Debates- Wednesday, 17th October, 2012

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DAILY PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES FOR THE SECOND SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH ASSEMBLY

Wednesday, 17th October, 2012

The House met at 1430 hours

[MR SPEAKER in the Chair]

NATIONAL ANTHEM

PRAYER

_______ 

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT 

UPDATE OF THE 2012 MAIZE PURCHASE PROGRAMME AND FINANCING 

The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, on Wednesday last week, you directed that I cause to be brought to the House a statement on maize purchases by the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and the financing of the exercise. 

I would have passed the matter onto the hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock or the hon. Minister of Finance, but they are not here. I will, therefore, give the statement myself even though the information in it has been compiled by the Ministry of Finance in consultation with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock as well as the FRA. 

Mr Speaker, this statement is entitled, ‘Update of the 2012 Maize Purchase Programme and Financing’. 

Mr Speaker, the Government’s 2012 revised target is to purchase 1 million metric tonnes of maize from farmers at K1.3 trillion. This is the exact amount because 1 tonne sells at K1.3 million or K65,000 per bag. The Government has so far released K300 billion as per the 2012 Budget allocation. 

Mr Speaker, as at 12th October, 2012, the FRA had bought 926,089 metric tonnes of maize worth about K1.2 trillion. Against this value, K279.52 billion has so far been disbursed for payment to farmers, leaving a balance of K924 billion due to them.  

Mr Speaker, to finance the balance, the Treasury has now given the FRA authority to borrow from the private sector. In this regard, facility agreements have since been executed with three commercial banks that are in the process of disbursing funds. These facilities have been secured by Government guarantee. As such, drawdowns are expected to be in one-off bank disbursements. The latest status of payments to farmers is contained in a table attached to this statement. The attachment is too complicated and lengthy for me.  I shall, therefore, lay it on the Table for the perusal of any hon. Member who is interested. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

The Vice-President laid the paper on the Table. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members are now free to ask questions on points of clarification on the ministerial statement given by His Honour the Vice-president. 

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha (Keembe): Mr Speaker, can His Honour the Vice-President tell the House and the nation how much money was raised from the maize that was initially sold by the Government and how much of the amount will be paid to the farmers. 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, the FRA is not a profit-making institution, whether by design or in practice. It buys maize at US$270 per tonne equivalent, transports, fumigates, saves it and generally handles it at a price of about US$148 per tonne and then sales it to the millers at about less than that amount. It is, therefore, administering subsidy not collecting money. 

One of the reasons for the relative lateness of this intervention that I have just described is that we were trying to get the books of the FRA straight. This has proved difficult because the FRA has never handled so much maize before. We, therefore, still have some queries over the accounts for the last season. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you.     

Mr Hamududu (Bweengwa): Mr Speaker, year in and year out, we have this serious problem of maize purchasing. I want to find out from His Honour the Vice-President when we will get on top of this problem. 

The Vice-President: Before the next elections, Sir.

I thank you, Sir. 

Laughter 

Mr Chishimba (Kamfinsa): Mr Speaker, I presume the 1 million metric tonne target has not been reached even though the marketing season ends this month end.  

Does the ministry contemplate extending the marketing period which is supposed to end this month, looking at the many challenges that the FRA is facing such as the shortage of empty grain bags and the late opening of the marketing season. 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, it is not obvious that the 1 million metric tonne ceiling has not been reached. These figures are as of 12th October, which is fairly recent. However, by the end of October, we would expect to be at the 1 million metric tonne target. We do not think that there is a whole lot more small holder maize out there. There may be some commercial maize that is waiting for prices to go up further, but this is all.  

Mr Speaker, this entire region is maize hungry at the moment, especially our neighbour Zimbabwe, which is short of maize. The world price of maize is very high. Normally, the South Africans would help us fill any gaps in the Southern African market, but they are selling, instead, to Mexico and China. Therefore, we do not believe that there is much more than a million metric tonnes out there. However, if there is and, if the argument is compelling in terms of small farmers’ interest, we will certainly consider extending the marketing period in selected areas.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, now that it is clear that the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is not going to make a difference in terms of agricultural development …

Hon. Government Members: Question!

Ms Namugala: … I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President, exactly, when the K924 billion due to the hardworking farmers of this country is going to be paid?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, there is sufficient money in the current set of transactions with three commercial banks to pay all the farmers and have some money left over for operations. Maybe, it is purely a question of how long it takes to fill in a form. Otherwise, the money is there, and the target is the end of October and it remains as such.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, His Honour the Vice-President mentioned that the FRA is not a profit-making organisation, and yet it has been advised to borrow. I presume it will borrow at an interest. May I know how the debt is going to be liquidated?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, it is a loan guaranteed by the Government. Therefore, it will be a Government liability.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Miyanda (Mapatizya): Mr Speaker, when the FRA started buying maize this year, it engaged casual workers whom it was paying K5,800 per hour from Monday to Saturday. Those willing to work on Sunday were engaged at almost the same amount. However, three weeks ago, the same people, who are mostly widows, were told that they can only be paid K100 per 50 kg bag. May I find out what the Government is doing to address this very unfortunate situation?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, it seems the hon. Member is very well informed. He is much better informed than me. Therefore, he should, perhaps, consider applying for a job of chief executive officer of the FRA.

Laughter

Interruptions

Hon. Opposition Members: No!

Mr Speaker: His Honour the Vice-President, that question has not been answered.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

Mr V. Mwale: Answer!

Interruptions

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I cannot, while standing up, convert from Kwacha per hour to Kwacha per bag and compare them simply. So, I thought I would advise the hon. Member indirectly to come and see me afterwards so that we can see if there is really a problem to be solved there.

I thank you, Sir.

Interruptions

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, the Government released …

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha: Mr Speaker, is the Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia in order to come to this House and not answer the questions that we are asking from the left side of the House so that the people of Zambia can understand which way the PF is taking them? Is he in order not to answer the questions?

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

I think I have dealt with this issue. I asked His Honour the Vice-President to answer the question. Implicit in that, is the recognition of the inadequacy in the earlier response.

May the hon. Member of Parliament for Katombola continue, please.

Mr Livune: Mr Speaker, before I was interrupted by the point of order, I was saying that the K300 billion has been released and this is the same amount of money that the Government considers in the budget but, in reality, we are spending over K1.3 trillion. Why should the Government continue under budgeting for maize in this regard? It is not fair to talk about the next election. Can we be serious and precise. Why should we be under budgeting when we are spending what we have budgeted for?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, it is established practice for parastatal institutions such as the FRA to be partly funded by grants contained in the budget of the Government and partly fund themselves by borrowing on the commercial market with or without Government guarantees, collateral arrangements and so on and so forth.

For the last three years of which I know, the 2011 Budget, which was an MMD Budget if you will recall, only  K150 billion was budgeted for the crop. Nonetheless, there was enough fertiliser to produce nearly 3 million tonnes of maize. The result was that the FRA had to spend K2.3 trillion to buy the crop and handle it despite the K150 billion provided. In other words, it was fifteen times oversubscribed. It was done, again, through a bank loan guaranteed by the Government. A certain amount of funding of parastatals is always partly on the budget and some of it is outside the budget. There is no particular reason that I can see to change that practice.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Lufuma (Kabompo West): Mr Speaker, I stand here a worried Zambian. The FRA buys the maize at a high cost and sells it at 50 per cent of the cost and it also borrows. How sustainable is this programme? Can the PF Government enlighten us on how sustainable this programme is going to be?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, it is sustainable so long as it is judged to be sustainable in terms of the other priorities that are claiming that money. There are people who feel that the gap is too large and that the implicit subsidy of consumption is too high, given the demands of other areas like adult and secondary education and so on and so forth. There are those who feel it is important for poverty alleviation to put that gap there.

This is an on-going discussion, including in this House. I look forward to hearing constructive suggestions as to what that gap or what that implicit subsidy should be. With not even much lack, but a bit of effort, I think there are people on your left, Mr Speaker, who will be able to make a very constructive contribution towards how we square the circle of providing cheap maize to the consumers and buying at good prices from the producers. This is a long standing problem which is about forty-eight years old, I should guess.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, this is October and the rains have started, meaning the farming season has already commenced, but this is when you are directing the FRA to look for money. How would you describe this laissez-faire approach by your Government? Does it not compromise the food security of this country? I need your serious answer.

Hon. Opposition Members: Yes!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, as someone who campaigned against the hon. Member’s former Government on the grounds of late payment to farmers for maize, I find that a pretty difficult question to take from him. There is nothing unusual about this because it has been happening from one year to the other.

Sir, what is unusual or what has happened this year is that we wanted to get the books sorted out before we started borrowing more money. The Ministry of Finance rightly put pressure on the FRA to try to produce the closing statements so that we could start anew. That is the only reason it is as late as it is, and it is still about six weeks before the planting date.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mtolo (Chipata Central): Mr Speaker, arising from the statement by His Honour the Vice-President that there is syndicated financing to the FRA, which has been supported by the Government, I would like to know how much each bank is going to charge for releasing this money so that we calculate the cost of each bag of maize at the point of sale, for example, after one year?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I can bring that information separately but, generally speaking, the picture is that interest rates being quoted on Government borrowing have come down considerably along with the Euro Bond and other forms of financing.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Dr Kazonga (Vubwi): Mr Speaker, buying or purchasing maize is one thing, but it is another thing to secure the purchased crop. I would like to know what measures the Government has put in place to ensure that this slightly over 900,000 metric tonnes of maize that has been bought is secure since the rainy season is about to begin and my constituency has already had some rains.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, there are no new measures that have been put in place. The measure, as the questioner knows, being a former hon. Minister of Agriculture, is that the maize is moved from holding depots and satellite depots into more centralised district depots and provincial holding areas. That requires that the money and the transport be released accurately and that has happened.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Monde (Itezhi-tezhi): Mr Speaker, after learning that the PF Government was going to buy one million tonnes of maize, why are we still gabbing as if we did not know that K1.3 trillion would be required for the exercise? Looking at the time remaining before the planting season begins, will the farmers get their money to buy inputs for the next farming season in time?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, we knew that the likely cost of a million metric tonnes was going to be K1.3 trillion. If the question is why then did we release it or liberate it into circulation so late, I have given the answer to that question already, which is that, the Ministry of Finance wanted a proper statement of affairs and accounts from the FRA, which was in a state of some confusion. We are trying to tighten up on this organisation and make it mend it its ways.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Simbao (Senga Hill): Mr Speaker, I heard from His Honour the Vice-President that payment is as simple as just filling in a form. I am, therefore, wondering why the people in Senga Hill have not been paid since they filled in their forms two months ago.

