Friday, 17^th September, 2021

 

The House met at 0900 hours

 

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

NATIONAL ANTHEM

 

PRAYER

______

 

ANNOUNCEMENT BY MADAM SPEAKER

 

COMPOSITION OF REMAINING STANDING COMMITTEES

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, an announcement of the composition of remaining Standing Committees will be made on Tuesday, 21^st September, 2021.

 

I thank you.

_______

 

BUSINESS OF THE HOUSE

 

The Vice-President (Mrs Nalumango): Madam Speaker, I rise to give the House some idea of the business it will consider next week.

 

Madam Speaker, on Tuesday, 21^st September, 2021, the Business of the House will commence with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. This will be followed by the presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Then, the House will resume debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.

 

Madam Speaker, on Wednesday, 22^nd September, 2021, the Business of the House will start with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. Then, the House will consider Private Members’ Motions, if there will be any. This will be followed by the presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will continue with the debate on the Motion of Thanks.

 

Madam Speaker, on Thursday, 23^rd September, 2021, the Business of the House will commence with Questions for Oral Answer, if there will any. This will be followed by the presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. The House will, then, continue to debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.

 

Madam Speaker, on Friday, 24^th September, 2021, the House will begin with Her Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time. This will be followed by Questions for Oral Answer, if there will be any. Then, the House will deal with the presentation of Government Bills, if there will be any. Thereafter, the House will continue to debate the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

_______

 

THE VICE-PRESIDENT’S QUESTION TIME

 

Mrs Sabao (Chikankata): Madam Speaker, there are conflicting stories in the public domain about the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government’s suspension of the debt swap, which was introduced before the elections by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government. I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President what the UPND Government’s position is on the debt swap scheme for civil servants.

 

The Vice-President (Mrs Nalumango): Madam Speaker, in response to the question asked by the hon. Member for Chikankata on whether the United Party for National Development (UPND) Government has stopped or suspended the programme of debt swap for civil servants that was introduced by the Patriotic Front (PF) Government, I wish to state that it is true that the programme has been suspended. In fact, this programme came into the reign of our colleagues in the PF very late and it seemed like it was not even going to work. If we followed what happened, the Bankers’ Association of Zambia itself did not seem to be ready for it. We even wonder whether anything was done at all.

 

Madam Speaker, in July 2021, this programme for the civil servants was not even done. It is a very complicated issue and we, as a Government, have suspended the programme so that we can review it. It is an issue of contract, where civil servants who were affected contracted debt with institutions, particularly the banking institutions. The agreement with civil servants needed a third party. So, this agreement needed to have three stakeholders and it seemed it was not well-articulated or done for all the concerned parties to understand. Therefore, we have suspended the programme so that we can review it to see whether it is possible to go ahead with it and if it can be well-structured.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Kamondo (Mufumbwe): Madam Speaker, one of the campaign promises that His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, made was that the Kwacha would actually start appreciating immediately the people of Zambia voted for him and the United Party for National Development (UPND). It is a well-known fact that this time around, the Kwacha has appreciated from K22 to K16.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order! Can we allow the question to be asked.

 

Mr Kamondo: Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President when the people of Mufumbwe or the Zambians at large will benefit in terms of price reduction because we have seen that the Kwacha has appreciated?

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, it is true that when the current President of the Republic of Zambia was the President of the Opposition, then, the UPND, he had made a pronouncement that as soon as he was sworn in, the Kwacha would appreciate against the United States (US) Dollar, and as the hon. Member has stated, this has become a fact. We have seen the appreciation of the Kwacha and I will not shy away from saying that there were other factors that led to this other than my President being sworn in. However, it is true that immediately he was sworn in, the Kwacha appreciated even more.

 

Madam Speaker, the swearing in of the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, or the winning of the UPND brought about confidence in the investors and the international community. A President with a very clear understanding of the economy and how to tackle our economy was sent to the international community, the national investors, that is, Zambians, and international investors, leading to the appreciation of the Kwacha.

 

Madam Speaker, let me come to the question asked by the hon. Member on when the people of Zambia will enjoy the benefits of the appreciation of the Kwacha. The hon. Member may wish to know that the appreciation of the Kwacha is one thing and benefitting from it is another. For example, it does not take care of the things that were imported into the country at a very high US Dollar cost. Therefore, what will happen is that, gradually, as the stock that was imported at a high cost finishes and new imports start coming in, definitely, the people of Zambia will benefit because the cost of goods and services will start going down. We need to exercise a little patience. The process has begun and sooner rather than later, the Zambians will appreciate the coming in of our President and the entire UPND because of what they stand for. So, I would like to assure the hon. Member for Mufumbwe that the benefits of the appreciation of the Kwacha will soon be felt.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mundubile (Mporokoso): Madam Speaker, the whole world was informed, through the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema’s interview with the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), that our coffers are empty.

 

Madam Speaker, could Her Honour the Vice-President explain to the nation and the world, through this House, where the Government has suddenly found money to finance travel costs for the President to travel to the United States of America (USA) for the United Nations (UN) General Assembly even when there is an option to attend virtually.

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, yes, it is true that –

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Can we allow Her Honour the Vice- President to answer the question that has been put by the Leader of the Opposition.

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, our President made that statement, and it is a statement of fact. We have to understand it. The hon. Member who has asked the question has been a minister before, at least, I know he was Provincial Minister in my province. When you talk of the Treasury being empty, it means it does not have the capacity to do everything that is needed to be done.

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, we may have a little money in the Treasury –

 

Hon. PF Members: So, you have the money?

 

The Vice-President: Listen. I should –

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members, running commentaries are not allowed. Allow Her Honour the Vice-President to answer the question.

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, it is a fact that the Treasury may have some reserves, but you cannot use those for expenditure. It is important to understand that if you are highly indebted compared to what you have, then, you have nothing. If what you need is higher than what you have, you have nothing. It is simple mathematics. As I speak to my hon. Colleague, I am using language that I, as someone who is not an economist, and every Zambian can understand.

 

Madam Speaker, one cannot talk about the President travelling in view of the issue of empty coffers. At such a moment, you will need to do everything that you can to get to the United Nations (UN) General Assembly because it is during these travels that you start realising what will bring in money. When the President goes for the UN Assembly, he will surely meet the investors and we need them if we have to grow the economy. He is going to meet with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to help us, as we think of restructuring the economy. We need the IMF to give confidence and comfort to the people – I do not want to use unparliamentary language – from whom we have borrowed. We hope we will be successful in having a relationship with the IMF, which our colleagues also tried to establish. This will give comfort to the people from whom we borrowed, our creditors. When that is done, it becomes easy for us to restructure our debt. It does not matter how much you have, as a nation, you have to prioritise. Therefore, the President’s travel to the United States of America (USA) is not an indication that we have money. It simply must be done.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mulunda (Siavonga): Madam Speaker, the Government, through the Cabinet Office, issued a circular suspending employment and promotions in the Civil Service. What led the Government to make that decision?

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, the House is aware that we have dissolved some ministries, merged others, and aligned other ministries. This issue was tackled by this House and that has a lot of implications. In fact, I remember that an hon. Member asked when the implementation was going to begin.

 

Madam, the implementation begins with the alignment of workers. Therefore, if we are going to align workers, the Government cannot continue employing before it even knows the actual establishment in the new subjects under different ministries or, indeed, in the new ministries. It cannot start employing or promoting because the structure must be very clear and the establishment must be known. Thereafter, the Government can think of who should be promoted into what position, who should be employed, and what qualification is required for somebody to be director in the Ministry of Green Economy and Environment, for example, and under which department. Therefore, the suspension is just as it is. It is suspension and not abolishment. So, when everything is put in place and gazetted to indicate what is going on then, definitely, the issue of employing and promotions will, once again, resume.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, whilst I appreciate the response given by Her Honour the Vice-President regarding the debt swap, I want to further pose a follow up question.

 

Madam Speaker, debt swap is just as it is said. Some civil servants who were owed money by the Government, through settling allowances and leave days, went on to contract extra debt from financial institutions such as Bayport and Madison Finance. In a quest for the Government to cushion them, it decided that the debt which it owed civil servants, through allowances, could be used to offset the extra debt the civil servants contracted form the named financial institutions, which were hammering them with high interest rates. Further, unions such as the Civil Servants and Allied Workers Union of Zambia, were engaged with protracted engagements in terms of negotiations for the past three years although it would seem that the implementation was done later.

 

Madam Speaker, is the interest of this Government to protect the financial institutions that were charging our civil servants high interest rates because we know that some hon. Members of this Government have interest in some of these institutions –

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

May the hon. Members ask a question?

 

Mr Kampyongo: Is it in order to save these over burdened civil servants so that they can have some breathing space? I want to hear Her Honour the Vice-President come out clearly, with the information I have given.

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, maybe, let me start answering the hon. Member for Shiwang’andu and former hon. Minister of Home Affairs’ question from the end. I will paraphrase the question to whether we are not interested in the welfare of the civil servants. I want to state that we are extremely interested and we care for them. However, the debt swap has many angles to it that if we look at it seriously, we may find that the former Government was culpable of failing the workers.

 

Madam Speaker, we want to fully understand what the debt swap was. Like the hon. Member said, some of the debt swap was negotiated for three years. Some of the debt the civil servants are seemingly burdened with is due to the failure of the same Government, which wanted to pretend to care for them, to remit deductions.

 

Madam, we are also Zambians and live here. This debt was contracted because of the Government’s failure to remit that which was deducted from the workers. The Government was the third party in this matter and it was supposed remit what was deducted from the workers. The hon. Member may agree with me that in many cases, it may not be 100 per cent so, but there were those who found themselves with high interest rates accumulated over time because of the failure by the Government to remit deductions.

 

Madam, why then should the worker even be in the picture when the indebtedness is due to them already? So, this swap was cosmetic in the sense that the Government wanted to make it look like …

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear! Tell them!

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

The Vice-President: … the workers were 100 per cent in debt.  The Government should have hacked off the actual indebtedness to it by agreeing that the accumulated interest by the workers was because it had failed them. However, we will not go that way. We have said we will look at the entire programme and see how workable it is. In talking to the two, it was established that the real contract was between the financial institutions and the workers. The Government was just in the middle to deduct on behalf of the worker and remit to the particular institutions, which includes micro financing institutions.

 

Madam Speaker, therefore, we want to have a very serious revisit of this before we can say it continues. Being Zambians, we are aware that very little was done in July 2021 to carry out this programme. This is the reason we are saying that there was some political inclination in making the decision.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.           

 

Mr Mwila (Mufulira): Madam Speaker, there have been incidents in some parts of the country where municipalities have had confrontations with street vendors and mobile money booth operators. What is the position of the Government regarding the street vendors and those operating mobile money booths?    

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, on running battles between the local authorities and vendors, I know that this has been going on for some time. At the moment, we have withdrawn cadres because they are also part of – I hope I am allowed to use the word − ‘mayhem’ in the markets. We are handling the vendors. Let me say that I will come back to give a very straightforward position of my Government on how we are handling the issue of vendors. Everybody is a vendor, including the one who has an Airtel or MTN booth. The issue of vending also has to do with the public. When the public chooses not to buy from designated places, the seller, then, goes where the public is able to buy. So, a statement on sensitising the public to buy from designated places will be issued.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, that is how we will discourage the vendors because they also want to sell their commodities and want to eat. If nobody goes to the markets, this creates a problem. So, the problem could be us, the public, who buy. However, like I said, a statement to explain the policy on vending will be issued at the right time.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Lusambo (Kabushi): Madam Speaker, we are aware that the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, is scheduled to travel to the United States of America (USA). Due to the information which was in the media, we are also aware that he is scheduled to meet the President of the USA. It is a notorious fact that the President of the USA, on his table, is promoting gay rights. It is in the public domain that the President of the USA threatened financial and visa issuance to African countries that will not support gay rights.

 

Madam Speaker, the then President of Zambia, His Excellency, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, …

 

Hon. UPND Members: Question!

 

Mr Lusambo: … was very clear on the issue of gay rights.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Jamba: Iwe, bako serious!

 

Mr Lusambo: I am here for very serious business.

