern Province. This must change. The Government must treat all the people fairly and that is what the United Party for National Development (UPND) will do. So, this will be answered in August, 2021.

 

I thank you, Mr Chairperson.

 

The Deputy Chairperson: I can see the Nominated hon. Member of Parliament indicating, but he has already debated. The rule is that an hon. Member is only supposed to debate once.

 

Mr Ngulube: What about the Deputy Chief Whip?

 

The Deputy Chairperson: We are first of all considering hon. Members who have constituencies in the Southern Province. So, in this case, we move to Mr Sialubalo.

 

Mr Sialubalo (Sinazongwe): Mr Chairperson, I thank you for giving me this rare opportunity to debate Vote 98 ˗ Southern Province.

 

Sir, the Bottom Road is of great importance to the people of the Southern Province, especially those in the districts in the valley such as Siavonga, Gwembe, Sinazongwe, Zimba and Livingstone, and it was last worked on during President Kaunda’s time. People used to use that road to transport their goods to areas where there was market. However, in 2015, His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, went to Sinazongwe and there was a ground-breaking ceremony at Sinazeze for the construction of the Bottom Road. The Government took machinery to Sinazongwe so that it could embark on the construction of the road. However, two months after the ground-breaking ceremony, the contractor left the site. So, the Government urgently needs to work on that road.

 

Mr Chairperson, the hon. Minister for Southern Province should take keen interest in the Bottom Road because the stretch from Sinazeze to Chiyabi is really in a bad state. So, I request the hon. Minister to find time to go to that area so that he can appreciate what I am talking about because the entire stretch of the Bottom Road needs to be worked on and completed. Resources were acquired and the contractor carried out some works somewhere in Gwembe, but he abandoned the site. When are we going to have a share of the national cake? Year in, year out, we allocate funds to various sectors, but we receive peanuts in the Southern Province.

 

Sir, the hon. Minister knows that the Maamba/Batoka Road is in a deplorable state, but so far, nothing has happened. However, I engaged the hon. Minister and the Road Development Agency (RDA) over this issue. At one point, the hon. Minister suggested that the road be closed and that an alternative road from Choma to Maamba be used, but to date, nothing has happened. Many people have died and we cannot replace life. It should not be business as usual whereby, when we talk about something today, no action is taken. So, it is high time the hon. Minister became more proactive because we want to see results.

 

Mr Chairperson, other regions boast of unprecedented development, but we have not seen any unprecedented development in our areas. So, the hon. Minister must take note of all the concerns. Some structures such as the health posts in Gwembe were abandoned and who is going to complete them? People need health services, but since the health posts in Gwembe were abandoned in 2013, nothing has happened. So, where will the people acquire medication from? It is high time the Government gave equal opportunities to all Zambians regardless of who they voted for. Maybe, we are being punished because we are perceived to be Opposition. That should come to an end.

 

Sir, the hon. Minister should take note that the road from Maamba to Siapondo is in a very bad state. It was worked on in 2015, but due to corruption, shoddy works were carried out and the bridge was washed away within three months. However, we informed the hon. Minister of Local Government, the RDA, and the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), which is very segregative. Officers from the DMMU went to Sinazongwe to distribute only 12.5 kg bags of mealie meal, and left. They assured us that they would go back to drill boreholes, but nothing has happened. When will the people of Sinazongwe have an equal share?

 

Sir, we, therefore, need our irrigation schemes to be revamped so that we practice winter farming and can have enough food. We should not be given fewer incentives because there is less rainfall in the province. So, it is high time the Government considered everyone equally. We hear of unprecedented developments from other hon. Members and we also want to see it in our constituencies.

 

The Deputy Chairperson: Order

 

The hon. Member’s time expired.

 

The Minister for Southern Province (Dr Hamukale): Mr Chairperson, I thank you for giving me the opportunity to debate Vote 98, Southern Province.

 

Sir, firstly, I wish to thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia for being a very inclusive leader of this country and for taking development to areas even where people did not vote for him, including in the Southern Province, where he had fewer votes. He did not look at that, but he gave us the third largest share of the development cake. I also wish to thank His Excellency the President for giving me the opportunity to manage the Southern Province for almost five years now, and I am truly intimate with the challenges of the province.

 

Mr Chairperson, I further wish to thank my team led by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Mwangala Liomba, for the prudent management of state resources in the Southern Province. As a province, we pride ourselves of not having had any audit queries for three years in a row. Recently in Livingstone, the Institute of Purchasing and Supply recently awarded my Permanent Secretary for that performance. I also recognise the support that we got from the Department of Finance or Accounts and the Planning Department and Procurement. My office is in the process of recommending the officers in those departments for presidential recognition on Heroes Day. So, I will write on that matter and I want them to be awarded because this is not common.