Laughter

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I would say the payment is eminent and if it is not in Senga Hill by next week, I will be very pleased to hear about that.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, may His Honour the Vice-President indicate which part of the country has the highest number of farmers still waiting to be paid for their hard-earned money from the FRA.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, from my quick scan at the records, I believe that it is the Southern Province, closely followed by the Eastern and Northern provinces.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out what the future of the FRA is and if the Government can confirm, through this House, whether it is interested in continuing to fund the FRA and purchasing maize from farmers in the nearest future or not?

Hon. Government Member: One question only.

Mr Speaker: Hon. Members, you are restricted to one question. His Honour the Vice-President may answer the first question.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, experience has shown that the Government requires some modalities for making strategic interventions in agriculture and there is no question about that.

Sir, the near-famine that we suffered in 1992 was actually the result of the United National Independence Party (UNIP) Government closing down the National Agriculture Marketing Board (NAMBOARD) two years previously and there being no reserves in the country, when the drought actually hit in January, 1992. Therefore, you need some means of securing the basic food for the people in the country.

Mr Speaker, the PF Government is not getting out of that strategic responsibility. It is simply not safe to do so and could well lead to all sorts of disaster.

Sir, whether the Government is going to allow the FRA to continue behaving as if it was NAMBOARD, which used to say that it was buying all the maize from all the farmers and subsidising it and supplying it to all the millers, I think that situation has to be reviewed. In fact, this only recently evolved like that in the run-up to last year’s elections. I think we will have to consider that the FRA’s real functions are that it is the buyer of last resort from small scale farmers, support to small-scale farmers and to secure the staple food supplies for the country as a whole.

Mr Speaker, if we can cut it down to that, I think that would be, in our opinion, quite a good target to aim for.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President what assurance he is giving that all the farmers who supplied maize to the FRA will be paid by 31st October, 2012?

Mr Speaker: The question has already been answered.

Mr Muntanga (Kalomo Central): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out, as a policy issue from the PF Manifesto, how much strategic reserves and for how long has it planned to be holding at any one time, knowing that this problem has been going on for years?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I think that is a number that, in common sense, says change is from year to year. Last year, if we had held no strategic reserves, we would have been safe because there was surplus maize in Mozambique, Malawi and Southern Tanzania, which was actually finding its way into this country and was being subsidised by the Zambian taxpayer.

Sir, this year, it is a completely different story. We are surrounded by very heavy demand and, as the questioner, himself, would have seen in Kalomo, thirty-tonne trucks moving on the road to Sichifulo, which is scarcely passable, carrying loads of maize from depots there, bound for Zimbabwe, is a different story. You have to hold enough food to feed the country for, at least, six months in order to assure yourself that you are not suddenly going to run dry of that food.

So, the million tonnes, I would regard as strategic and no more or less than that although another year, 500,000 or even 200,000 metric tonnes could be strategic.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chishiba (Kafulafuta): Mr Speaker, it is plainly clear that most of the farmers across the country, including Kafulafuta, will receive their payments for the maize they sold to FRA very late. Are there any plans by the Government to ensure that those who will not have been paid their money by the FRA can still access the Fertiliser Input Support Programme (FISP)?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I am not the hon. Minister responsible for the FISP. So, I cannot give a definite answer to that question, but I think the answer is no. What we will do, if payments are delayed, is expedite the release of money in cash. On the other hand, it is unfortunate that the e-voucher system that we wanted to pioneer in this season will not be in place until next season.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Namulambe (Mpongwe): Mr Speaker, …

Mr Muntanga: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, is His Honour the Vice-President in order to inform this House that he is not the hon. Minister responsible for agriculture when discussing the matter at hand? Moreover, we have been asking for the substantive hon. Minister of Finance to be present during the Budget Motion debate so that such answers are not given. Is he in order to now abdicate the responsibility of being the Leader of Government Business in the House by not properly responding to questions concerning functions of ministries? 

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

My understanding of His Honour the Vice-President’s answer is that he does not have a specific response to the question and he has deferred that matter to the relevant hon. Minister. I think, under the circumstances, it is a very prudent and fair thing to say. It is certainly better than to mislead the House.

The hon. Member for Mpongwe may continue.

Mr Namulambe: Mr Speaker, before the FRA started buying maize, farmers were asked to open accounts with various commercial banks. However, on Monday, I was with a manager from Finance Bank who indicated that the Government has not yet sent a schedule for payments to farmers, and yet the banks have had the money since last week. Why is the Government delaying when it merely needs to take a payment schedule to the banks so that people are paid?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I cannot micromanage the FRA. If there are banks that have not been informed on the schedule of payments to their customers, then, I would thank hon. Members for detailed information to that effect and we can pass it on to the right level of administration. Beyond that, I cannot give excuses or say how widespread this problem is or anything of that sort.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Speaker gave the Floor to Mr Katambo.

Mr Katambo (Masaiti): Mr Speaker, my question has been overtaken by events.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, we have been informed by the President of the Republic of Zambia that this country is too primitive. Is it as a result of primitivity that we are failing to tackle the issue of maize marketing in this country?

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions 

The Vice-President: Sir, I think the context in which our President was speaking is different from the context the hon. Member is using the word. As the honourable questioner knows, it is a question of semantics as regards what is meant by primitivity and I do not think it is worth going into, with your indulgence, Sir.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr L. Zimba (Kapiri-Mposhi): Mr Speaker, the assurance of payments to farmers by the Government started a long way back from August to September and now it is October. I have been standing here to ask questions on this matter and the people of Kapiri-Mposhi have been listening each time I have done so. What assurance is His Honour the Vice-President giving me that I will not be forced to ask on this issue in November, again?

Mr V. Mwale: And in December.

Laughter 

Mr Speaker: My guidance is similar to the one I gave to the hon. Member for Chikankata. A categorical statement has been made and I do not think it is necessary to continue flogging ... I will end there.

Laughter 

_________ 

QUESTIONS FOR ORAL ANSWER

FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL

139. Mr V. Mwale (Chipangali) asked the Minister of Information and Broadcasting when the Government would present the Freedom of Information Bill to Parliament for enactment.

The Deputy Minister of information and Broadcasting (Mr Kapeya): Mr Speaker, first of all, allow me to commend the hon. Member of Parliament for Chipangali for bringing up such a very important question. Although the ministry is anxious to submit this Bill to Parliament for enactment as soon as possible, this will only be done once the procedural consultative process with Cabinet and the stakeholders has been completed.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr V. Mwale: Mr Speaker, we have heard a lot of promises by this Government that this Bill will soon be brought for enactment. When will the Patriotic Front (PF) Cabinet finalise the consultations? It is long overdue since the promise to bring the Bill to this House was made some time back.

Mr Kapeya: Mr Speaker, indeed, it has taken long, but the hon. Member must bear in mind that the Bill was once presented to Parliament in 2002, but was not brought back. We took office last year and I remember when Parliament was sitting in June this year, I announced that we would be launching this Bill for public scrutiny. However, as I said earlier, we needed to have a complete document which included the input of other stakeholders.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Pande (Kasempa): Mr Speaker, as the hon. Minister has indicated, there was an announcement that this Bill would be brought to the House by June or July, 2012. At the time the announcement was made, did the hon. Minister not realise that he needed to consult first?

The Minister of Information and Broadcasting (Mr Shamenda): Mr Speaker, coincidentally, the man who made that promise …

Laughter

Mr Shamenda: … during this Questions for Oral Answer time is still the hon. Minister of Information and Broadcasting. However, I would like to sincerely apologise that in the process of trying to implement this Bill, which is very important for this country, a lot of things have happened. I take full responsibility for the delay, but when we conclude our discussions, we will be able to bring this Bill to Parliament. Unfortunately, I discovered that we had to consult the relevant stakeholders. We had to discuss with the Attorney-General’s Office so that we are able to get a layman’s Draft Bill which was within the line of what might materialise at a later stage into a Bill. 

After that, the Bill will be debated by stakeholders. Then it will go the Ministry of Justice, the Legislative Committee of Cabinet, the Cabinet and, finally, to Parliament.  I appeal to the House for its support when the Bill comes to this House. So, we are not going to chicken out.

Hon. Members: That is unparliamentary.

Mr Shamenda: Mr Speaker, I withdraw the phrase.

Laughter

Mr Shamenda: Sir, we are not going to back-track by withdrawing the Bill and keep it in our drawers for the next session of Parliament. I would like to assure this august House that we are on course and definitely be bringing the same to this august House.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Antonio (Kaoma Central): Mr Speaker, at which stage is this Bill, currently, because we have been told that it has passed through many stages?

Mr Shamenda:  Mr Speaker, we have looked at the draft and the Task Force is finalising preparations for the presentation of the Bill for open debate by all stakeholders, which will include interested hon. Members of Parliament. That is the stage at which it is.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, is the draft Bill there or not? I ask this because these stories have been told here many times before?

Mr Speaker: I do not think it is necessary for the hon. Minister to answer that question.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has made yet another assurance that this Bill will be brought to this House at the next session of Parliament. The next session of Parliament, I stand to be corrected, will be some time next year. Is the hon. Minister confirming to this nation and the House that the PF Government will not be in a position to bring this Freedom of Information Bill this year as promised earlier by himself and the other leaders of the Government?

Mr Shamenda:  Mr Speaker, if the processes are quickened and done tomorrow, it will be possible to immediately bring the Bill to this House. However, we would like to have a refined Bill, and I think that the hon. Member realises that this is a very important Bill. It deals with the rights of individuals. So, we have to be very careful in the way we handle it.

I thank you Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, this is an important matter. 

Sir, every Friday, His Honour the Vice-President announces the Business of the House for the following week. In order to allay the fears of the Zambian people that the PF Government has somersaulted, can the hon. Minister indicate to the nation how this Bill will be handled, probably, before April?  At what stage is it?

Mr Shamenda:  Mr Speaker, I think that I have answered that question. I have indicated the stages involved and where we are. I do not know whether I can find another answer to satisfy the hon. Member.

Thank you, Sir.

PRIVATE TRAINING INSTITUTIONS FOR HEALTH PERSONNEL

 140. Mr Chisala (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Health:

(a)how many private institutions were offering training for the following health personnel, as of 31st December, 2011:

(i)clinical officers;

(ii)registered nurses; and

(iii)enrolled nurses;

(b)in which provinces the institutions at (a) above were located; and

(c)when the Government would re-introduce the system of bonding health personnel trained by the Government.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Mr Mulenga): Mr Speaker, at present, there are nine private institutions offering training for clinical officers, registered nurses and enrolled nurses as follows:

(a)clinical officers at Kafue College of Health Sciences in Kafue;

(b)registered nurses at Dovecote College of Nursing Trust, Makeni School of Nursing, Lusaka Nursing School and Lusaka Health Institute Trust in Lusaka; and Western School of Nursing and Copperbelt Nursing Polytechnic in Kitwe; and

(c)enrolled nurses at Mukuni School of Nursing in Livingstone and Agape School of Nursing in Kabwe.