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

 

May you ask your question.

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, what is the Government’s position on the issue of gay rights?

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I will not take long to respond to the hon. Member. To start with, when it comes to the Government’s position, we respond to official statements that we have made. Social media can say what it wants. That is not our position. We can only spend time on something that is a fact. I will not come here and start discussing the American President’s statement.

 

Mr Mukosa: Especially, gay rights.

 

The Vice-President: I am speaking, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

A question was asked. So, can we allow Her Honour the Vice-President to answer it.

 

The Vice-President: Thank you, Madam Speaker, for your protection.

 

Madam Speaker, how other nations handle issues of rights is not exactly how we do it. It is very sad because hon. Members of this august House know that we are members of the international community. Within the international community, there is sovereignty of each country. Each country has its own laws, rules, regulations, traditions and culture.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: However, some hon. Members think that just because we are friends with one particular nation or we are members of an organisation, then, we pick everything. Are we not members of the Southern African Development Community (SADC)? I will not continue responding because the hon. Member who asked the question understands exactly what I mean. Nations in SADC have different positions on gay rights. Different members of the United Nations (UN) have different positions on gay rights, and so does the African Union (AU). We are a Christian nation and that remains in the books.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, if this Government at any one time wants to promote gay rights, you will be the first to know, but we are a Christian nation.

 

Mr Lusambo: Hear, hear! Ema Vice-President aya!

 

The Vice-President: We will not –

 

Madam Speaker: The hon. Member, who asked the question, please, running commentaries are not allowed.

 

Continue, your Honour the Vice-President.

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, we will continue being who we are. However, this will neither stop us from meeting anybody with a different position nor does it stop anybody from advising us. Advice is given to an individual, a nation or people but the people who are advised make the decision.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Simushi (Sikongo): Madam Speaker, I would like to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President the Government’s position on ensuring that projects that were abandoned in Sikongo by the previous heartless Patriotic Front (PF) Government are completed, given the importance of these projects to the people of Sikongo Constituency. The projects include the Kalabo/Sikongo Road, the thirty-two houses and the two administration blocks.

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, any government has a duty to continue with any progressive idea or programme that was begun by a previous government. Believing in the responsibility that infrastructure development programmes that were abandoned or incomplete are looked into, that is why we have in place the Ministry of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development. We will look at all these things because they were meant for our people. After the infrastructure is assessed, it will be looked into depending on the priorities, as we set them. This will only be done according to our resource envelope or Budget.

 

Madam, at the end of it all, we intend to continue such infrastructure programmes. I may not give the timeline, but it will have to be looked into. The issue of infrastructure in the hon. Member’s constituency is not an island, but a national issue.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Chitotela (Pambashe): Madam Speaker, I am a bearer of a message from the people of Kaputa, who sent me to find out from Her Honour the Vice-President when the floor price of maize will be increased to K250 per bag, as was promised during campaigns that this would be the case beginning 1^st September, 2021.

 

Madam Speaker: Order! Hon. Member, time is up, but you can finish the question.

 

Mr Chitotela: There is a Standing Order that permits me to continue as long as you give me permission to do so.

 

Madam Speaker, the people of Matero also asked me to ask Her Honour the Vice-President a question. There was a promise made that the United Party for National Development (UPND) would reduce the price of a bag of mealie meal to K50 beginning 1^st September or during the first 200 days of being elected into office. Bearing in mind that today is 17^th September, 2021, when will the Government increase the price of maize to K250, as promised, and reduce a bag of mealie meal to K50?

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, I honestly do not remember the promise of increasing the floor price of maize.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Laughter

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, that promise may have been made probably by somebody who the hon. Member met privately.

 

Laughter

 

The Vice-President: Madam Speaker, an increase in the price of any commodity is not abracadabra. An increase or decrease in the price of any commodity has to start from the beginning. How is maize produced? The entire agriculture policy has to be looked at to understand how we intend to reduce the cost. It starts right from the manufacturing of inputs and this has an impact on the cost, for example, of fertiliser. We did not say that the floor price of maize would be reduced on a certain date.

 

Madam Speaker, our colleagues on the other side let us down, and I think they are rightfully sitting on your left side ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

The Vice-President: ... because there is no money in my pocket.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

_______

 

QUESTION FOR ORAL ANSWER

 

WASTAGE OF MAIZE AT FRA DEPOTS

 

1. Mr Fube (Chilubi) (on behalf of Mr Mukosa) (Chinsali) asked the Minister of Agriculture:                                                                                                                                                                           

1. whether the Government is aware that a lot of maize from farmers is going to waste at the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) depots in Chinsali Parliamentary Constituency and other depots, countrywide, due to a critical shortage of grain bags; and
2.  if so, what urgent measures are being taken to provide grain bags to the FRA depots, countrywide, to avert further loss of maize.

 

The Minister of Agriculture (Mr R. Phiri): Madam Speaker, the ministry is aware that there is a shortage of empty grain bags in some Food Reserve Agency (FRA) satellite depots, including those in Chinsali Parliamentary Constituency.

 

Madam Speaker, the FRA has since dispatched some empty grain bags to all affected satellite depots. The ministry is also engaging the Ministry of Finance and National Planning to release funds to pay the suppliers and to also procure more empty grain bags.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, the Government confessed on the Floor of the House that there is no money and we have just heard from the hon. Minister of Agriculture that grain bags have been dispatched. The Government, through the Ministry of Finance and National Planning finances the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), which is a Government agency. Where has the Government gotten the money to facilitate the process?

 

Mr R. Phiri: Madam Speaker, it is pleasing to note that the hon. Member is aware that, indeed, the Government is struggling with finances. However, I would like to assure the hon. Member that the ministry has limited the request for finance to only empty grain bags.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Mumba: On a point of order, Madam.

 

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

 

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to raise a very important point of order, in line with Standing Orders 134 and 135(1)(a).

Madam Speaker, of late, this country has witnessed various criminal activities such as abduction of children and –

Is it admissible?

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, your point of order is not admissible. It has come a bit late.

Mr Mumba: No.

Madam Speaker: We have already passed the stage at which such a point of order could have been raised.

Mr Mumba: Madam Speaker, I am citing Standing Order I35 (1) (a):

“Admissibility of Matter of Urgent Public Importance

1. A matter shall be considered urgent and of public importance if –

 

1.  

Madam Speaker, in the past two weeks, children from various families have been adducted.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, I indicated that you have raised the point of order a bit too late. We have already by-passed that point that deals with raising points of urgent public importance. So, it cannot be admitted.

Hon. Opposition Members: How?

Hon. Government Members: Yes.

Madam Speaker: The Order Paper indicates the order of business. So, that point of order cannot be raised at this stage.

Can we make progress.

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): Madam Speaker, I would like to make my maiden speech if I am permitted.

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Members are asking follow-up questions at the moment. The speeches will be made much later.

 

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, I indicated to make my maiden speech. I will do that later.

 

Mr Chitotela (Pambashe): Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has confirmed that the Government has dispatched empty grain bags to various sites in Zambia. Pambashe is one of the biggest maize producers in Luapula Province and the farmers are crying because there are no grain bags at the moment.

 

Madam Speaker, two weeks ago, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) announced that it had met its strategic requirement. Is the hon. Minister confirming to the people of Pambashe and the Zambians out there that having sent out the empty grain bags, the Government will continue procuring maize from the farmers until it completes the procuring the stock?

 

Mr R. Phiri: Madam Speaker, I wish to confirm to the hon. Member for Pambashe that the FRA purchased the targeted 500,000 metric tonnes that was initially given as a target. However, the FRA was asked to procure up to 800,000 metric tonnes as at now and because of that, we will continue procuring up to 800,000 metric tonnes. When we reach that target, we will advise accordingly.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Kampyongo (Shiwang’andu): Madam Speaker, just for clarity, because I represent village farmers, I will pose my question in Bemba and then I will translate it. Ba hon. Minister, ba Mtolo, elo mwalayamba ukusenda inyanje sha bantu, bushemukalipila umutengo upya ulyamwatile K250 ku ma farmers?

 

Madam Speaker, this question means: Can the hon. Minister of Agriculture clearly state whether he is going to pay the farmers the new price that was promised of K250 per bag of maize, as he has dispatched the grain bags to our farmers in Chinsali, Shiwang’andu and other areas. The farmers would like to know that.

 

Mr R. M. Phiri: Madam Speaker, the effective price at which the FRA is paying the farmers is K150. I am not aware of any other price that would come into effect.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr A. C. Mumba (Kantanshi): I thank you, Madam. I am sure that the hon. Minister of Agriculture agrees with me that his Government has not been consistent in providing accurate information. It is always figurative. Let me ask him a simple question: how many bags have been dispatched, considering that we have had a very good output of crop?

 

Mr R. M. Phiri: Madam Speaker, as at before yesterday, the FRA had procured an extra 1.2 million empty grain bags, and this is an on-going process. The bags which were dispatched before yesterday are 1.2 million

 

Mr Mushanga (Bwacha): Madam Speaker, I did not get the hon. Minister of Agriculture clearly. The people of Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency want to find out whether the grain bags were dispatched to the affected areas. In Bwacha Parliamentary Constituency, we have many farmers in places like Kasavasa, Kalwelwe, Makupu, Munga and Kang’omba who are affected. May the hon. Minister indicate when the bags were dispatched to the affected areas.

 

Mr R. M. Phiri: Madam Speaker, the rolling out of bags started yesterday. As at yesterday midday, 270,000 empty grain bags had been dispatched to various locations.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Chilangwa (Kawambwa): Madam Speaker, part of my question has been overtaken by the question asked by the hon. Member for Bwacha. First and foremost, congratulations to the hon. Minister of Agriculture. We are very hopeful that with him in that seat, agriculture will continue scoring.

 

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister has said that the roll out of the grain bags started yesterday or today, and he gave the number of bags that have been distributed. Therefore, what timeframe should we give the ministry and the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) within which our people should start receiving the grain bags? It is one thing to procure and dispatch grain bags, but it is another thing for the grain bags to be received where they are required. Bearing in mind that the United Party for National Development (UPND) likes to flip-flop, can the hon. Minister give us the indicative time as to when we should expect the grain bags in all the areas where they are required.

 

Mr R. M. Phiri: Madam Speaker, let me acknowledge, with thanks, the kind words by Hon. Chilangwa about my appointment to the Ministry of Agriculture. Thank you, Sir. The exercise is ongoing. The rolling out to various locations of grain bags started as at yesterday. In certain locations which are nearby, the bags have already started arriving. In areas which are distant like Kawambwa, maybe, the bags will start arriving by tomorrow. We are going to work very hard to ensure that most of the depots receive the empty grain bags before the onset of heavy rains.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Ms Nyirenda (Lundazi): Madam Speaker, having come from Lundazi this morning, my people would want to know exactly when they will receive the grain bags. At the moment, the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) agents in Palaza and Kapichila are telling people that they are not going to continue getting the maize. May the hon. Minister of Agriculture give a statement so that my people in Lundazi can be assured that they should not sell the maize to brief case farmers who are already taking advantage of them.

 

Mr R. M. Phiri: Madam Speaker, as indicated, it is almost impossible for me to give a timeline, depot by depot, when the grain bags will be received depot by depot because of the different kilometres. However, I would like the hon. Member to be assured that by the weekend, there will be grain bags at the depots she mentioned because it would not take two or three days to deliver empty grain bags to Lundazi. Probably, they will take a day in transit. I want to believe that by the weekend or Monday, the grain bags would have been received.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Madam Speaker, could the hon. Minister confirm that this issue of not having grain bags in various constituencies was as a result of the inefficiency of the past Government that did not prepare very well for our farmers.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Question!

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr R. M. Phiri: Madam Speaker, I appreciate, most sincerely, the statement given by the hon. Member for Dundumwezi. All I can say is that we are going to work very hard to ensure that all the depots receive the empty grain bags as early as possible because we recognise that this issue is of very serious national interest. We are going to be serious about it and do the right thing. I thank the hon. Member for Dundumwezi for his question.

 

I thank you, Madam.