 

Sir, we inherited a very bad financial record to an extent that senior civil servants were being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and we had to scatter that curtail, but there are a few remnants within the Southern Province who persecute such officers and it is against those that I had to rise above to protect state resources. So, I am very proud of them and I will do what I can to recommend them for recognition. However, I also challenge the Public Service Management Division (PSMD) to take action on the officers who deliberately hinder prudent financial management. Reports had been made. Therefore, we cannot proceed like this.

 

Mr Chairperson, the province is doing very well in agriculture. For instance, the implementation of the Electronic Voucher (e-Voucher) System is 100 per cent and its contribution to national production is 15 per cent. The water sector is booming while the tourism sector was affected by the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19). However, a new hotel is being built. Further, the mining sector is doing fine under the leadership of His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu. Roads, bridges and houses for police officers and officers at the Zambia Correctional Service, schools, clinics, markets, bus stops and telephone infrastructure have been constructed. In addition, solar hammer mills have been provided and we have been implementing the Social Cash Transfer Programme. The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) is always on time and all hon. Members got CDFs. In the energy sector, we are going to add another 750 MW through the Kafue Gorge Lower Power Station. So, the Southern Province is doing extremely well.

 

Sir, I do not agree with Hon. Mwiimbu that there is no infrastructure development in the new districts. Pemba, Kazungula and Chikankata districts have all been given central business district infrastructure for local government and for the central Government under the District Commissioner (DCs).

 

Mr Chairperson, there is rural connectivity, and the President is committed in ensuring that the people in the valley have electricity and he engaged Hon. Nkhuwa, the Minister of Energy, and I, and we worked out a package. So, something is going on to address this problem. The Maamba/Batoka Road is on the cards for rehabilitation and hon. Members will soon be informed when this will commence.

 

Sir, there is no segregation in the Southern Province, in as far as boreholes and other-infrastructure is concerned. This is because President Lungu included the people of the Southern Province in his plans. However, I call upon the Civil Service that is charged with the management of state resources to continue managing these resources prudently so that the President and, indeed, us in his regime, can deliver to the people of Zambia.

 

Mr Chairperson, I agree with Hon. Sialubalo that the Bottom Road is, indeed, an important road, but development is a process. So, we need to be patient. The people who are saying that there is no infrastructure in the new districts in the Southern Province should go to other provinces to see how under-privileged they are. When they see that, they will acknowledge how privileged the Southern province is. There are worse off places that are called districts. When I was a youth, I lived in the Eastern Province and I know that there are worse districts than Pemba and Chikankata. So, we need to be realistic in our debate. Otherwise, I thank the hon. Members who debated, and I remain committed to deliver development in the Southern Province on behalf of the President.

 

I thank you, Sir.

 

The Vice-President (Mrs Wina): Mr Chairperson, allow me to express my gratitude to all the hon. Members of the House who contributed to the debate on the Estimates of Expenditure for the Office of the President – Provincial Administration.

 

Sir, provinces as administrative centres provide an avenue for taking development from the central Government to other parts of the country where development is needed. In this regard, the Office of the Vice-President appreciates the massive role that the provincial and district administration have played of taking services nearer to our people, particularly, during the Patriotic Front (PF) Government’s reign. This has been done in a co-ordinated, innovative and progressive manner.

 

Mr Chairperson, I wish to inform the House that upon forming Government in 2011, the PF Government set out on a robust transformation agenda for Zambia to be better than we found it and thus improving the quality of life of Zambians. The PF Government, therefore, embarked on an ambitious programme led by massive infrastructure development which covered all sectors of socio-economic life throughout the entire country, even in provinces and districts where it was not voted for. This is because of our motto of not leaving anyone behind.

 

Sir, what the PF Government found in 2011, and the state of Zambia today are significantly quite different. We can all attest to the fact that the country became like a major construction site, with roads being rolled out throughout Zambia and the mega bridges completed. Zambians now drive on good roads in many parts of the country. It is only a few roads that require maintenance. For this reason, more Zambians now own vehicles than at any other time because of good roads and thus enabling our economic growth. I wish to remind the hon. Members that Zambia is a vast country measuring 752,000 km². So, to see development in almost every corner of this great nation is truly a milestone on the part of the PF Government.

 

Mr Chairperson, among other priorities, the Government constructed forty district hospitals (at level 1) in all the provinces, 439 health posts, twenty-four mini hospitals, an isolation facility for the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients at the Levy Mwanawasa Hospital and in all ten provinces, and medical stores hubs in eight provinces to improve access to medicines. These health facilities, which have been rolled-out to each of the 116 districts, enable Zambians both in rural and urban areas to access them at closer range. Further, it will be remembered that the PF Government created forty-four new districts with infrastructure as centres of development. Since 2011 to date, the PF Government has constructed 14,235 classrooms at primary education level and 4,690, at secondary education level to ensure that many more school going children attend classes. In addition, skills training centres were rolled-out for the youths country-wide.