Mr Speaker, the institutions at (a) above are located in the Southern, Lusaka, Central and Copperbelt provinces.

Mr Speaker, all in-service officers who go for training under the sponsorship of the Government are bonded by signing the bonding agreement form (DHRD Form 5). The period of the bonding is equivalent to the duration of the respective training programme undertaken and continues on completion of the training programme.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, there are two general hospitals in the Northern Province, namely, Kasama and Mbala. This means the province qualifies to have a training school for clinical officers. Being …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! 

Mr Mwamba entered the Assembly Chamber.

Hon. Opposition Members: GBM!

Mr Chisala:  That being the case, is the ministry not considering establishing a training school for the province at one of these health institutions?

Mr Mulenga: Sir, I thank the hon. Member for that important question. We are very much aware that we have general hospitals, in fact, in all the provincial centres. Therefore, we need to train more health staff. 

Sir, the Government, through the Ministry of Health, is upgrading some of the district hospitals into general hospitals and all the provincial hospitals into central hospitals to facilitate the training of health personnel.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

After that, the Bill will be debated by stakeholders. Then it will go the Ministry of Justice, the Legislative Committee of Cabinet, the Cabinet and, finally, to Parliament.  I appeal to the House for its support when the Bill comes to this House. So, we are not going to chicken out.

Hon. Members: That is unparliamentary.

Mr Shamenda: Mr Speaker, I withdraw the phrase.

Laughter

Mr Shamenda: Sir, we are not going to back-track by withdrawing the Bill and keep it in our drawers for the next session of Parliament. I would like to assure this august House that we are on course and definitely be bringing the same to this august House.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Antonio (Kaoma Central): Mr Speaker, at which stage is this Bill, currently, because we have been told that it has passed through many stages?

Mr Shamenda:  Mr Speaker, we have looked at the draft and the Task Force is finalising preparations for the presentation of the Bill for open debate by all stakeholders, which will include interested hon. Members of Parliament. That is the stage at which it is.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwanza (Solwezi West): Mr Speaker, is the draft Bill there or not? I ask this because these stories have been told here many times before?

Mr Speaker: I do not think it is necessary for the hon. Minister to answer that question.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has made yet another assurance that this Bill will be brought to this House at the next session of Parliament. The next session of Parliament, I stand to be corrected, will be some time next year. Is the hon. Minister confirming to this nation and the House that the PF Government will not be in a position to bring this Freedom of Information Bill this year as promised earlier by himself and the other leaders of the Government?

Mr Shamenda:  Mr Speaker, if the processes are quickened and done tomorrow, it will be possible to immediately bring the Bill to this House. However, we would like to have a refined Bill, and I think that the hon. Member realises that this is a very important Bill. It deals with the rights of individuals. So, we have to be very careful in the way we handle it.

I thank you Sir.

Mr Mbulakulima (Chembe): Mr Speaker, this is an important matter. 

Sir, every Friday, His Honour the Vice-President announces the Business of the House for the following week. In order to allay the fears of the Zambian people that the PF Government has somersaulted, can the hon. Minister indicate to the nation how this Bill will be handled, probably, before April?  At what stage is it?

Mr Shamenda:  Mr Speaker, I think that I have answered that question. I have indicated the stages involved and where we are. I do not know whether I can find another answer to satisfy the hon. Member.

Thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

PRIVATE TRAINING INSTITUTIONS FOR HEALTH PERSONNEL

 140. Mr Chisala (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Health:

(d)how many private institutions were offering training for the following health personnel, as of 31st December, 2011:

(i)clinical officers;

(ii)registered nurses; and

(iii)enrolled nurses;

(e)in which provinces the institutions at (a) above were located; and

(f)when the Government would re-introduce the system of bonding health personnel trained by the Government.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Mr Mulenga): Mr Speaker, at present, there are nine private institutions offering training for clinical officers, registered nurses and enrolled nurses as follows:

(d)clinical officers at Kafue College of Health Sciences in Kafue;

(e)registered nurses at Dovecote College of Nursing Trust, Makeni School of Nursing, Lusaka Nursing School and Lusaka Health Institute Trust in Lusaka; and Western School of Nursing and Copperbelt Nursing Polytechnic in Kitwe; and

(f)enrolled nurses at Mukuni School of Nursing in Livingstone and Agape School of Nursing in Kabwe.

Mr Speaker, the institutions at (a) above are located in the Southern, Lusaka, Central and Copperbelt provinces.

Mr Speaker, all in-service officers who go for training under the sponsorship of the Government are bonded by signing the bonding agreement form (DHRD Form 5). The period of the bonding is equivalent to the duration of the respective training programme undertaken and continues on completion of the training programme.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, there are two general hospitals in the Northern Province, namely, Kasama and Mbala. This means the province qualifies to have a training school for clinical officers. Being …

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear! 

Mr Mwamba entered the Assembly Chamber.

Hon. Opposition Members: GBM!

Mr Chisala:  That being the case, is the ministry not considering establishing a training school for the province at one of these health institutions?

Mr Mulenga: Sir, I thank the hon. Member for that important question. We are very much aware that we have general hospitals, in fact, in all the provincial centres. Therefore, we need to train more health staff. 

Sir, the Government, through the Ministry of Health, is upgrading some of the district hospitals into general hospitals and all the provincial hospitals into central hospitals to facilitate the training of health personnel.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Dr Kazonga (Vubwi): Mr Speaker, with the multiplicity of private institutions offering training in various health disciplines, what quality assurance mechanisms are in place to ensure that the human resource produced by these institutions meet the demands of the labour market? This, I suppose, is of concern to the Government and all of us.

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, private institutions that offer training in various health disciplines are inspected to ensure that they meet the criteria for them to undertake training of health personnel.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ndalamei (Sikongo): Mr Speaker, we have heard the good news that some district hospitals will be turned into general hospitals. Can he enlighten us which hospitals have been earmarked for this project.

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, I encourage the hon. Member of Parliament to follow the Strategic Plan for the Ministry of Health for 2011- 2015. We have programmed that we shall upgrade some of the district hospitals from first-level to second-level hospitals. The hon. Member’s district will also benefit.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Hamudulu (Siavonga): Mr Speaker, when the hon. Minister was enumerating the private training institutions, I did not hear any mention of the Chikankata School of Nursing. What is the classification of that institution?

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, the question was about private institutions. Chikankata is jointly run by a mission and the Government. That is the reason I did not mention it.

ENGINEERING SERVICES CORPORATION

141. Mr Ntundu (Gwembe) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication:

(a)how much was raised by the Engineering Services Corporation (ESCO) Limited from the operations of the pontoons at Kazungula Border in 2011;

(b)what the total cost of running the pontoons was in the same year; and

(c)whether ESCO made any profits and, if so, how the profits were used.

The Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication (Mr Yaluma): Mr Speaker, K7.5 billion was raised by ESCO Limited from the operations of the pontoons at Kazungula Border in 2011.

Mr Speaker, the total cost of running the pontoons at Kazungula Border Post in the same year was K1.7 billion and the surplus funds raised by the pontoons was used to sustain the operations of the other pontoons around the country.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, now that I am sure that the hon. Minister is aware that the pontoons that are operating at Kazungula are old and, therefore, breaking down, has his ministry any plans to purchase new pontoons ones before the construction of the bridge commences in 2013, as he put it?

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, the Kazungula Ferry is a very key means of transport to both Botswana and Zambia as it ferries millions of people per year. Therefore, not to pay attention to it would be total negligence on the part of both Governments. 
The ferry is serviced every now and then as per plant service arrangements. In addition, it is also serviced depending on the number of hours of travelling in a year. In a nutshell, the service is either condition-based or as planned by the manufacturers.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, are there private companies that own pontoons?

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I do not think that there is any pontoon that is owned by a private company in the country. 

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mwiimbu (Monze Central): Mr Speaker, the question that was raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Gwembe was very clear. He wanted to find out whether the ministry is considering purchasing new pontoons, considering the importance of that route, and the fact that it is making a lot of money. That was the question that was raised, but it has not been answered.

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, if I heard the question properly, the hon. Member was asking whether we were, in any way, in a position to buy a pontoon for Kazungula, not for any other place in the country.  If that was the question, then, yes, we have plans and the coming Budget will consider the replacement of other pontoons, particularly the one in Kalabo, which is not fit to be used. We shall replace it with a new one.

I thank you, Sir. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, the Kazungula pontoon makes a lot of money which goes to sustain other pontoons in the country. Can the hon. Minister inform the House which pontoons in the country make loses.

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, apart from the Kazungula pontoon, the others are purely rendering service to the people in their areas.

I thank you, Sir.

DISTRICT COMMISSIONERS

142. Mr Ntundu asked the Vice President:

(a)how much money, in the following categories, would be spent on the District Commissioners (DCs) in the newly-created districts, from September, 2011, to December, 2012:

(i)salaries;

(ii)fuel and other allowances; and

(iii)purchasing of motor vehicles;

(b)what make of vehicles would be procured for the DCs at (a); and

(c)who the supplier of the motor vehicles was.

The Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President (Mr Kalaba): Mr Speaker, of the fifteen newly-created districts, only six have had DCs appointed. The House may further note that the six DCs were appointed at different times. During the period September, 2011, to December, 2012, the Government is expected to spend the following amounts of money:

    Category            Amount (K’ Million)

Salaries            529, 834, 770

Fuel                 158, 950, 431

Housing            105, 966, 958

Telephone    8, 100, 000

Total         802, 852, 159

Mr Speaker, the procurement process for the vehicles is yet to commence. 

Sir, the make of the vehicles to be bought for DCs in the newly-created districts will be determined by the standard Government regulations on the procurement of vehicles. 

Lastly, Sir, the supplier of vehicles is yet to be identified.

Mr Speaker, I thank you.

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, …

Mr Muntanga: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Muntanga: Mr Speaker, is the hon. Minister of Defence, Mr Mwamba, in order to quietly come late and fail to announce to the House that, this weekend, a Bemba man is marrying my daughter, and that all the Bembas and hon. Members of Parliament are invited? Is he in order, also, not to inform hon. Miles Sampa that what he said is actually happening?