 

Mr Chibuye (Roan): Madam Speaker, apart from the issue of empty grain bags, I want the hon. Minister of Agriculture to confirm whether he is aware that in Roan Constituency, Luanshya, people who have taken their maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) have been sleeping outside for several days because of the lack of issuance of receipts. This is one thing I was trying to resolve last week. I want the hon. Minister of Agriculture to state the position, as of today, regarding the receipts that are lacking at Kasununu Satellite Depot in Roan Constituency.

 

Mr R. Phiri: Madam Speaker, you can have small teething problems in maize procurement, given the number of depots that are operated. I am not aware of the problem which has been raised by the hon. Member. I advise him to file a question if he wants a comprehensive response so that we can carry out further investigations and give an appropriate answer.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Lusambo (Kabushi): Madam Speaker, I congratulate Hon. Phiri on his appointment as Minister of Agriculture.

 

Madam, now that the Government, through Her Honour the Vice-President, has accepted that the former Government of Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu left money in the coffers of our economy, ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Question!

 

Mr Lusambo: ... how many metric tonnes will be procured for Zambia?

 

Mr R. Phiri: Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for his kind words on my appointment. However, I do not recall hearing Her Honour the Vice-President indicating what he said. I will, however, answer.

 

Madam, as at now, the FRA is going to procure 800,000 metric tonnes. The initial target was 500,000 metric tonnes, but the agency was asked to procure a further 300,000 metric tonnes. If that figure has to change, the nation will be informed so that people are aware of what the agency is doing.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr Fube (Chilubi): Madam Speaker, I would like to appreciate that the question at hand is talking about the nation’s food security. I think it is a very serious question, especially that songs were sung about Zambia not being food secure during the campaigns.

 

Madam, the hon. Minister has been giving different figures relating to the situation at hand. He talked about 1.2 million empty grain bags. What are the balances because12 million empty grain bags were projected earlier?

 

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister stated that 500,000 metric tonnes were to be purchased initially, but that it has now been increased to 800,000 metric tonnes. Are will still sticking to the 12 million empty grain bags since he said that 1.2 million bags have been procured? What are the balances because I seem not to be getting clear figures to the question I asked?

 

Mr R. Phiri: Madam Speaker, a tonne is twenty bags. Therefore, if we are going to talk about 800,000 metric tonnes, you would have to multiply that by twenty to get the number of empty grain bags that are needed. This is an on-going exercise. So, when I mention the procurement of 1.2 million bags, it means we are still going to look for money to buy other empty grain bags. This is ongoing.

 

Madam, we will ensure that if we are given 800,000 metric tonnes to procure, we provide the right type of quality empty grain bags which are ultraviolet (UV)treated, UV stabilised, and anti-slip so that our stacked maize does not burst open or fall because of slipping. We are going to buy quality and it takes time to buy the type of bags that the FRA requires.

 

Madam, I can assure the hon. Member that the entire 800,000 metric tonnes will be stored in quality empty grain bags.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Ms Katuta (Chienge): Madam Speaker, Chienge is the remotest area in Zambia. I would like to find out whether the empty bags that are being sent out are a specific number, seeing as there are no projections of what an area is likely to produce? For example, Chienge normally records bumper harvests depending on the amount of rainfall received. Is there a specific number of grain bags that Chienge will receive?

 

Mr R. Phiri: Madam Speaker, before the agency procures maize from different localities, it projects and estimates how much it will buy from a particular area. If the hon. Member visited our offices after this sitting, we could give her the exact number of empty grain bags that will go to Chienge, if so needed.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

_______

 

MOTION

 

MOTION OF THANKS

 

(Debate resumed)

 

Mr Chanda (Kanchibiya): Madam Speaker, before business was adjourned, I was winding up my maiden speech.

 

Madam, there are many individuals and personalities, past and present, who have contributed to my successful election to this House. As I conclude, I wish to acknowledge them for their input.

 

Madam Speaker, I wish to begin by acknowledging my late father, Pascal Mulenga Chanda; and my late brothers, Victor Mulenga Chanda and Mapalo Kamfwa Chanda, for their inspiration, which they gave whilst on earth and continue to do from the pearly gates of heaven.

 

Madam, to my mother, Felista Nsofwa Chanda, and my great brothers and sisters, I am who I am today because I continue to stand on their broad shoulders. From my formative years, they collectively instilled in me a sense of service and dedication. It is these virtues that I learnt from them that drive me to serve at whatever level the Lord places me.

 

Madam, let me pay glowing tribute to my dear wife, Mutinta, who is a friend and the love of my life as well as the mother of our great children. She and the children mean the world to me. To my children, who include nieces and nephews, I want you to know that you mean the world to me too. I will be mindful of every Bill I will vote on in this august House and what it means to them and their generation.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank my campaign team in Kanchibiya and my friends within and outside the Patriotic Front (PF). A luta continua, the struggle continues. Above all, to God be the glory. It is the Lord’s doing and it is marvellous in his eyes.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, allow me to move to the Motion of Thanks. I wish to place on record that the era of broken and failed promises and flip-flopping is upon us.

 

Madam Speaker, the first political party I ever joined was the Zambia Democratic Congress (ZADECO), led by the late Dean Namulya Mung’omba, may his soul rest in peace. The two things I learnt were that, firstly, integrity matters. Integrity means say what you mean and mean what you say. The second thing is that you cannot promise one thing and break it in another breath and continue with life as usual. One cannot injure society and expect to go scot-free. These are values in politics and the Public Service. We have seen a propensity by our colleagues in the Executive to flip-flop and turn back on key promises they made to the Zambian people and I can cite them one by one. Let me debate the President’s Speech, but I will come back to that.

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, there is an employment freeze being called a suspension in this country. On page 4 of the President’s Speech, the President talks about expectations. These expectations can only be the ones arising from his campaign messages. These key campaign messages are being deleted from his twitter account and his Facebook posts. Why are these promises being deleted? The Zambian people would want to keep track.

 

Madam Speaker, on page 6 of the speech, the President would have done what magnanimity calls for and that was to categorically and unambiguously condemn electoral violence, which resulted in loss of human life.

 

Madam Speaker, on page 14 of the speech, there is the theme of “Economic Transformation and Job Creation.” Again, this theme is in abstract. It is vague. It does not bring any numbers. One begins to wonder how the UPND will be able to absorb the 30,000 nurses, teachers and doctors even though today, we read that it is laying off 500 trained and qualified nurses who were engaged for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) purposes. We wonder if this is as a result of the new COVID-19 Advisor and if this is the advice being given.

 

Madam Speaker, on crop diversification on page 14 of the President’s Speech, one will agree with me that the one line that the President could have added to his speech that was going to send a strong signal that we have another statesman in the making was for him to acknowledge that he was building on the successes of the previous administration.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, the President went further and gave a litany of projects accomplished under the watch of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu. The only part where President Lungu is being thanked in the speech is for the peaceful transition. Politics, like governance, are like a relay. One runs his part and hands over the baton to the next person. How one runs his race and finishes it depends on the velocity, speed and discipline that the previous runner had. It is hypocritical of the worst order to say that the only thing that President Lungu did was to hand over power. President Lungu was not handing over power for the first time. When he acted as President, he handed over the instruments of power to the former Vice-President, Dr Guy Scott. He has had no problems with handing over power.

 

Madam Speaker, on page 24 of the speech, I am happy that the President of the Republic of Zambia now acknowledges that climate change is a reality, and he talks about it in the context of hydro-electricity generation.

 

Madam Speaker, as I said, the UPND has come into power but has refused to dispense itself of the Opposition mentality. One cannot spend the next five years trying to vilify the former ruling party forgetting that in the next three months, the Zambian people will be talking about the four years that the UPND would be remaining with. On 13^th August, 2026, the Zambian people will go to vote. With every failed promise, the UPND voter base, the 2.8 million, is suffering hemorrhage. It is a statement of fact.

 

Madam Speaker, if our colleagues wish to bury their heads in the sand, we will be here on 13^th August, 2026, to remind them that we had told and warned them. They are expending energy on vilifying the former ruling party. It does not bring any incremental value to who they are and what they intend to do, as a Government. Time has come for them to work and deliver both on their promises in the manifesto and those they made extempore on the campaign trail.

 

Madam Speaker, the Zambian people are quiet and peaceful, but they are not docile. As it is, the Zambian people are taking note of every promise that our colleagues are flop-flipping on. We know what free education is. Free education means that fees must fall. There should be zero fees. They promised jobs. So, they should bring a Job Bill to Parliament. Jobs do not get created in abstract. They do not happen in a vacuum. We expect a Job Bill in this House, failure to which, the same young people who said, “Hosanna, hosanna, elect him to the throne” will come back on 13^th August, 2026 and say, “crucify him from the throne.”

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chanda: Madam Speaker, I place on record that they should not take the Zambian people for granted. The time is ticking. They are chasing street vendors and the Government has already turned its back on the mining workers. At Kansanshi Mine, they are siding with the investor at the expense of the workers. Protect the miner –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

The hon. Member’s time expired.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chaatila (Moomba): Madam Speaker, first and foremost, allow me to thank God, who has made it possible for all of us here to be present. Without Him, we would not have been here.

 

Madam Speaker, let me start by congratulating you and your Deputies on your election as Presiding Officers.

 

Madam Speaker, I am grateful to His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, Her Honour the Vice-President, Mrs Mutale Nalumango, together with the National Executive Management, for giving me another opportunity to serve the people of Moomba for the second time. Allow me to also thank the National Management of the United Party for National Development (UPND), the provincial, district, constituency and ward officials, including all the branches in Moomba Constituency, who worked tirelessly to make sure that the UPND came into power.

 

Madam Speaker, I am also grateful to the Presidential campaign team that was led by Mr Kileya Nsandala, who worked together with my Constituency Chairperson, Mr Muunda.

 

Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the people of Moomba Constituency for turning up in large numbers to vote for the UPND by booting out the Patriotic Front (PF) that has brought misery to this country, and I do not wish it to come back into Government, as it says.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chaatila: Madam Speaker, my promise to the people of Moomba is that I will not let them down. We will work together, and together, we will address the so many challenges we are faced with. If we had a proper Government in the last ten years, I would not have talked about some of the challenges I am about to address.

 

Madam Speaker, I wish to thank the traditional leaders in Chief Mwaanza, Chief Chona and all those who continued to give us counsel as we traversed Moomba Constituency in search of votes and support from the people. I want to thank all those who rendered their support, be it moral, financial or spiritual. For them, I am so grateful.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also thank my family and relatives for their support. Special thanks go to my wife, Josephine, and my four children, who were there for me throughout this period.

 

Madam Speaker, it is also my honour to recognise my fellow competitors who stood on different political parties and as independent candidates. That is democracy and that is how it must be.

 

Madam Speaker, Moomba Constituency is a rural constituency and it is faced with a lot of challenges such as bad roads. I remember that the World Bank adequately funded one of the roads from Hajanga to Kayola a long time ago or more than five years ago. However, because the road is in Moomba Constituency in the Southern Province, the PF Government put it on hold and did not want it to be constructed. Now is the time for the people of Kayola, Jona and Namununga to see this road worked on because, as the UPND, we are not going to be selective when it comes to such programmes. As the UPND, we will not look at who is asking for a road.

 

Madam Speaker, the people of Moomba have challenges. Dams are silted and, so many times, I visited the offices of our hon. Colleagues, who are now sitting on your left, to seek their intervention, but it was all in vain. A new dam is supposed to be constructed in Chief Chona at Namaili and as I stand here, the dam brings me memories of how I suffered under the former hon. Minister of Livestock and Fisheries. When I went to make a follow up at her office, she categorically told me to go to Mr Hakainde Hichilema (HH) for this dam to be worked on just because I had debated on the Floor of this House. It is very shameful. So, when I say that our hon. Colleagues who are on the left now were not fair in their execution of duties, this is what I mean. We do not need to see that happening in Zambia again.

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to see the road from Monze to Chivuna tarred. That road connects three secondary schools, namely Kaumbwa Secondary School, St. Josephs Secondary School and Fonkola Secondary School, and many other primary schools, and that is why it needs to be constructed. I would also like to see the road that starts from Nabubuyu to Nadongo Moomba worked on.

