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REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA

REPORT

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES

FOR THE

FOURTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

APPOINTED ON WEDNESDAY, 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2014

Printed by the National Assembly of Zambia

REPORT

OF THE

COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES

FOR THE

FOURTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

APPOINTED ON WEDNESDAY, 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2014

(i)

TABLE OF CONTENTS Item Page Membership of the Committee 1 Functions of the Committee 1 Procedure of the Committee 1 Meetings of the Committee 1

PART I – CONSIDERATION OF SUBMISSIONS ON NEW AND OUTSTANDING ASSURANCES

Ministry of Health 02/14 – Hospital Fast – Track Emergency Departments 2 03/14 – Dialysis Machines for Government Hospitals 2 04/14 – Completion of Ndeki Health Post in Lubansenshi Constituency 3 06/14 – Establishment for Doctors at Gwembe District Hospital 3 07/14 – Construction of Health Posts at Khulamayembe, Kamuzowole 4

and Bayole in Chasefu Constituency 14/14 – Completion of Clinical Officers’ Training School in Kabwe 4 Ministry of Local Government and Housing 05/14 – Solwezi Township Roads 5 09/14 – Modern Market for Solwezi 5 13/14 – Construction of Chipili District Council Houses 6 Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection 10/14 – Installation of the Zambia Integrated Land Management 6

Information System (ZILMIS) Ministry of Chiefs’ and Traditional Affairs 23/13 – Palace for Chief Simwatachela 7 24/13 – Construction of Palaces for Traditional Leaders in Serenje 8 Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health 20/14 – Mukabi and Luminu Farming Blocks for the Disabled 9 21/14 – Scaling up of the Social Cash Transfer Programme 9 Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development

19/14 – New Electricity Connections in Kalabo 13 23/14 – Rehabilitation of Dams in Pemba 13

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Office of the Vice President

24/14 – Review of the National Food and Nutrition Commission Act 14 Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock 12/14 – Improvement of Operations of Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia 15

(NCZ) 17/14 – Investments in Irrigation, Agro-processing and Livestock 15

Sectors 18/14 – Development of Sugarcane Production and Processing 20 Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications

01/14 – Upgrading Chama/Lundazi Road to Bituminous Standard 20 16/14 – Resurfacing of Chikwa Road 21 Ministry of Tourism and Arts

08/12 – Restocking of Game Management Areas (GMAs) 21 Ministry of Defence

30/13 – Resuscitation of Mulungushi Textiles 23

PART II – LOCAL TOUR REPORT Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection 10/14 – Installation of the Zambia Integrated Land Management 24

Information System (ZILMIS) Ministry of Health 03/14 – Dialysis Machines for Government 26 02/14 – Hospital Fast – Track Emergency Departments 27 14/14 – Completion of Clinical Officers’ Training School in Kabwe 28 06/14 – Establishment for Doctors at Gwembe District Hospital 29 26/13 – Health Facility Construction in Mulobezi District 30 33/10 – Measures to assist the Mentally Disturbed 31 Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications 12/09 – Lusaka-Chipata (Great East) Road 32 05/09 – Conversion of Lusaka International Airport into Air Cargo Hub 33

(iii)

Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock 12/14 – Improvement of Operations of Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) 34 17/14 – Investments in Irrigation, Agro-processing and Livestock 35

Sectors Ministry of Community Development, Mother and Child Health 21/14 – Scaling up of the Social Cash Transfer Programme 42 Ministry of Home Affairs 32/06 – Developing a Border Control Computerised System throughout 45

the Country Minister of Tourism and Arts 10/12 – Improving Accessibility to Tourism Sites 46

PART III – CONSIDERATION OF THE ACTION-TAKEN REPORT (ATR) FOR THE THIRD SESSION OF THE

ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock 18/11 – Fish Farming 47 20/13 – Diversification and Production 48 Ministry of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education 03/13 – Ntatumbila and Shemu Basic Schools 49 34/13 – Construction of Chalimbana, Mukuba and Kwame Nkrumah 49 Universities Ministry of Health 25/13 – Health Services 51 27/13 – Health Centre at Katikulula Resettlement Scheme 52 Ministry of Local Government and Housing 28/13 – Settlement Upgrading in Kwacha Constituency 53 Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications 04/13 – Machile Bridge 55 31/13 – Blacklisting of Zambian Registered Planes 55

(iv)