Laughter

Mr Speaker: I think that the hon. Member is waiting for an appropriate occasion. You should just be patient.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member for Gwembe may continue.

Mr Ntundu: Mr Speaker, I saw a newly-appointed District Commissioner (DC) in Chirundu driving a Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) Land Rover and yet, the hon. Minister, in his answer, said that vehicles for DCs for the new districts have not been procured yet. The question is, did the hon. Minister tell the House the truth or not?

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, it would be very strange if a newly-appointed DC, in any district, were walking from one place to the next. Presumably, the DCs are temporarily using vehicles from the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication, Office of the Vice-President or elsewhere. That is just part of the normal way of arranging things. However, this answer says that no motor vehicles have been procured specifically for the DCs. Chapwa.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

I did not get the last word.

Laughter

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I said that is it.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: Order!

I see.

Laughter

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from His Honour the Vice-President how he is going to ensure that the fuel that is allocated to the DCs is not abused. I say this because the DC for Chikankata was boasting that he has been donating the fuel to other districts. 

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, these operational details are so fine that it is extremely difficult to give a meaningful answer. All I can possibly say is that I will take up the matter.

I thank you, Sir. 

DEPORTATION OF FOREIGN NATIONALS

143. Mr Chisala (Chilubi) asked the Minister of Home Affairs what the number of foreign nationals that were deported to their respective countries of origin from October, 2011 to date was, country by country.

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Kampyongo): Mr Speaker, the Immigration Department, deported a total of seventy-eight foreign nationals to their countries of origin from October, 2011 to date broken down as follows:

Nationality                Number Deported

Congo DR                    29
Pakistanis                    10
Nigerians                    8
Somalis                    6
Tanzanians                    6
Ugandans                    5
Zimbabweans                    3
Liberians                    2
British                        1
Lebanese                    1
Malawian                    1
Romanian                    1
Indian                        1
Sri-Lankan                    1
Rwandese                    1
Greek                        1
Burundese                    1
Total    78

Mr Speaker, all these deportations were done in accordance with the Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of 2010.

Mr Chisala: Mr Speaker, I would like to know what caused such a high degree of porousness of our borders to the extent that the illegal immigrants enter this country at any time.

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for that follow- up question. The porosity of our borders is a complex matter which needs to be dealt with. There are varied reasons for the porosity of our borders. For example, our border with the Democratic Republic of Congo is too vast for us to manage all the entry points, and some of the entry points are illegal. These are some of the challenges we are trying to look at and see how we can manage them.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr V. Mwale (Chipangali): Mr Speaker, it is very clear from the answer that among the people who were deported from October, 2011 to date was a Rwandese national. The only Rwandese we know of who was deported is Father Banyangandora. Is the hon. Minister confirming that the Father was deported because he was an illegal immigrant, as the hon.Minister stated in his answer?

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I should have made an exemption. Out of the seventy-eight people who were deported as illegal immigrants, one was deported for breaching our Immigration and Deportation Act.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Singo’mbe (Dundumwezi): Mr Speaker, can the hon.Minister explain why illegal immigrants are deported instead of removing them from form fifteen.

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank the hon. Member for that question. I sympathise with him because when he left the Immigration Department, this Immigration and Deportation Act No. 18 of 2010 was not in place. Therefore, he is referring to an outdated Act. This Act is very clear on who should be deported.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Namugala (Mafinga): Mr Speaker, from the answer given by the hon. Minister, the Catholic priest, …

Interruptions

Ms Namugala: … with a difficult name, … 

Interruptions

Ms Namugala: Can the hon. Minister tell us the specific offence the priest committed and assure us that he was not deported because he criticised the Patriotic Front (PF) Government.

The Minister of Home Affairs (Mr E. Lungu): Mr Speaker, the priest who was deported was Father Banyangandora and he was deported pursuant to Section 35 (2) of the Immigration and Deportation Act which reads, “Any person whose presence in Zambia is declared in writing by the Minister to be inimical to the public interest shall be a prohibited immigrant in relation to Zambia.” 

Mr Speaker, I cited that power after I got information which made me judge that the man was inimical to the interest of the country. I, therefore, deported him accordingly.

I thank you, Sir. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mbewe (Chadiza): Mr Speaker, was the Father given a chance to exculpate himself.

Mr E. Lungu: Mr Speaker, it is my discretion to exercise fairness before making any decision. 

Sir, there are so many priests or people who commit offences, but we do not deport them. This includes people from the Catholic Church. However, this particular mistake was a grave one.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Minister, the question was, was he given an opportunity to be heard before you exercised your powers?

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: Order!

Mr E. Lungu: Mr Speaker, the Act does not demand of me to exercise that option except in my discretion. In this case, I went further to ask this person to engage me so that we could find a way of resolving our differences, but he did not come back to me.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Kakoma (Zambezi West): Mr Speaker, can I learn from the hon. Minister what he describes as inimical interest to the State. Does a priest praying in church constitute an offence which is inimical to the interest of the State?

Laughter

Mr E. Lungu: Mr Speaker, I do not know whether I stated that I deported him for praying in church. I remember that I did not say anything like that, but we had information that his conduct was inimical to the State. I did not say the conduct was prayerful. How many people are praying every Sunday? There are a million plus, but they are not deported.

I thank you, Sir.{mospagebreak}

CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOLS IN MULOBEZI

144. Mr Sililo (Mulobezi) asked the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a)how many schools were constructed in Mulobezi Parliamentary Constituency from January, 2007 to June, 2012;

(b)when construction of Kamenyani and Namakombwe Basic Schools would be completed;

(c)when construction of a 1 x 3 classroom block and two teachers’ houses at Sibala Middle Basic  School would commence; and

(d)how many community schools in the constituency were converted to conventional schools in the period at (a) above.

The Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Mr Mabumba): Mr Speaker, nine schools were constructed or are being constructed between 2007 and 2012. These were; Sisibi, Kasompa, Lusibi, Mbwina, Salumbwe, Adonsi, Namakombwe, Kaywala and Namuzinga.

Sir, in addition to these, there is also Mulobezi Day Secondary School which is undergoing construction.

Mr Speaker, Kamenyani Primary School Project will be completed in 2013. However, construction of Namakombwe Primary School will be completed when sufficient funds are made available.

Sir, the Government has an on-going programme for construction of infrastructure of all institutions of learning. In the 2012 Infrastructure Development Plan, there is a provision for the construction of three staff houses at Sibala Middle Basic School. However, the construction of a 1 x 3 classroom block will also commence only when sufficient funds are made available to the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education.

Mr Speaker, there were no community schools converted to conventional schools between 2007 and 2012.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Sililo: Mr Speaker, may I know the reason there were no community schools converted into conventional schools.

The Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Dr Phiri): Mr Speaker, Hon. Sililo will recall that I said in this august House that before the 2013 Budget allocations, there was no budgetary line for converting or upgrading community schools into fully-fledged primary schools. We can only wait until the new budget line comes into force in 2013. We will remember some of the schools in your constituency for upgrading.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mufalali (Senanga): Mr Speaker, may I find out what the hon. Minister will do about Sisibi School whose buildings are so cracked after being built within one year.

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, we always get reports from the Provincial and District Education Officers under our charge. We are aware of that development, but we are awaiting for the report from the District Education Board Secretary with regard to the priority given to this school for rehabilitation.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Hamudulu: Mr Speaker, earlier, the hon. Minister indicated that the ministry intended to completely abolish community schools. May I know what will happen to community schools that it will not manage to convert into conventional schools due to limited resources?

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, for the sake of emphasis and to avoid repetition, let me state, again, that there is no intention by the Government to abolish community schools because the Government has no immediate capacity to do that. Instead, both the Party Manifesto and the ministry’s plans are to upgrade the 1,570 community schools countrywide, when resources will permit. That is the line we want to proceed with. If we had adequate resources, all the 1,570 would be upgraded to the joy of our people. However, since there are limitations in the Budget, we will see how we can crawl along until the day when there will be no community schools in place.

I thank you, Sir.

ZESCO LIMITED

145. Mr Sililo asked the hon. Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a)when the Government would build a boarding school in Mulobezi District; and

(b)how much money the project would cost.

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, you may recall that, yesterday, I told this House that the Government was constructing Mulobezi Day School which is scheduled to be completed by August, 2013.

Sir, the construction of a boarding secondary school in Mulobezi District will be considered when the day secondary school is completed and when sufficient funds will be made available to the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, since it the PF’s plan is to build boarding schools, are there any plans for Mulobezi Day School, which is being constructed, to be upgraded to a boarding school.

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, I think the assessment will be made. Like the hon. Minister said, for some of these schools, it was the previous Government which made this decision. It is true that some of the day secondary schools that are being constructed now were not supposed to be day schools. This is because some of them, for example, in Kanona where I went with the hon. Minister, the school is in the bush. So, you wonder where the pupils will be coming from since it is a day school. Therefore, we will make an assessment on Mulobezi and a decision will be made at that time.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Siamunene (Sinazongwe): Mr Speaker, I am sure that the ministry has a plan for infrastructure development. What I have heard from the hon. Minister is that this will only be done when funds are made available. Does the ministry have plans for Mulobezi  Day School?

The Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education (Dr Phiri): Mr Speaker, the ministry definitely has a plan. How else would we have done all these developmental works without a plan? 

However, let me emphasise that Mulobezi is just one of the many districts in Zambia which is demanding the development of one sort of educational infrastructure or the other. We are saying that after Mulobezi Day Secondary School is completed, we will review and get feedback from the province and the district on whether it is attainable to have a boarding institution alongside a day secondary school that I have talked about.

I thank you, Sir.

ZESCO LIMITED

146.    Mr S. Chungu (Luanshya) asked the hon. Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development whether the Government has any plans to compel the Zambia Electricity Supply Corporation (ZESCO) Limited to supply bulk power to mining companies to reduce the cost of production.

The Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr C. Zulu): Mr Speaker, ZESCO Limited already has long-term bulk supply agreements with mining companies. Therefore, there is no need for the Government to compel ZESCO to enter into bulk power supply agreements. 

I thank you, Sir.

DYSFUNCTIONAL BOREHOLES IN MUKUPA KATUNDULA’S CHIFDOM

147.Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa) asked the hon. Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development:

    (a)    when dysfunctional boreholes in Chief Mukupa Katandula’s Chiefdom, in particular, and the country, in general, will be repaired; and

    (b)    whether any boreholes will be sunk n Kaputa District in 2012.

The Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr C. Zulu): Mr Speaker, the district is currently undertaking an assessment of the broken-down boreholes in Chief Mukupa Katandula’s Chiefdom and, once assessments have been completed in November, 2012, the works will commence.