 

Madam Speaker, women wake up as early as 0400 hours to fetch water in rivers. I hope our Government will sink many boreholes, and we would like to see many boreholes sunk. I ask that the people of Moomba are given water and good roads because they are very hard working. That is my plea. Now that we are on the right, it is now time to give them what the PF denied them for a long time. As we work together with our colleagues, some of the challenges will be alleviated.

 

Madam Speaker, the people of Moomba are hard working farmers. The Fertiliser Input Support Programme (FISP) that was introduced by the PF has brought about misery because our people are getting two bags of fertiliser when their colleagues in other areas have been getting eight bags of fertiliser, yet they also paid K400. That should not be the case. I am not saying that receiving eight bags of fertiliser is bad. That is how it should be, but everyone should be given an equal eight bags. Why should others be given two bags when we are all Zambians? I do not think that is the way we should manage the affairs of this nation.

 

Madam Speaker, the children of the people of Moomba still sit on the floor in their classrooms because there are no desks. One imagines what that means to the pupils. How can they pass their examinations in such an environment? These are some of the things that the PF failed to attend to and we want to actualise some of them. We want to reduce some of these problems and we need to work as a team.

 

Madam Speaker, let me now come back to the President’s Speech. The President’s Speech gave a lot of hope to the people of Zambia.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Chaatila: It has given us hope that Zambia will breathe some fresh air in the new dawn. The speech itself was exciting as the President was articulating issues. When we went out, I could not believe how excited the people were. For the first time, they could hear what the President was talking about and they did not need to be forced to listen.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to also indicate that the President said that there was no need for political violence during the general elections and that was very important. Hon. Kafwaya, the Member of Parliament for Lunte, observed a moment of silence in honour of someone who died because of politics. That is not how it should be. No one should die because of an election. However, Hon. Kafwaya was a Cabinet Minister in the PF Government and we lost many people like Mapenzi Chibulo and Grazia Matapa, who were murdered by the PF and those who did that are serving at Mukobeko Prison. I expected the PF Government, at that time, to stand and observe a moment of silence when Lawrence Banda, Frank Mugala and others were killed. However, what did they do? They went to sleep. We do not need people to die because of politics.

 

Madam Speaker, today, I can go to Intercity Bus Terminus wearing a PF T-shirt if I were PF or a UPND T-shirt and no one will beat me up. A few months ago, if one went there wearing a UPND T-shirt –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Business was suspended from 1040 hours until 1100 hours.

 

[MADAM SPEAKER in the Chair]

 

Mr Chaatila: Madam Speaker, before business was suspended, I was giving an example of how one can now go to a place like the Intercity Bus Terminus wearing any type of party regalia and no one would harass them. This is a sign that the UPND is serious about making violence a thing of the past, just like the President indicated that political violence will be a thing of the past.

 

Madam Speaker, let me now come to the issue of the fight against corruption, as alluded to by the President on page 46, of his speech.  Just to be sure, let me read what His Excellency the President said:

 

         “We have a zero tolerance policy on corruption in all its forms.”

 

Madam, I have heard some of my hon. colleagues on your left giving an indication that we need to forge ahead without looking where we are coming from. They are also saying that there is no need to do certain things because it will be perceived as political vengeance.

 

Madam Speaker, the President was very clear, and he indicated that this administration would look at what happened in the past, what is happening now, and we will also deal with cases in the future.

 

Madam Speaker, corruption was very rife during the PF Administration, and this is why this nation is as it is. No one can imagine the amount of corruption practiced by the PF Government because that was careless to its maximum. We do not have money now because that was the PF’s key agenda.

 

Madam, if we do not look at the past, how are we going to know who was importing the expired drugs for our hospitals? How are we going to know the dirty dealings of the mukula tree? How are we going to know the issues of the fire tenders if we do not look at that? How are we going to know about the procurement of the ambulances? Just to mention a few. It is key to look in the past and see what happened. So, if people who were involved in corruption are here, they must be ready to account for it because whatever we do counts.

 

Madam Speaker, those forty-eight houses –

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Chaatila: Madam, yes, we are going to know the owners of the forty-eight houses. We are also going to know who owns the properties in Forest 27. Some of them have even started flocking to the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC). It is just right that when they are called, they just go and appear and account for their accusations. So, if they are clean, they are going to be proven clean. They have to keep in mind that the President emphasised that no one was going to be fought. So, they should not think that when they are called there, it is an indication of political vindictiveness. No. Those are issues that need to be looked at. 

 

Madam Speaker, I was very happy to hear the President indicate that the Government is going to redesign the Fertiliser Input Support Programme (FISP). In fact, this programme is at the core of my heart.

 

Mr E. Tembo: On a point of order, Madam.

 

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

 

Mr E. Tambo: Madam Speaker, I needed to raise this point of order earlier, but I was not recognised.

 

Madam Standing order No. 65(1)(b) states that:

 

“(1) A member who is debating shall –

 

(b)        ensure that the information he or she provides to the House is factual and verifiable.”

 

Madam Speaker, just before the hon. Member, who is on the Floor, was interrupted, he referred to debt. In his argument, he alleged that the debt was contracted by the hands of the Patriotic Front (PF) Government. Would the hon. Member of Parliament debating, please, withdraw those statements.

 

I seek your serious ruling

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

The hon. Member for Feira will note that when I recognised the hon. Members on left to debate, they raised concerns about debt that was contracted by some people and that the United Party for National Development (UPND) was responsible and allowed that. So, can the hon. Members on the right be allowed to debate on the same lines. The information is in public domain.

 

May the hon. Member continue.

 

Mr Chaatila: Madam Speaker, FISP needs to be redesigned because the way it was designed by the PF Government was not fair. For the five years or ten years, the programme has brought about a lot of problems in the country.

 

Madam Speaker, lastly, I want to talk about the issue of the Food Reserve Agency (FRA), which was also raised during the Question for Oral Answer Session.

 

Madam, I find it very difficult to understand the questions that were coming from our hon. colleagues. As we are talking, the issue of FRA grain bags would have been a thing of the past had the PF Government been serious because all the grain bags would have been delivered by May 2021, before the General Elections. Had the PF been serious, money to pay the farmers would have been found. However, the farmers are now spending sleepless nights in the sheds.

 

Hon. Opposition: You are in Government.

 

Mr Chaatila: Yes, we are, and we are controlling the mess which was brought about by the PF Government.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

You may continue, hon. Member.

 

Madam, I just want to agree with the President that there is a need for us to review the issue of the FRA, FISP and other programmes.

 

Madam Speaker, with these few remarks, I want to say thank you for allowing me to debate this Motion.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lusambo (Kabushi): Madam Speaker, I would like to thank you for this opportunity and also for giving the people of Kabushi Constituency a voice to add on the debate on His Excellency the President’s Speech.

 

Madam, the people of Kabushi have taken seven days to go through His Excellency the President’s Speech. I took it to the people in Kabushi to go through it, my wife, Nancy Natasha Lusambo, to go through it, my daughter, Sibongile Lusambo, to go through it, and my friend, B, to go through it.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, my daughter, Sibongile, told me that, “Dad, we are not considered in this speech.” She further said that, “Even though you are a Member of Parliament for Kabushi Constituency and you can afford to pay for my schools, but what about my cousin in Bwengo? What about my cousin in Mtendere? What about my cousin in Mazabuka?”

 

Madam Speaker, my wife told me that, “Honey, we are not considered, as women, in this speech.” My friend, B, told me that, “Boyi, there is nothing in this speech.”

 

Madam Speaker: Order! 

 

What is the meaning of the word ‘boyi’?

 

Mr Lusambo: It means ‘friend’.

 

Laughter

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, when President Hakainde Hichilema came to this august House, I sat next to you shivering, knowing that since we would be dealing with an economist, there would be bullets and missiles shot in the House from the President of the Republic of Zambia. Little did I know that the skills from his studies at the University of Zambia in economics ended when he was dealing with privatisation.

 

Hon. Opposition Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, the President came to this august House with an empty speech.

 

Mr Mufalali: Question!

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, this speech I am holding is nothing, but Jelita and Mulenga. The youths expected President Hakainde Hichilema to communicate to them how many jobs he was going to create within five years.

 

Madam Speaker, the speech has no targets, statistics and timelines of all the issues which the President had talked about in this august House. Governance is not easy. Our colleagues in the current Government are still thinking they are in the Opposition. The time for honeymoon is gone.

 

Madam Speaker, we have many issues to deal with in our country. Firstly, there is an issue of free education, which the President and the entire team campaigned for during the 2021 General Election. The President was telling us that he was using English.

 

Madam Speaker, the Lamba speaking people were the first ones to interface with whites. Therefore, we understand English very well. The miners came to Lamba land and, therefore, we fully understand the Queens’s language. The people are still waiting for this Government to give them free education.

 

Madam Speaker, the President talked about agricultural reforms. I have served in the Government before for five years, unlike President Hakainde Hichilema who is training on the job. I know how the Government operates. The issues on reforms cannot happen overnight. We want the Government of His Excellency, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, to return to the people and apologise. He should come and apologise about having lied to the people of Zambia.

 

Interjections

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Member, the use of the word “lied” is unparliamentary.

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, I withdraw the word “lied” and replace it with ‘falsehood’. Madam, he needs to come and tell the people of Zambia that they came in Government through fraudulent means. We need to take governance seriously. When Her Honour the Vice-President was responding to our questions earlier, we could even see that this Government has no plans for our people.

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, if that is how we are going to go on for the next five years, I am sorry that this Government should start preparing to go out in 2026. Otherwise, we are not going to let the Government go scot-free because we are here to provide checks and balances. I can assure the Government that we are not going to be subjective, but objective.

 

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

 

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Amutike: Madam Speaker, I rise on Standing Order 134, raising a matter of public importance. The hon. Member, who is on the Floor, is trying to mislead this House and the nation by offering a speech which is very hollow, shallow and lacking substance. Is it in order for the hon. Member to continue speaking and misleading the nation due to his failure to understand the President’s Address?

 

Madam, I seek your serious ruling.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Unfortunately, the time to raise matters of urgent public importance, which falls under Standing Order No. 134, has already passed. So, that point of order is not admissible.

 

May the hon. Member continue.

 

Mr Lusambo: Madam Speaker, I thank you for your protection. If I had an opportunity, I would have torn this speech because it lacks inspiration for the people. The people of Kabushi Constituency are still asking us about free education, the cost of a bag of maize and fertiliser at K250 each, and a bag of mealie meal at K50. These are the issues that the President was supposed to address. The President has an opportunity to redeem himself. He came to this House to confess that he is a chief salesman. We are worried because we do not need a chief salesman. We need a leader to develop this country and not sell it. The period for privatisation is gone. This period is for work –

 

The hon. Member’s time expired.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Sing’ombe (Dundumwezi): Madam Speaker, I thank you for giving me this opportunity to render my fourth maiden speech in this House. Allow me to congratulate you on being elected as the first female Speaker of this House. In the same breath, I wish to congratulate the First and Second Deputy Speakers on their election.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to thank His Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, and his running mate, Her Honour the Vice-President of this Republic, Mrs Mutale Nalumango, and the entire United Party for National Development (UPND) for winning the 2021 General Elections in a very difficult environment.

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my campaign team, Zemba, Mwahwa, Kalilo, Madam Ncheenje, Barrister Hangandu, Sitali, Madam Rose and Perpetual Choongo, just to mention a few, for their support.

 

Interjections

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, I also want to thank Kenneth Muka and Frank for the job well done. Again, Dundumwezi delivered, and to the surprise of the Patriotic Front (PF) who had brought five hundred bicycles to the constituency.

 

May I also thank my wife, Esther, and my children, especially Lumba and Luyando, who were too young to understand my absence from home.

 

Madam Speaker, Dundumwezi is a modified word from its original name ‘Dundumweze’, which means a male mountain. Dundumwezi is a rural constituency that lacks infrastructure and basic needs and necessities, as it was mostly ignored by previous Governments. According to the 2010 Census of Population and Housing, the constituency has about 80,000 inhabitants, yet without proper infrastructure and basic necessities like I have indicated.