Ministry of Home Affairs 12/13 – Construction of Staff Houses at Chitambo Mission Police Post 56 Ministry of Mines, Energy and Water Development 14/13 – Construction of Dams in Mapatizya Constituency 57 15/13 – Requirements for Establishing Fuel Filling Stations 57 16/13 – Electrification of Rufunsa District 58 32/13 – Provincial Fuel Storage Facilities 59 Ministry of Tourism and Arts 21/13 – Mweru-Wantipa and Nsumbu National Parks 59 Ministry of Finance 01/11 – Public Financial Management 60 Ministry of Youth and Sport 29/12 – National Stadium 62 Ministry of Justice 09/13 – Local Courts at Nsumbu Business Centre 63 10/13 – Local Courts in Nakonde District 64

PART IV – LOCAL TOUR Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry 04/12 – Enhancing Value Addition among SMEs 64 Ministry of Health 11/12 – Resumption of 24-Hour Services by Health Centres in Kankoyo 66

Parliamentary Constituency Ministry of Home Affairs 02/12 – Construction of Border Posts at Kalengelenge, Jimbe, 66

Kambimba and Kamapanda Conclusion 67 Appendix I – List of Officials 68

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT ASSURANCES FOR THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTED ON WEDNESDAY, 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2014 Consisting of: Mr M Habeenzu, MP (Chairperson); Ms M G M Imenda, MP; Ms V Kalima, MP; Mr A L Lufuma, MP; Mr J S Zimba, MP; Mr A Sichula, MP; Mr R L Mpundu, MP; and Prof G Lungwangwa, MP. The Honourable Mr Speaker National Assembly Parliament Buildings LUSAKA Sir Your Committee has the honour to present its Report for the Fourth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly. FUNCTIONS OF THE COMMITTEE 2. Under Standing Order No. 155(2), your Committee is mandated to scrutinise all assurances and undertakings made by Cabinet and Deputy Ministers on the Floor of the House with the objective of ensuring that the same are implemented. Your Committee is also mandated to comment on delays in implementation and adequacy of the action taken as well as exercise such other functions as maybe assigned to your Committee by the Speaker from time to time. As your Committee is a General Purposes Committee, its mandate is not confined to any specific Ministry, but extends to all Ministries provided an assurance made on the Floor of the House relates to those ministries. PROCEDURE OF THE COMMITTEE 3. Your Committee examined all contributions made by the Executive as recorded in the Daily Parliamentary Debates and extracted statements which amounted to assurances. These were then referred to the Government ministries concerned to find out the actions taken to implement the assurances. Upon receipt of submissions from the ministries and Government departments on the assurances, your Committee then invited the respective permanent secretaries and chief executives of the concerned ministries to appear before it and give updates on the implementation of the assurances under their respective portfolios. MEETINGS OF THE COMMITTEE 4. Your Committee held thirteen meetings during the period under review to consider both outstanding assurances as well as new assurances made on the Floor of the House. The Report of your Committee is in three Parts: Part I deals with

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consideration of submissions on various new assurances identified while Part II deals with findings from your Committee’s local tour and Part III deals with outstanding assurances from the Action-Taken Report for the Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly. PART I CONSIDERATION OF SUBMISSIONS ON NEW AND OUTSTANDING ASSURANCES MINISTRY OF HEALTH 02/14 – Hospital Fast – Track Emergency Departments On Friday, 21st February, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Health assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, in line with the Government policy of improving health service delivery, the Government has already commenced the establishment of the emergency and trauma centres in all major health facilities.”

Your Committee was informed by the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Health that in its quest to improve the provision of emergency health services, the Government had initiated the establishment of comprehensive emergency centres in its various health facilities. These health facilities included the provincial hospitals, central hospitals and hospitals along major highways such as Nyimba, Mazabuka and Serenje just to mention a few. He added that some emergency centres listed hereunder were already under construction. 1. The adult medical emergency unit was under construction at the University

Teaching Hospital. This project was funded by the Eurobond and was on course. 2. Kabwe General Hospital Emergency Centre was nearing completion and medical

equipment was in the final stage of procurement. 3. The tender for the construction of Liteta District Hospital Emergency Centre, had

been floated. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations In noting the submission, your Committee resolves to await a progress report, since Emergency and Trauma Centres have not been established in the other hospitals earmarked for such facilities. 03/14 – Dialysis Machines for Government Hospitals On Tuesday, 25th February, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Health made the following assurance on the floor of the House:

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“Mr Speaker, under the hospitals' modernisation programme that my Ministry is undertaking, the Government has plans to have dialysis machines in all ten provinces.”