Sir, countrywide assessments are underway and, once assessments have been completed, the works will commence. In 2012, it is planned that seventy-two new boreholes will be sunk in Kaputa District under the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Programme. Of the seventy-two, sixty-three have already been sunk under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, if we look at the number of boreholes that have been sunk from previous governments, we will see that this country has many boreholes that are dysfunctional. If this country could repair these boreholes, then we may not have any need for additional ones. 

Sir, does the ministry have any expenditure lines to repair these boreholes that are lying unused in some areas of this country?

Mr C. Zulu: Mr Speaker, this programme of checking dysfunctional boreholes is a programme under the Ministry of Local Government and Housing. We will liaise with the hon. Minster of Local Government and Housing to find a way forward.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mutelo (Lukulu West): Mr Speaker, in his response, the hon. Minster mentioned that assessments are being made for the country in general. What is the timeframe for the assessment?

Mr C. Zulu: Mr Speaker, I think it is important to mention that some provinces have already been covered. The Southern, Western and Lusaka provinces are part of those that have been covered.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Antonio (Kaoma): Mr Speaker, we have learnt that the assessment in the Western Province has been completed. When will the repairs of the broken-down boreholes start? 

The Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development (Mr Mukanga): Mr Speaker, since the assessments have been completed, we are looking at the costing so that we can start the works as soon as possible. We intend to start by December this year.

I thank you, Sir.

UPGRADING OF CLINICS IN KAFULAFUTA

148.Mr Chishiba (Kafulafuta) asked the hon. Minster of Health whether the Government has any plans to upgrade the following clinics in order to service the growing population in Kafulafuta Parliamentary Constituency: 

    (a)    Gelemani;

    (b)    Kambowa;

    (c)    Mutaba; and 

    (d)    Miengwe.

The Deputy Minister of Health (Mr Mulenga): Mr Speaker, the Government has no immediate plans to upgrade the following clinics in Kafulafuta Parliamentary Constituency: 

    (a)    Gelemani;

    (b)    Kambowa;

    (c)    Mutaba; and 

    (d)    Miengwe.

Mr Speaker, in order to improve access to health services by the growing population in Kafulafuta Parliamentary Constituency, the Government, through the Ministry of Health, will construct seven health posts at the following locations in 2013:

    (a)    Katonte;

    (b)    Kansamfu;

    (c)    Ishitwe;

    (d)     Kaunga;

    (e)    Mutaba;

    (f)    Chondwe; and 

    (g)    Miengwe.

Mr Speaker, the seven health posts to be constructed in Kafulafuta Parliamentary Constituency to serve the growing population in the constituency will be part of the 650 health posts that are to be built countrywide by the Government through the line credit of US$50 million from the Government of India.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Chishiba: Mr Speaker, I would like to find out from the hon. Minster whether he is aware that Gelemani and Kambowa are clinics which are close to investors who are engaged in mining activities. What interim measures can the Government come up with to cater for the workers at these mines who may need to seek medical facilities?

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, the Government is aware of the need for health service delivery to our people in the area that the hon. Member of Parliament is referring to. This is why the Government has embarked on the construction of hospitals and health posts. The hon. Member’s area has had seven health posts built to tackle the problem of health services in his area.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Namulambe (Mpongwe): Mr Speaker, upgrading of clinics is intended to help people access professional medical health services from doctors. Since Masaiti has no hospital, is the additional construction of clinics going to help the people of Masaiti have the facilities that they would have if they had a district hospital?

Mr C. Mulenga: Mr Speaker, in my earlier response, I indicated that the Government has embarked on upgrading some of the district hospitals from second to first level hospitals. Therefore, Ndola and Kafulafuta, in particular, will benefit because some of the health centres will, then, be upgraded to first level hospitals. In this regard, the area of my colleague who has asked this question will benefit.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, what additional facilities will come with the new health centres that will be built?

Mr C. Mulenga: Mr Speaker, the design of these health posts includes a house, a borehole and a solar panel. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr C. Mulenga: Mr Speaker, this is a good package for our people.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION UNIT

149. Mr Njeulu (Sinjembela) asked the Vice-President when the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit would provide tents, as an interim measure, to the following schools whose roofs were blown-off during the 2011/2012 Rainy Season in Sinjembela Parliamentary Constituency:

(a)Liyuwayuwa;

(b)Lyamaya; and

(c)Mwanambao.

The Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office (Mr Kalaba): Mr Speaker, you may wish to know that the matter regarding the blown-off roofs at the schools in question was not brought to the attention of the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) in my office when the incidents happened. However, a report was written and submitted to the Provincial Education Office (PEO). Investigations by the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit have established the following:

Liyuwayuwa School

Mr Speaker, a 1 x 3 classroom block had the roof blown-off on 4th December, 2011. This District Education Board (DEB) has advised that iron sheets were bought using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) to facilitate the repair of the classroom block. However, this has not yet been done and children are still learning in temporary facilities.

Lyamaya School

Sir, a 1 x 2 classroom block had the roof blown-off on 12th January, 2010. This District Education Board (DEB) has advised that iron sheets were bought using the Constituency Development Fund to facilitate the repair of the classroom block. However, this has not yet been done and children are still learning in temporary facilities.

Mwanambao

Mr Speaker, a 1 x 2 classroom block was blown-off on 19th December, 2009 and the District Education Board has advised that no iron sheets have been bought to facilitate the repair of the school and children are still learning in temporary facilities. 

Sir, the House may wish to know that the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit has already positioned tents with the Shang’ombo District Commissioner to facilitate a quick response to emergencies, including blown-off roofs. I would like to appeal to the District Education Board to make a formal request to the District Disaster Management Committee (DDMC) to access the tents as an interim measure.

Mr Speaker, the Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Childhood through the District Education Board has been instructed to quicken the rehabilitation of the blown-off roofs at Liyuwayuwa and Lyamaya Schools since the iron sheets have been bought already.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Mufalali (Senanga): Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister said that the investigations for the schools whose roofs were blown-off have been carried out. May I know if the hon. Minister took time to understand what caused the roofs to blow off?  Could it be due to the environment?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I can only speculate that the schools were badly constructed in terms of length of nails or something like that. I do not think the environment in Shang’ombo is exceptional by any world standards.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Livune (Katombola): Mr Speaker, from the time these calamities occurred, how long did it take for the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit to know?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, from the answer, the duration appears to be zero because this issue was not brought to the attention of the DMMU until this question was submitted for oral answer. I think it is an unfortunate side effect of the current transition where the district headquarters has been moved to Shang’ombo. We will make sure it does not happen again.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, may I know whether the District Disaster Management Committees are empowered with some funds so that they can respond to emergencies when need arises.

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, yes, they have contingency funds which they can access immediately if the situation demands.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Bwalya (Lupososhi): Mr Speaker, the processes required to spend the money when there is a disaster or an emergency is quite tedious and, at times, defeats the purpose. May His Honour the Vice-President indicate whether there will be a revision to reduce the process so that the disasters can be attended to within the shortest possible time?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I do not agree with the premise of that question, which is that the processes are lengthy. Generally, the bureaucratic side of the processes is very short and very easily implemented.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Mulomba (Magoye): Mr Speaker, we have been told that the Disaster Management Committees are given money for calamities at district level. May I know how much is given to each district?

The Vice-President: Mr Speaker, I doubt if I said that the unit had money for disasters at district level. In fact, it is the DMMU that has the money in the form of contingency funds. This money is allocated according to the need. 

I thank you, Sir.

TRADITIONAL HEALERS

150. Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma) asked the Minister of Health whether traditional healers were permitted by law to advertise their herbs through distribution of fliers to the public in Lusaka.

Mr C. Mulenga: Mr Speaker, the House may wish to note that the Pharmaceutical Act No. 14 of 2004 provides for the regulation and control of herbal medicines which are processed and formulated into pharmaceutical dosage forms such as capsules, tablets and look like conventional medical products.  

These are products that are submitted to the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority (PRA) for registration and are subject to rules and regulations on advertising to the public, like any other medical product. In this regard, herbal medicines in their crude state, and administrated as such by traditional healers, cannot be registered under the Pharmaceutical Act. The provision and advertising are not applicable to herbal medicines in their crude state. 

Mr Speaker, however, the Public Health Act, Cap 295, does not allow any person to publish any advertisement or statement intended to promote the sale of any medicines, appliance or article for the alleviation or cure of any venereal disease, disease affecting the generative organs, sexual impotence or any complaint or infirmity arising from or relating to sexual intercourse. Any such advertisement or statement by printing in the newspaper or exhibiting it for public view in any place constitutes an offence under the Public Health Act. 

Mr Speaker, therefore, if the flyers given to the public contain information pertaining to treatment of venereal diseases, diseases affecting the generative organs or functions, sexual impotence or any complaint or infirmity arising or relating to sexual intercourse, the persons publishing, showing, exhibiting or offering those flyers to people in Lusaka or any other place in Zambia are committing an offence. Notwithstanding the above, the Public Health Act, Number 295 of 1930 is, currently, under review through a consultative process. The Ministry of Health would welcome written submissions aimed at improving the legal framework.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Hamusonde (Nangoma): Mr Speaker, I think, we are all aware that traditional healers are causing many deaths in this country. Why are these people allowed to practise and what are the qualifications for someone to be a true traditional healer?

Laughter

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, all traditional healers are registered with the Traditional Health Practitioners Association of Zambia (THPAZ). However, if they do not abide with the THPAZ rules, they are eventually de-registered by the organisation. As Ministry of Health, we are not law enforcers, but we have the PRA, which regulates the pharmaceuticals. 

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Speaker: And the qualifications?

Laughter

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, I thought I was going to abide with the one-question rule but, anyway, I will answer the second question. I do not know the qualifications because they do not register with our ministry.

I thank you, Sir.

Mr Habeenzu (Chikankata): Mr Speaker, the hon. Deputy Minister says that the advertisements running in the newspapers are illegal. Why has the Government failed to penalise the people behind them?

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, I agree with the hon. Member of Parliament for Chikankata, but as I earlier stated, the Ministry of Health is not a law enforcer. If we find, …

Mr Speaker: Order! 

Business was suspended from 16 15 hours until 16 30 hours.{mospagebreak}

 [Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, before business was suspended, I was responding to a supplementary question raised by the hon. Member of Parliament for Chikankata, and I was saying that, indeed, his concern is shared by my ministry, but not all the traditional medicines are bad. Some are quite helpful. However, the regulation of such medicines is done by the authorities that register them. The ministry can only work in conjunction with the local authorities to control the sale of traditional medicines on the streets.