 

Madam Speaker, Dundumwezi is basically a farming community, yet the previous Government neglected our hard-working farmers and it did not give them enough farming inputs. It was among the constituencies where beneficiaries received only two bags of fertiliser. In some situations, people were sharing buckets of fertiliser just to enable them to grow something for consumption. The constituency has the potential to feed the entire country. Given a proper environment, the people of Dundumwezi have the potential to feed the people in this country but our hon. Colleagues never noticed them during their ten years of ruling this country.

 

Madam Speaker, due to their poor planning, in view of the question asked by the hon. Member of Parliament for Chilubi this morning, we heard how our hon. Colleagues failed to distribute empty grain bags on time.

 

Hon. PF Members: Question!

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Now, they want to pretend that those empty grain bags were supposed to be procured by the UPND.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, I want to ask them a question: How long does it take to procure empty grain bags and how long has this Government been in power? It has been in power for a very short time. They must be ashamed of themselves for failing to distribute empty grain bags on time.

 

Hon UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, in this breath, I want to state that many farmers in the constituency have been sleeping away from their homes. They sleep at various satellite depots awaiting empty grain bags. A lot of their grain has gone to waste because the previous Government did not prioritise the purchase of empty grain bags. In this vein, I wish to humbly request the New Dawn Government to quickly look into the issue of empty grain bags. We have heard that it has procured 1.2 million empty grains bags but there is a need to make quick follow-ups to ensure that they reach the end users. If possible, I would have suggested that farmers use their own bags to sell the maize to the Food Reserve Agency (FRA) and then at an opportune time, the FRA can transfer the grain from those ordinary bags to FRA bags to ensure that our grain is safe for a longer period. If farmers do not sell their maize on time, it is going to affect the next farming season. So, this should be done as a matter of urgency so that farmers can quickly plan and prepare for the coming season.

 

Madam Speaker, the hon. Minister of Agriculture should also consider increasing the platform scales. There is a lot of maize in Dundumwezi, but there is only one platform scale per satellite depot, which is not enough. An average farmer in Dundumwezi produces 1,000 to 1,500 bags of maize and allocating one platform scale is not enough, especially this time. We need two or three platform scales if we are to expedite this exercise of ensuring that all the maize from the farmers is bought on time.

 

Madam Speaker, there are many livestock farmers in Dundumwezi and nearly everyone has animals. People only respect someone with livestock. If one does not have livestock in Dundumwezi, then, he is not a farmer. However, the PF Government neglected the livestock farmers. It failed to decentralise the issuance of brand marks. A farmer from Dundumwezi would be subjected to travelling to Lusaka for a brand mark worth K2. Brand marks cost K2 but when the PF got broke, it increased them to K100. One imagines a farmer travelling from Kalabo, Mambolomokwa in Shang’ombo and Lingundu in Chavuma to come and pay a K100 here in Lusaka. The former hon. Minister of Livestock and Fisheries will agree with me that I sat down with her and proposed that we decentralise the issuance of brand marks. For ten years, the PF Government failed.

 

Madam Speaker: Order! Your time to deliver your maiden speech is up.

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, coming to the President’s Speech –

 

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

 

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker, I have been shocked by the hon. Member of Parliament for Dundumwezi, who claims to be a third termer.

 

Madam Speaker, I understand he is a Backbencher. Standing Order No. 69(1) states as follows:

 

“A backbencher shall not debate in the House until he or she has made his or her maiden speech.”

 

Madam Speaker, therefore, where did the hon. Member draw authority to ask a question during Her Honour the Vice-President’s Question Time? He asked a question on the Food Reserve Agency (FRA). So, I would like to know whether he was in order to do that.

 

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member for Chilubi, thank you for the point of order, but it should have been raised at that point when the hon. Member for Dundumwezi was asking a question.

 

Mr Fube: Madam Speaker –

 

Madam Speaker: Now, it has lapsed.

 

May the hon. Member for Dundumwezi continue.

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, thank you very much for your protection. The hon. Member should have raised the point of order contemporaneously.

 

Madam Speaker, coming to the speech delivered by his Excellency the President of the Republic of Zambia, it brought hope to the people of Dundumwezi. It brought fresh air to the people of Zambia and it brought hope even to an unborn child. It is really shocking that the entire Kabushi Constituency could not get the concept of the speech by the President of this country.

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sing’ombe: Madam Speaker, I know that the hon. Member never went anywhere. My hon. Colleague resides in Lusaka and has not relocated to Kabushi as area Member of Parliament. So, I am not surprised that he stood here and stated that the entire constituency did not get the concept of the President’s Speech. It is not everything that one can find in the speech. The Head of State and his brand new Cabinet should be given time. If the previous Government failed to decentralise the issuance of brand marks in ten years, do our hon. Colleagues think the New Dawn Government will manage to do that within a month? Our hon. Colleagues were in the Government, and we have to understand that there are procedures and things do not just happen overnight.

 

Madam Speaker, the President talked about corruption and I agree with him that this time, there will be no sacred cows. Our hon. Colleagues should wait until we know who the owners of the sixty trucks laden with mukula logs at Kasumbalesa are and, then, they can ask for free education. It is from that that this Government will realise resources to ensure that free education is provided to our learners.

 

Madam Speaker, our hon. Colleagues will have to wait until the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning brings a Budget to this House. The Budget that we are currently using is a PF Budget. Since this Government is a Government of laws, it will not do what is outside the Budget. We were asking about grain bags and the New Dawn Government will ensure that it operates within the Budget that our hon. Colleagues left behind. However, they will agree with me that they depleted the resources of this country and it will take us time to rebuild the Treasury. Surely, how do they say that they want to see fertiliser bought at K200? Who procured it? They procured it and at how much did they procure it? So, why do they want the price of fertiliser to be reduced to K250? Our hon. Colleagues should wait until our Budget is presented, then, they can question the New Dawn Government over its Budget. They cannot ask us questions over a Budget they created and whose resources they depleted.

 

Madam Speaker, my hon. Colleagues on the left should wait until this Government knows why they were procuring fertiliser at US$1,200 per tonne, instead of the average price of US$450. They should wait until we get to know why they were doing that, then, they can come and ask why we are not reducing the price of fertiliser if we procured it at US$450 per tonne. The previous Government procured fertiliser at US$1,200 per tonne. So, it had to go to the market at that price because they wrongly did that.

 

Madam Speaker, in the speech, the President indicated that it will be ensured that farming becomes a business. Due to our hon. Colleagues’ desire to have the resources to themselves, our people are sleeping at satellite depots. They cannot sell their maize because there are no empty grain bags.

 

Madam Speaker, because of our hon. Colleagues’ corrupt way of doing things, they constructed dip tanks that are 4m wide, and I have never seen that before, as if one wishes to drive a land cruiser or canter truck through it. The President said that the Government is going to relook such issues, meaning things were done in a wrong way. So, our hon. Colleagues should give the hon. Minister of Finance and National Planning time to come up with a Budget so that we can show them how things should be done. How do they put up a dip tank minus a source of water? There are fifteen dip tanks without water. How, then, would farming be a business when a dip tank is constructed where there is no water? Fifteen dip tanks were constructed in Dundumwezi, but they have never been utilised because there is no source of water nearby. Since our hon. Colleagues failed to construct dip tanks, we advised them to put up spray races, but they failed. So, they should give President Hakainde, his running mate and the entire Cabinet a chance to do a good job.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Mr B. Mpundu (Nkana): Madam Speaker, I received a call on 17^th February, 2020, when I was addressing a funeral gathering of our late Chairperson for Nkana Constituency. At that time, I was the most senior Government official during that funeral procession. That call was from my immediate superior, the Permanent Secretary for the Copperbelt Province, which call was to announce the non-renewal of my contract as District Commissioner for the great City of Kitwe. Ordinarily, that call would have sent me into depression, but because I serve a God who never slumbers, it set me on a path and journey that we took, which journey has brought me here today.

 

Madam Speaker, I bring fraternal greetings to you from the people of Nkana, who wish to congratulate you on your election, as the first female Speaker, and how can I forget to congratulate your fellow Presiding Officers.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to thank you for giving me this opportunity to present my first maiden speech. I do not desire to give more than three maiden speeches in this august House because I believe that the agenda I have for the people of Nkana will be actualised within three terms.

 

Madam Speaker, you may wish to note that nobody has broken the one term jinx in Nkana, but I am determined to go all the way.

 

Rev. Katuta: Congratulations.

 

Mr B. Mpundu: Thank you, in advance.

 

Madam Speaker, I am here to deliver my maiden speech, which I have titled ‘Beyond My Political Horizon’. Before I delve into the nitty-gritty of my address to this august House, allow me to recognise people who have made it possible for me to be here.

 

Madam Speaker, a day after the Patriotic Front (PF) announced the list of adopted candidates for the Copperbelt, I sat down with my team. I was very frank with my team and I indicated to it that I could not contest the election, as an independent candidate, because I needed two things. I needed the people to support me, but most importantly, I needed resources. So, I openly told my team that we could not go ahead. At the point when we had that meeting, I received a call from a man, whose identity I will withhold for now because vultures may feast on him. That man assured me that he would give me resources. Not that he went ahead to give me resources, but he gave me what I needed for that journey, hope. He gave me hope, which I needed on that journey.

 

Madam, allow me to thank my wife, Nandeka Chella, whose name has now been changed to bana Honourable. She has been very instrumental on this journey. Let me also thank my children; my first born son, Sean Lwimba Chansa; my second born daughter, Skyler Lukundo Chansa; and my little girl, ba mayo we call her, Shanice Mumba Chansa. 

 

Madam Speaker, my victory is dedicated to my late mother, who desired that I must go to Chembe to represent the people of Chembe. However, at that point, I was grounded in Nkana. So, I decided to pursue my political career in Nkana.

 

Madam Speaker, let me take this opportunity to thank my campaign team led by our two campaign managers, Mr Mulwanda Simfukwe, we call him John Rambo, there is no relation with the movies we used to watch. Let me also thank Mr Munji Conely, a very hard working deputy campaign manager, and my young man, Clement Kalobo, Hon. Lusambo calls him CNN because of his ability to play around with a camera. If I brought him here, you would never forget a picture he would take of you.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also recognise the efforts of my brother, Prince Chanda, my sister, Susan Petwe Kalambo, my brother, Willy Kapopo, we call him bashi Fernando; Shame Kaumba, Kegan Mulenga, we call him the minister of tucking affairs; and Kenny Nyirenda. Let me also recognise the efforts that were put in by my sister Rhoda, ba Mutale from Chisokone as well as BIG from Chisokone na ba Ceaser.

 

Madam Speaker, I participated in that election with my colleagues who stood as independent candidates at the local government level. They include: Mr Masoka Manda, who acted as our campaign manager in the wards. Mr Masoka Manda emerged victorious, while the other colleagues, Mr Heman Lungu, Mr Mushota Bunda, Mr Samson Mposha, Mr Chilufya Victor, and Mr Muwana were not lucky, but we are very grateful for their contribution.

 

Madam Speaker, I cannot forget to recognise the efforts of our co-ordinators, Mr Mwema and wife, ba mayo ba Anne Kalunga, very hard working, bana Saviour, ba Martha Phiri, how can I forget Belita, ba mayo bana Yamba Yamba, we call her akapilipili, bana Mukuka, I call her Maza, Mr Chola Eddy, our chairman Vincent Mukuka and Mr Chitambala. Please, allow me to mention them, lest I am not going to go and drink water when I go back. Let me also recognise bana Mpanduka and Mr Mpanduka, Mr George Musonda, bana Mpundu, and Mr Siame and team from Mugala. Let me include Mr Isaiah and Charles from Buchi.

 

Madam Speaker, I want to pay special recognition to my mother-in-law. She is a survivor of that fateful accident that killed workers of Siavonga Council. She came all the way from Mufulira limping to come and secure our votes. She braved the day and night to secure those votes. To you banakulu Sean, I will forever be indebted to you.