Your Committee was informed by the Permanent Secretary that the Government had plans under the hospitals’ modernisation programme to provide dialysis machines in all the ten provinces. However, the procurement and installation of the dialysis machines was being done in a phased approach. The first phase had reached a very advanced stage with installation of the dialysis machines at Kitwe Central Hospital and University Teaching Hospital. This also included training of doctors and nurses. The second phase would consist of Livingstone and Ndola Central Hospitals while the University Teaching Hospital would also be provided with additional machines. The Government through the Ministry of Health had already signed a contract with the supplier of the dialysis machines to be installed in the three hospitals under the second phase. The doctors and nurses in the three hospitals had already been trained and arrangements were already in place for the procurement of consumables. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that other hospitals are yet to be provided with dialysis machines. Your Committee, therefore, resolves to await a progress report on the matter. 04/14 – Completion of Ndeki Health Post in Lubansenshi Constituency On Tuesday, 25th February, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Health made the following assurance on the floor of the House:

“Mr Speaker, the construction works at Ndeki Health Post stalled after the termination of the previous contract... the completion is on course. The evaluation was done and an appropriate contractor was picked.”

Your Committee was informed that the construction of Ndeki Health Post was underway and had been contracted out to Sicrwa Enterprises. The contractor was currently doing the finishes to the building and it was anticipated that construction works should be completed before the end of the first quarter of 2015. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await a report since construction is underway. 06/14 – Establishment for Doctors at Gwembe District Hospital On Tuesday, 25th February, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Health assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, the staff establishment for doctors at Gwembe District Hospital is five. There should be two general medical officers, one medical officer in-charge and two senior resident medical officers ...”

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Sir, the filling of positions in the establishment is an ongoing process. Therefore, the Government will send more doctors to fill the vacancies within the course of the year.”

Your Committee was informed that as assured in February, 2014, the Ministry of Health posted two Senior Resident Medical Officers to Gwembe District Hospital during the year. The two doctors were an addition to the other two Senior Resident Medical Officers and one General Medical Officer who were at the facility. Therefore, there were five Medical Doctors on the facility payroll. Your Committee was further informed that the General Medical Officer and one Senior Resident Medical had since proceeded on study leave while one Senior Resident Medical Officer had since been promoted to act as District Community Medical Officer in the newly created District of Pemba. Hence, there were currently two Senior Resident Medical Officers operating at the Hospital. In addition, the District Community Medical Officer for Gwembe also complimented the two Medical Doctors currently operating at the Hospital. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations In noting the submission, your Committee resolves to await a progress report until all the vacancies at the facility are filled. 07/14 – Construction of Health Posts at Khulamayembe, Kamuzowole and Bayole in Chasefu Constituency On Wednesday, 26th February, 2014, the Minister of Health assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, the Government has plans to construct health posts at the named places in Chasefu.”

The Permanent Secretary informed your Committee that the construction of the above Health Posts in Chasefu Constituency was being done as part of the programme towards construction of 650 Health Posts in Zambia. The Contractor, Jaguar Overseas Limited, was currently working in Chadiza, Nyimba, Chipata and Katete Districts and was expected to commence construction of health posts in Lundazi District in March/April, 2015, after the rainy season. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations In noting the submission, your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the commencement of the construction of the health posts. 14/14 – Completion of Clinical Officers’ Training School in Kabwe On Tuesday, 6th March, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Health assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, the completion is earmarked for 2014.”

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Your Committee was informed that the rehabilitation of the proposed Clinical Officers Training School in Kabwe was completed in June, 2014. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that construction of the school is complete and, therefore, urges Government that the school be opened to the public for training, as soon as it was reasonably practicable. Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter. MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING 05/14 – Solwezi Township Roads On Tuesday 25th February, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing made the following assurance:

“Mr Speaker, the Government has got money to work on those roads.” The Permanent Secretary informed your Committee that the Government had completed the procurement process for Solwezi Township roads and the contractor was selected. However, the road works were unable to commence due to budgetary constraints Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that when the assurance was made on the Floor of the House, it was stated that the Government had money. The Permanent Secretary has informed your Committee that there are budgetary constraints. Your Committee requests that this position be clarified. A progress report is awaited on the matter. 09/14 – Modern Market for Solwezi On Wednesday, 26th February, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing made the following assurance on the Floor of the House:

“Sir, the Ministry intends to construct a multi-storey market in Solwezi District.” Your Committee was informed that the Government had completed the procurement process for the construction of the modern market in Solwezi and the contractor had been selected. The Ministry was currently sourcing for funds for the project to start. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that the project is yet to commence and, therefore, resolves to await a progress report on the matter.