I thank you, Mr Speaker.

Mr Namulambe (Mpongwe): Mr Speaker, Zambia is a Christian nation, and we believe that man was made in God’s image. However, the people who circulate these flyers even prescribe certain herbs to enlarge certain organs.

Laughter

Mr Namulambe: Since, it is against the Public Health Act, and the hon. Deputy Minister has stated that the Ministry of Health does not play the role of enforcing laws, can it not request the law enforcement officers to enforce the law so that the perpetrators stop trying to change the nature of people who are made in God’s own image?

Laughter

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, I already stated that we will work in with local authorities to control the sale of traditional drugs, especially the generative ones, which have to do with boosting men’s libido when they want to have sexual intercourse. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Laughter 

Dr Kazonga (Vubwi): Mr Speaker, are there any formal clinical trials being conducted on the use of some of these herbs so that certain developments, in as far as medicines are concerned, could be formally recognised? 

Laughter  

Mr Mulenga: Mr Speaker, there are such developments. We are aware that we have the Sondashi Formula, which is being observed and trialed. Apart from this formula, I am sure that there are others that are being considered. Like I mentioned earlier, not all the drugs are bad. Some of them are very helpful. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

POLICE POST IN BULANGILILO TOWNSHIP

151. Mr B. Mutale (Kwacha) asked the Minister of Home Affairs when the only police post in Bulangililo Township in Kwacha Parliamentary Constituency would be upgraded and extended. 

The Deputy Minister of Home Affairs (Mr Chilangwa): Mr Speaker, the Government is in the process of upgrading some police posts to police stations. Bulangililo Police Post in Kwacha Parliamentary Constituency will be considered for upgrading once funds are available. Currently, Riverside Police Station, under which Bulangililo Police Post falls, helps in terms of beefing up security operations in the township.  

Mr Speaker, I thank you.  

Mr B. Mutale: Mr Speaker is the hon. Minister aware that Bulangililo Police Post is, actually, not a police post, but a community centre that is shared by police officers and inmates?  

Mr Chilangwa: Mr Speaker, we are aware that Bulangililo Police Post started as a community policing post and, later, the police service deployed officers. We are also aware that the post is being shared by the Zambia Police and the local court. This is why we are considering upgrading it in the up-coming infrastructure development plans. 

I thank you, Sir. 

HIGH SCHOOL IN NSAMA DISTRICT

152. Mr Chansa (Chimbamilonga) asked the Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education:

(a)when the Government would construct a high school in Nsama District; and

(b)when teachers would be deployed to the following basic schools in Chimbamilonga Parliamentary Constituency:

(i)Chishela;

(ii)Kakoma;

(iii)Kampinda;

(iv)Munshi;

(v)Munwa;

(vi)Munyele;

(vii)Mwewe; and

(viii)Nsama.

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, following the strong representation from the Provincial Education Officer (PEO) in the Northern Province, the ministry made a provision for the construction of Nsama Secondary School in the 2013 Budget. 

Mr Speaker, the records from the District Educational Board Secretary (DEBS) show that, indeed, the staffing situation in the eight schools mentioned in Chimbamilonga Parliamentary Constituency is not favourable. Therefore, the ministry will consider deploying teachers to the schools in the next teacher recruitment exercise, which will be done before the end of 2012. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, is the ministry aware that Chimbamilonga, which was initially under Kaputa District, has got some ghost teachers? If so, when does the ministry intend to remove these ghost teachers from the Kaputa and Chimbamilonga lists so that we can have figures that reflect the actual staffing situation? 

Mr Mabumba: Mr Speaker, the removal of the so-called ghost workers is an on-going exercise. We appreciate the information from the hon. Member of Parliament for Chimbamilonga. We will follow-up on this. 

I thank you, Sir. 

Mr Hamusonde: Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister is aware that, in this country, we lack high schools. Is the Government, at least, considering building a high school in every constituency?

Mr Speaker: Reluctantly, I will ask the hon. Minister to answer that question. 

Dr Phiri: Mr Speaker, reluctantly, …

Laughter 

Dr Phiri: … I want to say that building a secondary school in each constituency might not be ideal. What would be ideal is putting up secondary schools all over the country so that all the children are given the benefit of secondary school education. 

I thank you, Sir. 

QUARRYING IN WESTERN PROVINCE

153. Mr Taundi (Mangango) asked the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication which quarry in the Western Province provided stones that were used to do the following works:

(a)tarring the Lusaka/Mongu Road and construction of the Kafue Hook Bridge in 1970;

(b)tarring the Limulunga/Senaga Road between 1978 and 1983;

(c)construction of the NAPSA building in Mongu;

(d)resurfacing of the Lusaka/Mongu Road in 1994;

(e)resurfacing the Mongu/Senanga Road in 2008;

(f)tarring the Senanga/Sesheke Road; and 

(g)construction of the Mongu/Kalabo Road.

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, there is no substantial information on the sources of stones used in the construction of the Kafue Hook Bridge and Lusaka/Mongu Road. We still cannot track this information from the archives. 

Aggregates for the resurfacing of the Lusaka/Mongu Road in 1994 were sourced from Kafue Quarry and Mangango Quarry in Kaoma District. Aggregates for resurfacing Mongu/Senanga Road in 2008 came from Mangango Quarry in Kaoma District, too. Aggregates for upgrading the Senanga/Sesheke Road are being sourced from Namaenya Quarry in Senanga District, Sioma Quarry in Shang’ombo District and Katima-Mulilo Quarry on Sesheke Road. 

Mr Speaker, I thank you. 

Mr Taundi: Mr Speaker, even though the hon. Minister is saying that nothing has been found in the archives for the other project, the people of Mangango are aware that the stones were collected from Mangango Quarry. Why is the Government not considering tarring the road that comes from Katunda Turn-off, passing through Mangango to Lukulu? After all, it is the source of stones used for almost all the construction done in the Western Province.

Mr Yaluma: Mr Speaker, I do not think the prerequisite for tarring a road is purely based on the availability or being the source of the aggregates. It is far beyond that. So, time will come when the road will qualify for tarring and, definitely, we are going to do that. It is in the plan.

I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

___________

MOTIONS

BUDGET 2013

(Debate resumed)

Mr Ng’onga (Kaputa): Mr Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to add my voice and that of the people of Kaputa, in seconding the Motion on the Budget Address that was presented by the hon. Minister of Finance.

Sir, allow me, from the outset, to quote from the 2013 Budget Address that was given to this House.

Professor Lungwangwa: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Mushanga: Mulefwaya ukuya!

Professor Lungwangwa: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you most sincerely for according me the opportunity to raise this extremely important point of order. 

Hon. Opposition Member: Hear, hear!

Professor Lungwangwa: Sir, as per tradition and procedure of the House, the mover of a very important Motion like the National Budget, is mandated to be in this House to follow through the debate, take note of all the pertinent issues being raised in the interest of the nation and, at an appropriate time, respond to all the pertinent issues raised by the House. We have not been informed as to who is acting Minister of Finance in this House; someone who can realistically stand in for the substantive Minister of Finance; the mover of the Motion. 

Sir, is it in order for the procedure of the House to be handled in this manner which, to a large extent, is highly unsatisfactory in terms of the tradition and procedure of the House? Is the Government in order to handle the affairs of the House in this manner? 

I seek your serious ruling, Mr Speaker.

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

Ms Kalima: Government made simple!

Mr Speaker: Hon. Member of Parliament for Kasenengwa, you can catch my eye if you want to speak.

Laughter

Mr Speaker: This subject was raised yesterday by the hon. Member of Parliament for Mumbwa. Perhaps, he may not have been as direct as the hon. Member of Parliament for Nalikwanda, but it is still the same question, same issue and it still calls for the same ruling. Perhaps, for avoidance of doubt, let me simply reiterate yesterday’s ruling.

Firstly, the practice of announcing substitutes for substantive holders in the House is limited to the Leader of Government Business in the House. That is a settled and established practice. Beyond the Leader of Government Business in the House, there is no requirement to announce the various changes of portfolio on an ad hoc or an acting appointment basis. As far as the Office of the Speaker is concerned, no such changes have been made and notified, more importantly, if they have been made, at least, not notified. So, on that premise, I still proceed on the basis that the substantive holder is still performing that portfolio as Minister of Finance.

Secondly, I suppose, more central, his absence, and also the effect of his absence on the on-going debate in relation to the Motion, it is also a settled practice that, at this juncture of the debate, traditionally, opportunity is given to the left to debate. The anxiety, as I see it, is that if the left debates, then the debate will go unheeded or unattended to. It will be in vain, so to speak. 

I did state, yesterday, that, on the right, first and foremost, we have the Leader of Government Business in the House; the Vice-President. Secondly, all Cabinet Ministers have deputies. Since yesterday, the hon. Deputy Minister of Finance has been present. I earnestly believe, and do not have the slightest doubt, that he has the ability to follow through the debate, take appropriate notes and to brief his superior. I wonder, for a moment, if, due to some exigency, the hon. Minister is not able to be present, due to, say, illness, and God forbid that that should happen, we need him to enjoy good health, would the business of the House come to a standstill?

Ms Siliya: Acting Minister!

Interruptions

Mr Speaker: The Speaker is on Floor. You have raised a point of order, you want a ruling and I am giving you the ruling.

Thirdly, yesterday, I did make a point, that, as far as I see it, there is no lacuna in terms of functioning of this House. I empathise that, obviously, the presence of the hon. Minister of Finance is quite inspiring in the House. His presence is also very re-assuring, but there is no dysfunctionality here at all, even in his absence.

I, therefore, do not see any constitutional crisis by the absence of the substantive order and I still think that this debate can be conducted. I also believe that at an appropriate juncture, the hon. Minister of Finance, together with his colleagues, not to mention the leader of Government Business in the House, will respond to the issues.

This is my ruling, and I hope I have been crystal clear. I have said before, that there are procedures within our rules. If we are dissatisfied with the ruling rendered by the Speaker, it is parliamentary democracy, ignite that process. There are rules in the Standing Orders, so that the Speaker, in that sense, can also be brought or called to order. That is democracy. The rules are there and let us respect them. This is not an imposition. You are at liberty to digress, but this is still the ruling and I think, it is as clear today, as I elaborated yesterday. That is my ruling. 

You may continue, hon. Member.

Interruptions

Hon. Opposition Members left the Assembly Chamber.

Hon. Government Member: Kanweni ubwalwa, mupepe ne fyamba. 

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, I would like to thank you for this opportunity to debate the Budget Speech that was made by the able hon. Minister of Finance to the nation.