 

Sir, 774 communication towers were installed to cover the whole country in all the ten provinces. For the record, it should be pointed out that the PF Government has doubled the generation of power from the last power generation project, which was installed by the United National Independence Party (UNIP) Government in 1977. With the continued investment in power generation, we expect to end load-shedding early next year when the Kafue Gorge Lower Project becomes fully operational. In the meantime, several districts, hospitals, schools and chiefs’ palaces have been connected to the national power grid for the first time since independence. Furthermore, several water projects and irrigation facilities have been rolled out country-wide to improve water supply, sanitation and agricultural pursuits.

 

Mr Chairperson, going forward, we expect to grow the economy and to generate wealth and job creation, especially for the youths and women, by exploiting our abundant natural resources that include land for diversified agriculture. We will use the good foundation we have laid since 2011 to make Zambia a more prosperous country, notwithstanding the setbacks which the COVID-19 pandemic and other disasters have impacted negatively on our livelihoods.

 

Sir, further, I wish to point out that the PF Government has initiated development and investments at the local level through provincial expositions. These expositions have already started bearing fruit in form of local investments in some provinces. Following the hosting of these expositions in provinces, a number of investment pledges are being actualised. Further, considerable investments have so far been made, creating new industries that process various raw materials into finished goods and create jobs.

 

Mr Chairperson, I wish to conclude by urging all Zambians to continue working together at provincial and district levels so that we can take development to all parts of our country without leaving anyone behind. The PF Government will continue to see to it that every Zambian in every district benefits from the transformation agenda. Together and under the leadership of His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, with determination and resilience, we shall overcome the economic challenges the country is currently facing. Together, we shall create the Zambia we want. Together, we shall leave a better Zambia for posterity.

 

I thank you, Mr Chairperson.

 

Votes 88, 90, 91, 92, 93 and 94 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

 

VOTE 95 – (Office of the President – Eastern Province – K71,829,539)

 

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo) (on behalf of the Minister of Finance (Dr Ng’andu)): Mr Chairperson, I beg to move the following amendment on page 1016, Table 3: Budget Allocation by Programme and Sub-Programme:

 

1. under Programme 6125: Community Development and Social Services, Sub-Programme 5007: Chiefs and Traditional Affairs; by the deletion of K110,640 and the substitution therefor of K70,640;
2. under Programme 6125: Community Development and Social Services, by the insertion of Sub-Programme 5008: National Guidance and Religious Affairs K40,000;
3. under Programme 6127: Economic Development, Sub-Programme 7005: Public Infrastructure Development; by the deletion of K589,176 and the substitution therefor of K50,000; and
4. under Programme 6127: Economic Development, by the insertion of Sub-Programme 7009: Civil Aviation Management K539,176.

 

Amendment agreed to. Vote amended accordingly.

 

Vote 95, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

 

Votes 96 and 97 ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

 

VOTE 98 – (Office of the President – Southern Province – K81, 535,981)

 

Mr Kampyongo (on behalf of (Dr Ng’andu)): Mr Chairperson, I beg to move the following amendments:

 

On page 1113 and 1114, Table 3: Budget Allocation by Programme and Sub-Programme:

(i) under Programme 6199: Management and Support Services, Sub-Programme 0002: Human Resource Management and Administration; by the deletion of K8,926,183 and the substitution therefor of K8,547,101;

(ii) under Programme 6199: Management and Support Services, by the insertion of Sub-Programme 0009: Information Communication and Technology with a budget allocation of K379,082;

(iii) under Programme 6199: Management and Support Services, Sub-Programme 0003: Procurement             Management; by the deletion of K3,798,775 and the substitution therefor of K980,318;

(iv) under Programme 6199: Management and Support Services, by the insertion of Sub-Programme 0010: Financial Management - Accounting with a budget allocation of K2,818,457;
(v) under Programme 6199: Management and Support Services, Sub-Programme 0004: Planning, Policy and Coordination; by the deletion of K1,523,186 and the substitution therefor of K738,194; and

(vi) under Programme 6199: Management and Support Services, by the insertion of Sub-Programme 0011: Financial Management - Auditing with a budget allocation of K784,992.

Amendment agreed to. Vote amended accordingly.

 

Vote 98 as amended, ordered to stand part of the Estimates.

 

The Chairperson: Order!

 

(Debate adjourned)

 

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HOUSE RESUMED

 

[MADAM FIRST DEPUTY SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

(Progress reported)

 

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The House adjourned at 1620 hours until 0900 hours on Friday, 4^thDecember, 2020.

 

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