 

Madam Speaker, I received support from the business community in Kitwe, starting with the man who gave me a call on that day. I cannot mention these colleagues who supported me, but I am extremely indebted to them for the financial support I got from them. I went into that election with zero balance in my account, but I had plenty of funds on the journey.

 

Madam Speaker, let me now address the people of Nkana. I wish to take this opportunity to  thank them even though I do not have the right kind of words to express how grateful I am to the people of Nkana for this opportunity they have given me. I did not buy them; I gave them hope, which had dwindled over the years because we had been electing political novices. This time, the people of Nkana decided to elect someone with experience. I want to mention that the former president, His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, gave me an opportunity, as a young man to serve the people of Kitwe as District Commissioner. This is a position that brought me to the limelight and taught me the dictates of public office. How can I forget a man who gave me that opportunity? So, I will forever be indebted to the former president.

 

Madam Speaker, to the people of Nkana, I want to state here on the Floor of the House that –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

You can proceed to the President’s Speech.

 

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, let me now move on to the Motion of Thanks.

 

Interruptions 

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Members, as the hon. Member Nkana is debating, this is just a reminder that all hon. Members, whether they are debating or sitting in the Chamber, should mask up, in accordance with the health guidelines that are applicable because of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

 

May the hon. Member who is debating, please, put on his mask.

 

Mr B. Mpundu wore his mask.

 

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, thank you so much. Let me proceed to make a few comments on the President’s Address. Allow me to take this opportunity to start by congratulating His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, on his election as the Seventh President of this Republic. In the same vein, I would like to congratulate Her Honour the Vice-President, who is a very good mother. I have sat down with her, and her wisdom is impeccable. In the same vein, I wish to congratulate the former president for the smooth handover of power. I know many people have stated that it is the duty of a president to hand over power. However, we have witnessed people who have held on to power in many regions. Smooth handover of power is a mark of a statesman, and it can never be understated.

 

Madam Speaker, the President gave a very clear statement of intent on the Floor of this House on where he would like to take us. For me, it remains to be seen how we will get there. From this time on, I would like to make an appeal that every time His Excellency is going to address us, it will remain to be seen how we will get where he wants us to take us. The intention is clear. For me, what remains is the “how”. I have listened and perused through the speech. Many salient issues have been raised, which obviously require all of us to digest. At this point, we, from both sides of the House, are all expected to put our heads together because what we have is a Zambia that we all need to serve regardless of where we are coming from. 

 

Madam Speaker, let me comment on the issue of the creation and realignment of ministries. It is my considered view that we cannot continue to go in the fashion we have been going, which is that every Government that comes must realign or change ministries. It is my considered view that ministries be entrenched in the Constitution. Going forward, a leader must seek inclusion or exclusion of departments because it will save us time and resources.

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to comment on the education sector. One of my constituency’s biggest problems is destitution among young people, vis-a-vis, access to higher education. I am worried about the merging of the two ministries. In my view, the vastness of the two ministries will present a challenge in the allocation of resources. At this point, with the promise of free education, we should have seen the allocation of more resources to the Ministry of Higher Education so that our youth can see their way into university.

 

Madam, last week, I went to the Bursaries Committee, which has now been transformed to the Loans Board. I was told that students at the Copperbelt University (CBU) would only be allocated less than 2,000 spaces, while those at Mukuba University would be allocated less than 700 spaces. This has worried me and, I think, these two ministries should have been left to exist independently so that we could push for more resources for each ministry.

 

Madam Speaker, I am elated at the pronouncement by His Excellency the President regarding his Government’s commitment towards improving our infrastructure. I have a stretch of 7.8 km in my constituency called the Chibuluma Central Street Road. That stretch poses two challenges, which are that it is a death trap to motorists and a security threat. You can get a fishing rod and catch breams in the potholes on that stretch during the rainy season. 

 

Madam, I appeal to Hon. Dr Musokotwane and the hon. Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Urban Development to urgently address the issue of Nkrumah Road, as it benefits more than just the people of Nkana. Everyone transiting to the Democratic Republic of Congo from other regions uses that road. Therefore, you can see what face we portray to the neighbouring countries via that 7.8-km stretch of road. I, therefore, call on the new Government to prioritise the issue of infrastructure development. The Government is lucky that a foundation was laid by the outgoing Government and that its is to build on what was achieved over the years.

 

Mr B. Mpundu: Madam Speaker, let me also express my delight over the commitment to continue uniting this country. The President has spoken about this several times and as a young person, I desire to see a united country. This is a country that, over the years, has been divided because of political inclinations. However, we desire to see a united people. I want to commend the President on that.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to move on to the mining sector. I come from a mining town. The lives of the people of Nkana depend predominantly on mining activities. We would want to see the position the Government takes on the issue of Mopani and the Konkola Copper Mines (KCM). The Government’s intentions must be very clear.

 

Madam, I also challenge the Government to be clear on the issue of the gold that has been discovered in many areas. In my view, the discovery of gold can give us relief and, perhaps, help us to pay our external debt, if the reserves can be properly managed.

 

Madam Speaker, there are many people in my constituency called Jerabos whose name changed over the years to small-scale miners. They are waiting patiently to see the direction the Government will take in their regard.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Mukosa (Chinsali): Madam Speaker, thank you for giving me this opportunity to contribute to the debate on the Motion of Thanks: the President’s Address. However, before I do so, let me start by rendering my maiden speech.

 

Madam Speaker, I would like to give glory to the Almighty God for granting me an opportunity to serve the people of Chinsali for the second time. Allow me to also express my profound gratitude to the former Head of State, President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, and the Patriotic Front (PF) leadership, starting from the secretariat to the constituency officials in Chinsali, for according me an opportunity to stand as a Member of Parliament on the PF ticket for the second time. I further thank them for the support rendered to me during the campaign period.

 

Madam, in the same vein, allow me to thank the electorate of Chinsali Constituency for the strong support that they rendered to me during the campaigns, which made me retain the seat as Member of Parliament for Chinsali Constituency, which is commonly known as Kwitonta Ukushuma Lubanda or the topsoil.

 

Madam Speaker: Meaning?

 

Mr Mukosa: It is just a name, Madam Speaker.

 

Madam, furthermore, I wish to thank my family, friends and the Chinsali Development Foundation for the support that they offered me before, during, and after the elections. I thank the members of the clergy, and the Chinsali Pastors Fellowship for the spiritual support that they have always given me.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also pay tribute to all the chiefs in Chinsali, including the late Chief Nkula, who recently passed away, may his soul rest in peace, Chief Nkweto, Chief Mubanga, sub-chiefs, and all headmen for the moral support that they offered me during the campaigns. Allow me to further thank the members of my campaign team that was led by Mr Oliver Mulenga for the good job that they did during the campaigns.

 

Madam Speaker, during my first tenure of office as a Member of Parliament for Chinsali from 2016 to 2021, we implemented the following notable projects:

 

1. upgrading of about 16.53km of selected township roads that pass through Mishishi, Chinunda, Mayadi, FTC, Kangwa Nsuluka, Location, Kabuta and Chandamali compounds to bituminous standard. Today, when Mr Sichilima in Location area wants to go to Chinsali Township, he walks on tarred a road;
2. construction and operationalisation of ten communication towers;
3. construction of the new Chinsali General Hospital;
4. construction and operationalisation of four rural health posts from the 650 health posts project;
5. construction and operationalisation of Nambuluma Police Clinic;
6. construction of Nashinga Clinic using the Constituency Development Fund (CDF). This clinic is waiting for the construction of a staff house and toilets for us to open it;
7. completion of the construction of Muchinga Police Division Office Block, a Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) Studio;
8. construction of an office block for the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA); and
9. construction of a National Pension Scheme Authority (NAPSA) office block.

 

Madam Speaker, development is an on-going process. Even though we have scored success in the areas I am from mentioning, Chinsali is still an underdeveloped district.

 

The people of Chinsali are yearning for more development. Some of the developmental needs over which the people of Chinsali will be looking to the UPND Government to implement include, the completion of the Chinsali Water Reticulation Project, so that Mr Cheba in Rural Compound, Mr Rodwell Chipasha in Location Compound, residents in FTC area and Mulyongolo, among other areas of Chinsali, can have access to clean and safe water; completion of the rehabilitation of the Chinsali/Mulilansolo Road, so that Father Kasolo, Mr Kenda, Bashi Chanda Ken, Katikisi Kaluba and other road users should not take more than two hours and thirty minutes on a stretch that can only take forty-five minutes if the road was in good shape; and the construction of Mbesuma Bridge, Safwa Bridge and the rehabilitation of the Kafwimbi/Mbesuma Road. These are some of the projects that we want the new Government to work on. In addition to these, we want this Government to complete the construction of the Chinsali Bus Station so that the buses that pass through Chinsali from the Copperbelt, Lusaka and Nakonde can be dropping off passengers in Chinsali Boma rather than the status quo where they are dropped at Nambuluma Junction.

 

Madam Speaker, there is a need to construct dip tanks in Chinsali so that Mr Moseni Nkole in Kasanta, Mr Mutawale, Mukuka J. M. and other livestock farmers can have where to dip animals to kill external parasites. There is also need to rehabilitate the road that comes from the Chinsali Post Office to Nambuluma Turn-off to reduce the wear and tear of the vehicles for the people in Chinsali. There is a need to construct Chunga Bridge so that Mr Clifford and Mr Singwa as well as other people from Chunga can be crossing easily when they want to go to Nakonde to do business. Feeder roads such as the Choshi/Cheswa Road, Lubwa/Nashinga Road, Nkweto/Mwalule Road, Mundu/Sula Road, Mulilansolo/Kalisha Road, Lukotu/Mubanga Road, Kabuta/Kabungo Road and Chandamali/Kasomo Road also need to be rehabilitated and the construction of Paul Mushindo University needs to be completed.

 

Madam Speaker, the people of Chinsali re-elected me because they saw the good work that I did in my last tenure of office. They also have trust and confidence that I will work for them. I wish to assure them that I will not betray their trust and confidence. I will speak on their behalf in this House through debating in a dispassionate manner.

 

Madam Speaker, the youths of Zambia voted for Mr Hichilema to become the Seventh President of this great Republic because they were promised jobs and free education from primary to university level. I will keep on reminding the Executive or the hon. Members on your right to look into the plight of the youths until the Government provides meaningful employment to the youths, free education from primary to university level and it will not just be quality education, as we heard in the President’s Speech. As far as I can analyse things, there will be no quality education in Zambia from 2021 to 2026. Quality education disappeared the moment we merged the Ministry of Higher Education and the Ministry of General Education. I agree with what the previous debater, Hon. B. Mpundu, the Member of Parliament for Nkana said. It could have been better for the ministries to have been left the way they were.

 

Madam Speaker, the Ministry of General Education was the biggest ministry before the merger. It was the widest spread ministry because one is guaranteed to find a teacher or school even in the remotest places they can go where he/she cannot find a police station or clinic. Primary schools face budgetary challenges that are evidenced by poor infrastructure, high teacher to pupil ratio, lack of text books and other challenges, which means that with the merging of the ministries, the focus that is supposed to be given to these challenges will be stretched.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, allow me now to make a few comments on the Motion of Thanks. The speech that was delivered by the President to this House was characterised by lack of coherence and clarity.

 

Madam Speaker, on page 27 of the speech, it is indicated that:

 

“To enhance the competitiveness of our local enterprises, we will reduce the transaction costs of doing business ...”

 

However, on page 24 of the same speech, the President contradicted himself and stated as follows:

 

“To attract more investment in the electricity sub-sector, our administration will put in place cost-reflective tariffs.”

 

Madam Speaker, making the electricity tariffs cost-reflective implies increasing the cost of electricity.

 

Interruptions

 

Mr Mukosa: Yes. This is because, currently, the price of electricity is subsidised. So, making the cost of electricity cost-reflective implies removing the subsidies, which will leave the cost of electricity high. We are critical thinkers and we are able to analyse things.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, we will continue to analyse issues and tell the Zambian people the truth that, according to the speech, there is an implication that the cost of electricity is going to be increased. As a result, there will be no reduction in the –

 

Madam Speaker: Order! Hon. Member, is that an assumption or a fact that the cost of electricity will be increased?