Sir, allow me to start by quoting item number five on Page 1 of the Budget Speech:

“Sir, when we came into office just over a year ago, we promised to transform our country by adopting a more people-centred development agenda and, by so-doing, deliver more money in people’s pockets. Let me state, without reservation and ambiguity, that we are determined to deliver on this commitment in this regard. The theme for the 2013 National Budget is, ‘Delivering Inclusive Development and Social Justice’.

Mr Speaker, when we consider the 2012 and 2013 budgets, we see that, in the 2013 Budget, the hon. Minister of Finance and his team have basically walked the talk or lived according to the expectations of the people of Zambia.

Sir, when we go through this particular Budget, we will find that the PF Government has basically recognised that there are quite a number of challenges that this Government needed to put resources to.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister has further indicated these particular challenges that the country has. For example, this Government is determined to work on the creation of decent jobs, and these are not jobs you get only from the streets, these are pensionable jobs.

Sir, the Government has also expressed the will to manage the health facilities and health systems of our people in Zambia. Therefore, the hon. Minister tried to allocate resources to these particular areas so that the people of Zambia can see that this Budget is well meant.

Mr Speaker, I would like to support this Budget by focusing on the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. It is only in this Budget that I see money allocated to the Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ).

Sir, previously, the issue of the recapitalisation of the NCZ came up year in and year out, but all this was falling on deaf ears. It is only in the PF Government that we have seen such a huge amount of money allocated to the NCZ. All of us believe that the K250 billion that has been allocated to the NCZ, if given to the institution at the beginning of the year, will enable it start functioning at full capacity. What this means is that jobs will be created.

Mr Speaker, assuming that the NCZ will produce D Compound fertiliser for Zambia and also probably produce enough for the region, this will not only create employment for people in Kafue District, but the country as a whole. This will also entail that we will not need to import D Compound fertiliser. Instead, we will export to other countries and earn the country foreign exchange.

Sir, this particular institution also has the capacity to produce ammonium nitrate, which is used as a top dressing fertiliser in this country’s agriculture practices. If that comes on stream, we will not need to import urea, which is 46 per cent nitrogen, whereas the ammonium nitrate has lower nitrogen content. That is sufficient to be used as top dressing fertiliser in most areas.

Mr Speaker, the move to recapitalise NCZ by the PF Government is a step in the right direction, and we can only say bravo to the Government. I would, therefore, like to encourage the hon. Minister of Finance and my colleagues who have the responsibility of disbursing funds to ensure that this money is not released piecemeal so that the recapitalisation begins to bear fruits.

Sir, I would also like to talk about the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and its responsibility of buying the strategic food reserve for this country. Again, we see an able Government that has managed to address this issue.

Sir, we know that the previous governments are responsible for the current problems in the maize marketing system and strategic food reserves in the country, but it is pleasing to see that the PF Government is determined to solve this problem and ensure that the country attains food security.

Mr Speaker, I think most of our colleagues who doubted the possibility of the PF running this country, also thought the PF Government would not manage to sustain this country’s food security. What we have seen, from 2012, and we will see in 2013, is that this will be sustained because this Government is focused on ensuring that resources are provided to the FRA so that the agency is able to buy food for the strategic reserves.

However, through you, Sir, I would like to inform this House that I will not hesitate to ensure that this Government makes bold decisions in as far as food security is concerned. 

Mr Speaker, food in this country is politics and politics is food. It is, therefore, important for our Government to make bold decisions that will ensure that it releases the maize purchasing to the private sector so that much of the grain can be bought by the private sector. That way, the Government can only come in to buy maize as the last resort.

Mr Speaker, the K300 billion that has been allocated for maize purchasing is sufficient to ensure that we buy and stock up enough food for our strategic reserves. Therefore, the private sector should be allowed to buy stocks for immediate consumption. The Government does not need to borrow money for buying maize if the private sector gets involved in the exercise. In fact, the K1.9 trillion that has been allocated to the agriculture sector entails that it has received an increment from the previous allocation. We have allocated sufficient money to the agricultural core activities, but we are extremely silent on …

Mr Kampyongo: On a point of order, Sir.

Mr Speaker: A point of order is raised.

Mr Kampyongo: Mr Speaker, I would like to apologise to the hon. Member on the Floor for disturbing him. However, I am a very concerned hon. Member of Parliament. Is it in order for the Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD) and United Party for National Development (UPND) hon. Members of Parliament, who are elected by the people of Zambia to come and represent them here at the Government’s cost, to continue receiving allowances, but not sitting here to do the business they are elected to do? Are we going to continue with this trend? I need your serious ruling.

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker: As far as the Business of the House is concerned, we do have a quorum and are justified to continue sitting and transacting business in the manner that we are doing. I am not very sure about their reasons and I can only surmise that the Opposition’s walkout may be related to the ruling that I have just rendered. That is the position, as the Chair understands it. There is no dysfunction and, therefore, one would assume that once a ruling is made, that would be the cause for the walkout. That should be respected.

Coming to your question directly, obviously I expect all hon. Members of Parliament, both on my left and right, to attend to the Business of the House. That is why, in the first place, every elected hon. Member of Parliament is here in this House. I do not think that it is appropriate for all hon. Members of Parliament to abdicate that function and responsibility. That is my position.

The hon. Member for Kaputa may continue.

Mr Ng’onga: Mr Speaker, before the point of order was raised, I was basically talking about the budgetary allocation to agriculture and I was saying that the amount to this sector is sufficient. However, I would have loved to have actually seen more money and allocation to the livestock sector emphasised. The amount of K1.9 trillion for the whole sector is definitely more than what was allocated in the previous Budget and it will cater for the key activities and departments in agriculture. However, what has been given to the livestock sector may not be sufficient. 

Mr Speaker, the K500 billion allocated for the Farmer Input Support Programmes (FISP) will go a long way and, especially when the e-voucher system has actually been introduced. This system will enable local entrepreneurs to enter the supply chain. I would just hope and pray that this money will be released early next year. If that is done, the local Zambian suppliers will be able to take inputs to markets in far-flung areas on time. 

Further, it is only in this particular Budget where the Government has allocated money for crop diversification. In the previous regime, all we saw was people talking about growing other crops other than maize, but there was no financial capacity given to farmers to do this. As a result, they ended up growing maize only. However, farmers will now be able to grow other crops, such as sunflower, soya beans, sorghum and rice. This gives a farmer more leeway to use the FISP packages to diversify.  

Mr Speaker, before I wind-up, let me state that it is only in this Budget where one sees the hon. Minister of Finance fulfilling what the Patriotic Front (PF) Government stands for; more money in people’s pockets and lower taxes. There are many incentives that are indicated in the Budget for various sectors of our economy, unless somebody was not able to go through it to notice this. 

Mr Speaker, therefore, I would only urge our people to go through this Budget that was presented by our hon. Minister and apply themselves to specific areas where they can get the benefits that are being provided by the Government and have more money in their pockets. There are a lot of areas where the Government has foregone revenue in terms of duty. This money is meant to go into people’s pockets.

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

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chungu (Luanshya): Mr Speaker, in supporting the Budget that was presented to this House on Friday last week, I have one issue that I would want to put across to this august House. This is on the carbonated drinks whose excise duty has been removed. I believe the carbonated drinks that are sold in this country are in the category of luxuries. However, we have mothers who are HIV positive and 90 per cent of our children that are born from these mothers are HIV negative. On the other hand, some babies usually contract the virus through breastfeeding from mothers who are HIV positive. 

Sir, I feel that the breastfeeding milk substitute and nutritional food for children should be zero-rated so that the lives of children can be saved because mothers who have such children do not have the capacity to buy the food formula and milk. I would ask for the support of this House to zero-rate the food formula and milk for the babies that are born from the mothers who are HIV positive.

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

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga (Bwacha): Thank you, Mr Speaker, for according me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the 2013 Budget Speech presented by the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning and Acting President of Zambia on Friday, 12th October, 2012.

Mr Speaker, the Budget has brought hope to many Zambians from different backgrounds. If I compare the 2013 Budget of K32.2 trillion with the 2012 Budget of K27 trillion, the 2013 Budget has the ability not only to create more jobs for the people of Zambia, but also put more money in people’s pockets.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!{mospagebreak}

Mr Mushanga: I believe the 2013 Budget will also assist in poverty reduction and general growth in the various sectors of our economy. This is the start of the good things to come and transform people’s lives in Zambia. 

Mr Speaker, emphasis was made on infrastructure development, particularly energy, which is key in addressing the power problem this country has been facing for a long time. An amount of K1.4 trillion has been made available to the energy sector in the 2013 Budget. The Zambia Electricity Supply Company (ZESCO) Limited has been allocated K984.3 billion for power generation, transmission and distribution. The Government has also removed customs duty on powered engines, gas stoves and electrical capacitors in view of the challenges being faced in the supply of electrical power. 

Mr Speaker, allow me to put on record on the Floor of the House today that the 2013 Budget is development-oriented and poor people-centred. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, I have been reading newspapers and following the statements that have been made by the stakeholders present in Zambia. Since the 2013 Budget was presented to this House on Friday, 12th October, 2012, stakeholders have made positive comments on this Budget. For example, the African Development Bank (ADB) announced that it will support the Government by making sure that the 2013 Budget is fully implemented. It will also sign a memorandum of understanding with the various stakeholders involved in the development of the Itezhi-tezhi Hydro-power Project.  Further, the ADB notes that the 2013 Budget is people-centred. This Budget will benefit the common people in Makululu and Kawama townships in Bwacha Constituency and other places in Zambia. The stakeholders were not going to make such comments if the Budget was not poor people-centred. 

Mr Speaker, the 2013 Budget has focussed on social sectors such as health, education and local Government. These sectors make resources available to the needy communities. It is unfortunate that some of the elected representatives of the people are not here this afternoon. 

Mr Speaker, the health sector has an increment of 40 per cent in this year’s Budget compared with the 2012 Budget. This will help in bringing quality health services to the people, especially those in the rural areas. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, the money allocated to the education sector will help in building new institutions, teachers’ houses and renovating the already existing infrastructure. The House is aware that most of the education infrastructure in Zambia was constructed in the 1940s and 1960s. It has not been renovated for a long time and the 2013 Budget brings hope not only to the people, but also to the education sector.

Mr Speaker, under the education sector, the hon. Minister of Finance proposed a total of K5.6 trillion for the purpose of providing quality education and skills training to the youth. The K393.3 billion allocated for the development of secondary schools infrastructure across the country will change most of the schools in constituencies. As if that were not enough, an amount of K475.1 billion has been allocated for operation and expansion of infrastructure in colleges, trades training institutes and universities. This is the beginning of a better place for all, especially the poor Zambian.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Sir, through the 2013 Budget, four primary schools in my constituency will be constructed for the first time in the history of Zambia. A few days from today, Zambia will celebrate 48 years of Independence. A secondary school will also be constructed in Makululu Township. The people of Makululu will see a secondary school for the first time. I thank the Government of the Republic of Zambia for this allocation because education is key to development. Once the people of Makululu Township are educated, that will be the beginning of development for the people in this area and the country as a whole. 

The Constituency Development Fund (CDF) in the 2013 Budget will also be used to complete some of the community projects being implemented in the various constituencies in this country.  

Mr Speaker, in conclusion, allow me to quote from page 13 of the Budget speech:

“Mr Speaker, a total of K892.2 billion has been allocated for social protection programmes. Of this amount, K161.9 billion has been provided for the Public Service Pension Fund.”

 Mr Speaker, this is the first time that the Executive or the Government of the Republic of Zambia has put aside money for pensioners. This is happening for the first time in this country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: I know and am very confident that, once this money is made available to the pensioners, it will help in changing their lives as they have been suffering for a long time. That way, we will be putting more money in our people’s pockets, particularly those who have served this nation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: In addition, K831 billion has been provided for various social safety nets, which include the Public Welfare Assistance Scheme and the Social Cash Transfer (SCT).

Mr Speaker, I was privileged to be in the entourage of the hon. Deputy Minister of Community Development and Social Services, Mr Kazunga. We travelled to the Southern Province where this programme is being implemented. 

Mr Speaker, it is very touching to see that the SCT programme, which has been introduced by the Government of the Republic of Zambia, through the Ministry of Community Development and Social Services, is actually transforming people’s lives. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, for most of us who work, K60, 000 is money we use on talk time. If not for talk time, it can only buy one or two things of our interest. However, what I saw in Southern Province is that K60, 000 is actually making a difference in people’s lives. I am, therefore, very happy that the Government, through the hon. Minister of Finance, has realised the importance of allocating a little money towards this project. 

Sir, previously, the biggest challenge was that 95 per cent of the project money was coming from different stakeholders and the fear was that if these stakeholders withheld their funding, it would be the end of project. However, in the 2013 Budget, there is an allocation towards the programme. I would like to invite the hon. Minister of Finance to extend this project to other provinces because I saw how lives are being transformed.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, K642.6 billion has been allocated to railway infrastructure. This money is coming to Kabwe and I am very confident that, when that happens, it will contribute to changing of the lives of the people in Kabwe who have been suffering for a long time.

Mr Speaker, as if that is not enough, we will be launching road works in Kabwe tomorrow. What we have in Kabwe are not potholes, but buffer holes. I, in fact, describe them as rivers. However, for the first time, and in the first year of the PF Government, the hon. Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication, the Road Development Agency (RDA), other stakeholders as well as the two hon. Members of Parliament, I and Hon. Kapyanga, will be in Kabwe to witness the launch of this project.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Ng’onga: Working Government!

Mr Mwila: Bwekeshapo!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, this is a working Government. This is the leadership that the people of Zambia voted for and have always wanted.

Mr Speaker, as I conclude, allow me, again, to quote from the Budget speech:

“In addition to the funds allocated to the trades training institutes for skills training, I have allocated an additional K50 billion to empower unemployed and vulnerable youths with vocational skills.”

Mr Speaker, if Zambians can recall, the majority of voters in last year’s tripartite elections were young people. So, we can see this serious and committed Government wanting to uplift the living standards of the young people by looking into their aspirations. Here is yet another K50 billion that has been made available to the young people so that they can be trained in various vocational skills. This is why I said, at the beginning, that this is a people-centred Budget.

Mr Speaker, this is an excellent Budget. That is why the Opposition, in particular the MMD and the UPND hon. Members of Parliament, have nothing to contribute. We saw this even yesterday when we started to debate this Motion. They had nothing to debate.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Even this afternoon, they have nothing to debate, except one hon. Member of Parliament, Mr Hamusonde …

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: … and, on the other side, one hon. Member of Parliament from the MMD, Mr Chingimbu. This is an indication that this is a people-centred Budget and they have nothing to debate, hence, they are storming out every time we start to debate the Budget Motion.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Mushanga: Mr Speaker, with these few words, I beg to support the Budget for 2013 and beg to move.

Thank you, Sir.

Mr Kampyongo: Ema MP aya!

Mr Chishimba (Kamfinsa): Mr Speaker, I thank you for allowing me to debate the Motion on the 2013 Budget Address by the hon. Minister of Finance, Hon. Alexander Bwalya Chikwanda, MP, whose theme is, “Delivering Inclusive Development and Social Justice.” 

Mr Speaker, this Budget presentation was made at a time when the Zambian people wanted to see what this Government had in store for them.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, this Budget needs proper, efficient, effective and orderly management.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, I applaud the hon. Minister for all the strategies and measures which he has put to seal the loopholes in revenue collection in contrast with the abuse of the system that we saw in the previous administration. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, maybe, the reason my colleagues in the Opposition walked out of the Chamber is that they knew I would come and hammer on their governance record.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: Had they been serious with the management of resources of this country, Kitwe District and my constituency, Kamfinsa, in particular, would have had resources to work on the water reticulation system on time.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: However, due to misapplication, mismanagement, misappropriation and misuse of funds by the previous administration, Kitwe District and Kamfinsa Constituency, in particular, had a setback in water reticulation and infrastructure.

Mr Speaker, let me quote on pages I and 3 of the Budget Speech by the hon. Minister of Finance

“The journey will certainly not be easy. When we came into office, just over a year, we promised to transform our country by adopting a more people-centred development.” 

Mr Speaker, these are some of the words that my able President, His Excellency, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, echoed when he opened the Second Session of the Eleventh National Assembly.

Mr Speaker, the hon. Minister further stated, and I quote:

“Let me state, without reservation and ambiguity, that we are determined to deliver on this commitment.” 

He further mentioned, and I quote: 

“The Government fully appreciates the myriad needs of our people. They require decent work that provides sufficient income to support and feed their families. They require a well-staffed and adequately-equipped health care and education system, and training opportunities that will empower the youths with skills needed for the 21st century. They need improved access to clean water and good sanitation.”

Mr Speaker, relating these statements to Kitwe, K179 billion has been allocated to the water utility company, that is, Nkana Water and Sewerage Company (NWSC) in Kitwe in the 2013 Budget.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Hon. Government Member: E buteko ubu.

Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, you can see that this Government really means well to the people of Kitwe district and Kanfinsa Constituency, in particular, who used to experience erratic water supply. I can assure the people of Kitwe that we will push the NWSC management to rise to the occasion because the Government of His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, through the hon. Minister of Finance, Mr Alexander Chikwanda, saw it fit to allocate this huge sum of money to the company. This entails that Kanfinsa, Busakile, Nkana, Kwacha and Chimwemwe constituencies will have adequate water supply throughout the day and people will appreciate that this is a working Government.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Speaker, the Government felt that this project should begin because of the growing population in Kitwe District. The infrastructure which used to cater for the small population needed to be worked on. When the Government realised this, it decided to come to the aid of the people of the district. Hon. Mwila will be one of the beneficiaries because he has built his house in my constituency.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, allow me to read from page 6 of the Budget speech:

“... the health sector will be on improving service delivery, particularly in rural areas. … provision of essential drugs and medical equipment and other supplies. We will embark on an ambitious programme of upgrading all hospitals, starting with the three referral hospitals, the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and the central hospitals in Ndola and Kitwe.’

Mr Speaker, Kitwe Central Hospital will benefit from the K204 billion that the Government has allocated for the upgrading of the UTH and the two central hospitals. This entails that the people of Kitwe will benefit from quality health care. 

Sir, Ndeke Mini Hospital will also be upgraded to a second-level hospital and this will help decongest Kitwe Central Hospital. You can see the importance that the PF Government has placed on providing quality health care to people in the country.

Mr Speaker, the Government values the importance of infrastructure development, the road network, in particular. The 2013 Budget has allocated over K20 billion towards the improvement of the road network in Kitwe district.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, this never happened during the previous Government. We have been experiencing traffic congestion on the Ndola Dual-Carriage Way because of the growing number of vehicles in Kitwe district. This huge allocation to Kitwe, Nkana and my constituency will give us a road that will link Kwacha East to Kanfinsa Constituency, which will filter traffic to the Ndola Dual-Carriage Way. My Government realises that a good road network is important to the country. 

Mr Speaker, I also want to echo the sentiments which my colleagues expressed on the agricultural sector. They said that the Government should increase the allocation to this sector. This is why our able hon. Minister of Agriculture and Livestock is on a tour of duty to see how other countries have invested in the sector.

Mr Speaker, I want to share with my fellow hon. Members of Parliament that we are debating a national Budget. If we deny the people of Zambia resources, we are not only punishing the PF Government, but also our relatives. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, I want to implore my colleagues on your left to be focused.

Mr Ng’onga: In absentia!

Mr Chishimba: The people out there are listening and they have started seeing which hon. Member of Parliament or politician is serious about serving this nation.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: Sir, my Government attaches great importance to resource allocation. This will be seen when we start unrolling the programmes which have been presented in the 2013 Budget. My colleagues in the Opposition will have nothing to debate. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: They have already seen indications of this from the earliest possible time. I urge them to watch what this Government of His Excellency the President, Mr Michael Chilufya Sata, will do in the next two to three years.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, I am telling you …

Ms Kapata: Leader of paradise!

Laughter

Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, I personally believe in His Excellency Mr Michael Chilufya Sata. I urge them to watch his stance.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: They will have nothing to debate. The man means well for this country.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: We did not come into power by fluke. We believed in the man. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: We are the people who have seen his style of leadership and the way he articulates his programmes. This is where we are actually getting our strength and guidance from.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: We are going to deliver. 

Mr Speaker, you have seen that there is wisdom in the 2013 Budget. The people of Kitwe are already benefitting from voting for the PF into office. 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Interruptions

Mr Chishimba: Mr Speaker, let my colleagues on your left watch my President.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

Mr Chishimba: Otherwise, they will have nothing to criticise.

With these few words …

Hon. Government Members: Aah! Awe, iwe!

Mr Chishimba: I thank you, Sir.

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

___________

ADJOURNMENT

The Vice-President (Dr Scott): Mr Speaker, I beg to move that this House do now adjourn.

Question put and agreed to.

__________

The House adjourned at 1749 hours until 1430 hours on Thursday, 18th October, 2012.

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