 

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, it is a fact because the cost of electricity, at the moment, is subsidised. So, when they remove the subsidies, then, the cost of electricity will go up and there will be an increase in the transaction costs of doing business for the Zambians and local Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs).

 

Madam Speaker, on page 11 of the President’s Speech, the President informed us that his administration will increase access to quality education, but like I was debating in my –

 

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

 

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, in this House, there is a rule that an hon. Member on the Floor has to be factual in his debate and relevant to the matter on the Floor.

Madam Speaker: Hon. Member, which Standing Order has been breached?

 

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, I do not have the Standing Orders but that is the practice.

 

Madam Speaker: The rules of the House are that when a point of order is raised, the hon. Member raising that point of order should state the order, law, privilege or procedure that has been breached before the point of order is raised. So, may the hon. Member, who is raising a point of order, state which Standing Order has been breached.

 

Mr Jamba: Madam Speaker, I am referring to Standing Order 65(1)(b) which states:

 

“(1) A member who is debating shall –

 

(b)        ensure that the information he or she provides to the House is factual and verifiable.”

 

Madam Speaker, I was a Member of the Committee on Energy, Water Development and Tourism in the previous Parliament and the report for the cost of electricity had not been established in Zambia. The Energy Regulatory Board (ERB) had not presented that report even at the dissolution of Parliament. The hon. Member’s reference to reducing electricity tariffs is misleading the country because the report is not there. Is he in order –

 

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

 

Madam Speaker: Can we finish. We can have only one person standing at a time.

 

Mr Kampyongo: Madam Speaker, it is a point of procedure. The hon. Member on the Floor has not delivered his maiden speech. So, he is irregularly on the Floor.

 

I seek your serious guidance, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Jamba: Namwishiba ati tuleisa!

 

Madam Speaker: Can the hon. Member, please, resume his seat. The point of procedure is allowed. The hon. Members can only debate on the Floor of the House after they have made their maiden speeches. Please, let us take note of that.

 

Interruptions

 

Madam Speaker: Can we have some order as I am making my ruling. So, hon. Members of Parliament should note that they will not debate if they have not yet delivered their maiden speeches. Please, can we take note of that guidance and debate in accordance with the procedures and rules that we have established for ourselves. Thank you for that point of order.

 

Can the hon. Member on the Floor continue.

 

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, I was saying that on page 11 of the speech, the President informed us that this new administration will increase access to quality education. However, as I can see, there will be no quality education that the President is going to increase access to. This is because with the merging of the ministries, we risk the budgetary allocation being consumed by universities and colleges, which consume a higher amount of money compared to secondary and primary schools. In addition to this, students in colleges and universities have a way of registering their grievances to the stakeholders or the Government through riots and protests. In situations where there are thin resources, priority will be given to universities and colleges at the expense of that rural child in Kabanda, Tongotongo and Kamanachili. So, that rural child will have no quality education. Hence, there will be no quality education that the President can increase access to.

 

Madam Speaker, like I stated, the speech was not coherent and did not provide clarity. The President said he would provide quality education, he never stated how it would be done. He never stated whether he would employ more teachers, build more classroom blocks, buy more texts books or build more computer laboratories.

 

Madam Speaker, on page 57 of the President’s Speech, the President stated as follows:

 

“Let the rivers and waters of peace unity wash away all forms of violence from our land.”

 

Madam Speaker, to me, this sounds more like a prayer than a road map. What we need is a road map. Why do I say so? We know very well that the UPND and its members were very violent in the recent elections to an extent where they murdered the Provincial Chairman for North-Western Province.

 

Madam Speaker: Order, hon. Member!

 

Are you saying that that is a matter of fact that members of the UPND –

 

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, they killed Kungo.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

The matter that you are discussing is before a competent jurisdiction. It has not yet been determined as to who murdered that person. So, as we debate, can we stick to facts and not mislead the members of the public who are listening to this debate.

 

You may continue.

 

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, it is well-known that during the elections, there was a lot of violence that was exacerbated by a certain political party which I will not mention, and they killed the PF Provincial Chairperson for the Northern-Western Province, yet the President could not come –

 

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

 

Madam Speaker: A point of order is raised.

 

Mr Haimbe: Madam Speaker, the point of order is made pursuant to Standing Order No. 65 on relevance. In addition, you have ruled on the very issue that the hon. Member continues to debate. Therefore, I rise on a point of order in respect of that continued debate, which is contrary to the clear guidance that you have given.

 

Madam Speaker, I seek your ruling.

 

Madam Speaker: The hon. Member debating is definitely out of order.

 

Hon. Member, can you, please, debate as guided and stick to facts. Refrain from discussing matters that are before competent courts of law. The Standing Orders are very clear on what should be contained in the speech.

 

Continue, but comply with the ruling of the Chair.

 

Mr Mukosa: Madam Speaker, what I am trying to say is that I find it difficult to commend this speech because the President failed to come out strongly to denounce violence, as exhibited by members of a political party who recently went to Mwinilunga to the grave site of the relatives of the former Inspector-General (IG) of Police, Mr Kanganja, and vandalised the tombstones. That is unacceptable and should be condemned by all well-meaning Zambians, including the President. However, the President failed to denounce violence in the speech. So, I have difficulty commending it.

 

Madam Speaker, on page 50 of the speech, the President made a commitment that his administration would depoliticise appointments and promotions, and improve leadership and management competencies. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, depoliticise means to remove something or someone to have no political connections.

 

Madam Speaker, when we look at most of the appointments that the President has made, you will agree with me that he is not practicing what he is preaching. What do I mean? There is nothing wrong with the President appointing anyone from the UPND or whoever he wants as long as he thinks that person can add value to his administration because it is his prerogative. However, when the President knows very well that he is appointing people who are politically inclined to the UPND, he should not come to this House and mislead hon. Members and the nation that he will not do it when in the actual sense, he is doing it. That is the point I am trying to deliver. Therefore, I support this Motion of Thanks unwillingly.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. PF Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Wamunyima (Nalolo): Madam Speaker, it is a great honour to stand before this august House. I stand before this august House in a very peculiar historic position.

 

Madam Speaker, may I, from the outset, congratulate you on the historic election as the first female Speaker of this august House. May I also extend my congratulations to the two Deputy Speakers.

 

Madam Speaker, on the dawn of 12^th August, 2021, the people of Nalolo, young and old, walked long distances to polling stations, some a stone’s throw away from the polling station, to line up and vote. Some withstood the logistical challenges in Nalolo. As the House may be aware, Nalolo was one of the constituencies that voted over night in Siluana and Makoka wards. Despite that, the people of Nalolo Constituency gave me the mandate through a resounding victory. I was not the best candidate, but I presume I was the most competent candidate.

 

Madam Speaker, may I use this opportunity to thank the good people of Nalolo for decisively electing me as their Member of Parliament. I want to pledge before this august House that I will serve the people of Nalolo diligently. I accept this noble and sacred responsibility to represent them.

 

Madam Speaker, what we saw on 12^th August, 2021, was not a victory of candidates or political parties, but a triumph of a democracy under threat. What I mean by this is that we saw a democracy which did not have the right to freely assemble.

 

Madam, as a candidate in Nalolo Constituency, I ran running battles with the police for conducting campaigns on a door to door basis, but I still emerged victorious. In this regard, I would like to thank the people of Zambia for standing on the right side of history by decisively making regime change.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Wamunyima: Madam Speaker, I would like to state before this august House that this is a grand opportunity for the Thirteenth National Assembly to strengthen the institutions of democracy in this great country.

 

Madam, I stand before this august House not only as the youngest legislator, but also the only hon. Member of Parliament from the Party of National Unity and Progress (PNUP) led by Mr Highvie Hamududu. At this time, I would like to thank my party for adopting me and for bringing a semblance of decency to the politics of this country. What we saw before the elections was the green and red division in the country. There was violence. Politics of personalities are not policies. I have come to this august House to raise the bar of politics.

 

Madam Speaker, I pledge to provide constructive checks and balances to the Government and not to oppose for the sake of opposing.

 

Madam, may I, at this juncture, thank my dear wife, Namatama, for her support when I spent over ninety days in the constituency campaigning; my immediate family, my mother, posthumously, and my late father, Mr Imanga Wamunyina Senior, who mentored me to be the young bold man I am today. Let me also thank my campaign team led by Mr Charles Mulonda, Lubasi Nawa. The list cannot be exhaustive, but I thank even those I have not mentioned, but helped me.

 

Madam, Nalolo stands in a very deplorable state. In November 2012, the late President Mr Micheal Sata. declared Nalolo Constituency a district. I stand here to say Nalolo Parliamentary Constituency does not have a district hospital, but only has three secondary schools, yet it has over 63,000 people.

 

Madam Speaker, may I also bring to the attention of this House that Nalolo is separated by the east and the west bank. The west bank is completely disconnected from accessible markets and amenities. The Kalongola/Kalabo Road has never been worked on since the advent of Independence. For one to go to the west bank of Nalolo, one has to pass through two constituencies, namely Sioma and Senanga, and it takes you the whole day to go round your own constituency. On behalf of the people of Nalolo, I would like to request the New Dawn Government to consider the Kalongola/Kalabo Road a priority.

 

Madam, Nalolo requires a district hospital. Even the main clinic does not have a mortuary. When a person dies in Nalolo, they have to be buried the same day or taken to Mongu or Senanga. Nalolo Constituency only has three secondary schools, yet it was declared a district in 2012. This constituency has not seen the face of development. Therefore, this is a grand opportunity for the New Dawn Government to deliver.

 

Madam, His Excellency President Hakainde has continued to get good votes from Nalolo even when he did not get an hon. Member of Parliament in the last elections and the just-ended elections. In summarising my maiden speech, may I say that I hope my election does not only bring quality representation to the people of Nalolo, but also inspire hope to the youths to rise up to the challenge of leadership and not just cry.

 

Madam Speaker, may I also use this opportunity, when delivering my maiden speech, to ask His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, to relook the issue of the citizens who were shot on 11^th January, 2011, in the Western Province where nineteen people died in cold blood at the instruction of the State. I would like the New Dawn Government to look at this issue by considering compensating the affected families and bringing to light the Roger Chongwe Inquiry on those particular deaths. I submit.

 

Let me now proceed and debate on the President’s Speech.

 

Madam Speaker, I will be very honest in my debate. First of all, before I make my formal remarks on the President’s Speech, may I use this opportunity, on behalf of the people of Nalolo, to thank and congratulate His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, on his election as the Seventh Republican President.

 

Madam, I would also like to thank and congratulate his running mate, Her Honour the Vice-President, Madam W. K. Mutale Nalumango. Congratulations. May I also give special recognition to the former President, His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, for allowing a smooth transition. It is easy to refuse to leave power because one can easily declare a state of emergency. This means that the Constitutional powers of the President must be reviewed in future.

 

Madam, when we come to the gravity of the President’s Speech, it shows a slight glimpse of hope to what assurances a President must make. The President affirms his economic position. However, I have a few concerns that the speech may have addressed the key thematic areas of the economy, but may have omitted to address the specific measures to be put in place.

 

Madam Speaker, I feel like this is an opportunity for presidents to present smart speeches. In this regard, I mean specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. It is not enough to state that value addition will be introduced in the agriculture sector. The question is: How long will take? That is our concern.

 

Madam Speaker, in order for us to provide proper checks and balances, we need timelines. However, I must mention that it was clearly important for the President to stamp his authority on the rule of law for past, present, and future perpetrators. His clear position on corruption gives a glimpse of hope to us, the people of Nalolo. We have been deprived of development. Therefore, we really need whatever resources that were stolen to be recovered.

 

Madam Speaker, however, a duplication of oversight institutions of creating a fast track court is not needed. It is the considered view of the PNUP, that we do not need any more institutions when we already have existing ones that can be strengthened to conduct the same functions. We already have a good example of a task force on corruption that was established in the Levy Mwanawasa New Deal Government.

 

Madam Speaker, now, in the New Dawn Government, we are talking of fast track courts. We need to strengthen the already existing institutions. They have the required mandate provided by law. All they need is a political will, which the President has already affirmed.

 

Madam, on science and technology, the President has made a clear statement that as a matter of urgency, he needs to improve the status of science and technology, research and development. This is welcome. However, the request coming from the people of Nalolo is that this great country should have or plan to have, through the New Dawn Administration, a university of science and technology with specific focus.

 

Madam, additionally, the President disclosed that this country is in dire economic straits. However, there was no specification to what extent this country is in dire economic straits. I feel that the people of Zambia have the right to know how much we owe, externally and internally. It is not enough to say, “We will fix it.” It is a huge milestone to repeal the Loans and Guarantees Act and this is exactly what Zambia needed. The Executive cannot continue to be on a borrowing spree without being checked by the Legislature, as per Constitutional provisions. We welcome this decision.

 

Madam Speaker, on economic diplomacy in our embassies and as a matter of Foreign Policy, I feel the quality of the people serving in the foreign mission, as the President’s reaffirmation, should be checked for us to advance economic diplomacy. We cannot carry on with a situation of having cadres in the Foreign Service.

 

Lastly, Madam Speaker, when it comes to value addition, it is my considered view that all we have to do is to wait and see. We cannot brag of a bumper harvest of maize when we continue to import cornflakes. Why can we not manufacture cornflakes in this country? What we have seen where Zambia has been hesitant to politically put the nation on an economic trajectory is unacceptable. It is in this regard that I see a glimpse of hope in the President’s Speech. However, the generality and the generic nature of policy pronouncements is something that must be looked at.

 

Madam Speaker, I conclude by saying, we have a good opportunity to change the fortunes of this country.

 

I submit.

 

I thank you, Madam Speaker.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwambazi (Bwana Mkubwa): Madam Speaker, thank you for according me this opportunity to deliver my maiden speech on the Floor of this House, which will be followed by my comments on the President’s Speech.

 

Madam Speaker, let me start by registering my heartfelt appreciation to the almighty God for His favour. There were many challenges during the election period, but the Almighty God remained my main source of inspiration.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also take this opportunity to congratulate our Republican President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, …

 

Hon. UPND Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwambazi: … and Her Honour the Vice-President, Mrs Mutale Nalumango, on their resounding victory during the 12^th August Election. The electorate decided on the leadership that they thought would best deliver their desired development and aspirations.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to add to the voice of many others who have congratulated you and your two Deputies on your election as Speaker, First Deputy Speaker, and Second Deputy Speaker respectively.

 

Mr Lusambo: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwambazi: The fact that all of you went unopposed is a confirmation of the great confidence that this august House has in you.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Mwambazi: Madam, I stand here because of the people of Bwana Mkubwa Constituency and for that, I really want to appreciate all the moral and material support that the ordinary people of Bwana Mkubwa put in me for me to be here. Let me extend my thanks to my dear wife, Mazuba Anna Sepile Mudenda; my children, Lukundo, Nokutula, Wane and Nsansa; my brothers, sisters, my friends, and the church community for their wavering support. My profound gratitude goes to my campaign team led by the former Mayor for the great City of Ndola, Hon. Davies Chiwala; my able chairperson, Mr Paul Chongo Musonda, and the entire constituency team, which sacrificed far beyond my expectation.

 

Madam Speaker, Bwana Mkubwa Constituency is known to be the home of almost the entire industrial area of Ndola and hosts key companies, such as Indeni Petroleum Refinery Limited, TAZAMA Mafuta, TAZAMA Pipeline, Larfage and Ndola Lime Limited. From the composition of the industries listed, it is obvious that they represent key factors to our economy and there level of performance directly reflects the performance of the economy.

 

Therefore, it is no surprise that in the last five years in which our economy was constrained by prolonged droughts, the devastating effect of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the high cost of debt servicing, my constituency was a direct beneficiary of the loss in jobs and subsequent high cost of living that came as a result of that.

 

Madam Speaker, the reduced opportunities for income generating activities and increased cost of living that my constituents experienced were in addition to the pre-existing challenges such as inadequate road infrastructure, the drainage system, which leads to recurrent flooding of houses in my constituency during the rainy season yearly, inadequate basic public health centres, inadequate water and sanitation, and slow progress to legalisation of illegal settlements that in some instances have existed since or before Independence.

 

Madam Speaker, as a Member of Parliament, my mandate from the constituency is very clear on what I am expected to bring to the attention of this august House. It is my hope and prayer that in executing the National Budget, we shall address the issues our people are faced with.

 

Madam Speaker, let me now contribute to the debate on the speech made by the President of Zambia during the Official Opening of the First Session of the Thirteenth National Assembly on 10^th September, 2021, whose theme was “Creating a United, Prosperous and Equitable Zambia: Restoring Economic Growth and Safe-guarding Livelihoods.”

 

Madam Speaker, the maiden speech by His Excellency the President, Mr Hakainde Hichilema, addressed the core challenges being faced in my constituency, and that pleases me. His Excellency the President set a developmental path that would bring into reality a prosperous and equitable society. This New Dawn Government will be characterised by affordable cost of living, which could be anchored on increased access to quality education and health care, water and sanitation.

 

Madam Speaker, however, let me quickly comment on the recruitment and deployment of skilled human resource in our health facilities, which was contained in the speech. This is a very welcome move, but I hope this can be actualised. In Bwana Mkubwa, there are many volunteer health staff, who have been working without being deployed for over five years. If this can come to pass, we will really appreciate.

 

Madam Speaker, on the issue of infrastructure development, the President said that the Government needs to come up with a framework on the maintenance of infrastructure and this is a very welcome idea. However, some infrastructure is built at a huge cost. For example, the Kafulafuta Dam, a US$440 million project that has not been completed, is going to help mitigate water challenges in five districts, namely Masaiti, Mpongwe, Kafulafuta and Ndola. 20 per cent is remaining for the project to be completed and we hope that the New Dawn Government will quickly look into that because such a huge investment is being vandalised when only 20 per cent is remaining.

 

Madam Speaker, let me also comment on the establishment of the Ministry of Small and Medium Enterprise Development. This, again, is very commendable because majority businesses in Zambia fall under this category. For us to improve our economy, we need to invest in Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). If you look at China, you will find that its dependence on SMEs is driving its economy. Therefore, the formation of this ministry is crucial. I just hope that the success of this ministry will benefit many of our brothers and sisters running small-scale industries. I hope they will have access to this ministry.

 

Madam Speaker, lastly, let me comment on the reforms and restructuring of the oversight institutions such as the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and the Office of the Auditor-General. It is important that some of these institutions become constitutional offices. Currently, some of them are not. For them to be effective, it is important that they are made constitutional offices. This will make sure that they cannot be politically influenced. If we speak about zero tolerance to corruption, it is important that these institutions are empowered or turned into constitutional offices as this is the only way zero tolerance to corruption can be achieved.

 

Madam Speaker, as I conclude my debate on the President’s Speech, I thank you so much. God bless Zambia and this august House.

 

Madam Speaker, I thank you.

 

Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sialubalo (Sinazongwe): Madam Speaker, looking at the time, let me not waste your time. May I take this opportunity to congratulate you, together with your two Deputies, on your well-deserved victory. There is fresh air now even here at Parliament like everywhere else.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to give my maiden speech. Let me thank the President of the Republic of Zambia, His Excellency Mr Hakainde Hichilema, on his resounding victory after beating his closest rival by not less than 1 million votes.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sialubalo: That, indeed, sent signals that things were not well economically in the country.

 

Madam Speaker, may I also take this opportunity to thank Her Honour the Vice-President for having been so resilient and determined. Despite her being blocked during her campaigns, she remained resolute under very difficult conditions, and she delivered. It was not easy. She was detained by a brutal regime like the Patriotic Front (PF). It never cared about who she was, and it never cared about her gender. It brutalised her. I thank her for her determination. We are now enjoying the fruits of democracy through her. 

 

Madam Speaker, may I also take this opportunity to thank –

 

Mr Lusambo: She is our mother.

 

Mr Sialubalo: Yes she is.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Mr Sialubalo: May I also take this opportunity to thank the alliance partners. Hon. Milupi was equally detained and brutalised, but he remained steadfast and resolute. We are now enjoying the fruits of democracy. At the same time, may I take this opportunity to thank the hon. Minister of Technology and Science for being resolute and determined until we won. We are now in leadership. He was brutalised, but he remained steadfast. That is what we want.

 

Madam Speaker, we have shown the PF that we mean well not only for ourselves, but for the entire country. The PF members are equally enjoying. They are free to debate or do anything that they feel they can do. That is what we fought for. That is the Zambia we wanted. We have shown them that they are our brothers, despite them harassing, detaining and doing all sorts of things to us during campaigns. They never allowed even contracts to be issued to UPND members. The politicians themselves became procurement officers.

 

Mr Lusambo: Ask Gary!

 

Mr Sialubalo: President Hakainde Hichilema says, under the UPND –

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

Hon. Members, running commentaries are not allowed. Please, allow the hon. Member on the Floor to debate without interruption.

 

The hon. Member may proceed.

 

Mr Sialubalo: Madam Speaker, I hope he has heard.

 

Madam Speaker, this UPND Government means well. It hurts sometimes, but we are human and God-fearing. So, we have to forgive them. However, we are not saying that those who embezzled from the Government will be forgiven. No.

 

Madam, the due process will take its course. We do not want a proclamation by the President that people should be arrested because he has no authority to do that. However, those with the duty to arrest or detain those who have embezzled money, which has made it very difficult for children to be given free education, have to face the wrath of the law. We are determined on that.

 

Madam Speaker, allow me to take this opportunity to thank all the people of Sinazongwe for the votes that they gave me. It was not easy, but it was possible because they were determined, looking at the misfortunes that they endured under the PF Government, which had been so ruthless to them that they had not seen any development over the last ten years.

 

Madam, we talked of the Batoka/Maamba Road, which is in a very deplorable state. Nothing was given to us. The PF did not mean well for the people of Sinazongwe. We talked about the Bottom Road, but we have not seen anything despite the Former President’s conducting a groundbreaking ceremony in Sinazongwe at Sinazeze Township. We have not seen anything to date.

 

Madam, we have not received anything for the last ten years, yet they are here telling the people that they meant well for everyone and took development to every part of the nation. Perhaps, Sinazongwe was not in Zambia at that time because we did not receive anything.

 

Madam Speaker, the difference between President Hakainde Hichilema and his closest competitor was more than 46,000 votes. We taught them a lesson. We put them ku wire because that is where they belong.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sialubalo: They did not mean well for the people of Sinazongwe.

 

Madam Speaker, the difference in votes between my closest competitor and I was 43,000 votes because the PF agitated the people of Sinazongwe. We do not want that leadership in Sinazongwe. We want a leadership that is inclusive and determined to help even those that did not vote for it. That is the leadership of the UPND, under a visionary leader, President Hakainde Hichilema. I thank him for occupying State House, at the moment, ...

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sialubalo: ... because he means well for everyone, including those who brutalised him and took him to jail for 127 days. What a leader who comes out of incarceration and says to the people who had him arrested, “I have forgiven you.” What a son of Zambia who came out of incarceration and forgave those who brutalised him and even those who were saying they would detain him once they won. They became judges and police officers instead of being politicians and leaders for everyone. I thank President Hichilema for having such a big heart. I also thank Her Honour the Vice-President for being a mother, indeed, as echoed by Hon. Lusambo.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sialubalo: Madam Speaker, the people of Sinazongwe are very happy that they have a Government that will care for them, lend them a listening ear and attend to all the problems in Sinazongwe.

 

Madam, we had a very good campaign headed by Douglas ‘The Juggler’ Mwembe. I thank all the district officials for the manner in which they campaigned because it was violence free. I also thank the entire Sialubalo for standing with me. I will never disappoint them because I am an action-oriented man.

 

Hon. Government Members: Hear, hear!

 

Mr Sialubalo: Madam Speaker, allow me to thank all the church mother bodies and church groupings in Sinazongwe which prayed for our victory.

 

Madam Speaker: Order!

 

(Debate adjourned)

 

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The House adjourned at 1255 hours until 1430 hours on Tuesday 21^st September, 2021.

 

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