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13/14 – Construction of Chipili District Council Houses On Tuesday, 6th March, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, the construction of staff houses for Chipili District Council is earmarked for completion in September, 2014.”

It was reported that progress on the construction of these houses currently stood at 30 per cent with the super structure being worked on. The untimely release of funds had contributed largely to delays in the execution of works although on the other hand, there had also been a variation to the initial scope of works which led to an extension of time of performance. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that the project has been delayed due to untimely release of funds as well as variations to the initial scope of work. Your Committee urges the Government to release the funds so that the project can be completed. Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter. MINISTRY OF LANDS, NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 10/14 – Installation of the Zambia Integrated Land Management Information System (ZILMIS) On Tuesday, 6th March, 2014, the Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, in June, 2014, my Ministry will complete the implementation of the ZILMIS.”

Your Committee was informed by the Permanent Secretary that on 24th January, 2013, the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection commenced the development of a new robust computerised land information system called the Zambia Integrated Land Management Information System (ZILMIS). The need to develop a new system arose due to weaknesses in security, reliability, integrity and efficiency in the old land administration system called the Land Information Management System (LIMS), which was predominantly manual with all its attendant deficiencies. Therefore, the new system once fully operational was meant to address these shortcomings and fully computerise the land administration system processes. Your Committee was also informed that the implementation of the ZILMIS commenced on 21st July, 2014. Currently, all transactions were being performed on the new system. The old system (LIMS) had since been shut down. However, other activities were still on-going such as data cleaning and fine-tuning of the new system. Further, the Ministry

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was currently in the process of rolling out the system to Provincial Centres. Two Provincial Centres namely Ndola and Chipata had been piloted to test the ability for remote access and transaction processing. Once these Centres were fully operational, the Government would decentralise the processing and issuance of land related documents such as the Certificates of Title. The Committee was further informed that the Ministry was also in the process of interfacing and integrating ZILMIS with other relevant Government information systems such as IFMIS at Ministry of Finance, Ascuda World at Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) and INRIS at the Department of National Registration in the Ministry of Home Affairs. ZILMIS was expected to be officially commissioned within the first quarter of 2015. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations In noting the progress made, your Committee resolves to await an update on the commissioning of ZILMIS. MINISTRY OF CHIEFS’ AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS 23/13 – Palace for Chief Simwatachela On 12th December, 2012, the Deputy Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs made the following assurance:

“Mr Speaker, the construction of palaces for chiefs in Zambia will commence this year, 2013. The Ministry is currently working out modalities for a standard design and the criteria for distribution. Sir, there is a provision in the 2013 Budget for the construction and rehabilitation of palaces amounting to K11,215,500”.

The Permanent Secretary informed your Committee that no works had commenced on the construction of Chief Simwatachela’s Palace. This was because in the first phase, Chief Simwatachela’s Palace was not among the first three palaces that were earmarked for construction for Chiefs in Southern Province. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee is disappointed that despite an assurance being made to construct the Palace for Chief Simwatachela, this Palace is not among the first three palaces to be constructed in Southern Province. Your Committee recommends that Chief Simwatachela’s Palace be considered among the first to be constructed in view of the assurance. They await a progress report on the matter.

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24/13 – Construction of Palaces for Traditional Leaders in Serenje On 1st March, 2013, the Minister of Chiefs and Traditional Affairs made the following undertaking:

“Mr Speaker, the construction of palaces will commence this year, 2013, after the completion of preparatory work. As we all know in this August House, there is a provision in the 2013 Budget for the construction and rehabilitation of palaces in amounts totalling to K11,215,500. The Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication has submitted the plans for palaces which will be discussed by the House of Chiefs as it convenes on 18th March, 2013. Let me also take this opportunity, Mr Speaker, to say to this August House that our assessment around the country depicts that we do not have many palaces as per the English Dictionary. What we have are just little huts in some places or just what would be a house. So, I think we have a lot of work to do to construct these palaces. We have decided, as a Ministry, to do a lot of preparatory work of assessments, proper drawings, and to listen to histories of particular chiefdoms so that the palaces depict this history. We also want to add value to the palaces so that, like everywhere else in the world, they are part of our tourist attractions.

The Chiefs in Serenje District are as follows:

1. Senior Chief Muchinda; 2. Chief Kabamba; 3. Chief Chisomo; 4. Chief Chitambo; 5. Chief Mailo; 6. Chieftainess Serenje; 7. Chief Muchinka; and 8. Chief Chibale.”

From the list of Chiefs above, the Ministry had earmarked to construct Chieftainess Serenje’s Palace in the first phase of the programme of construction of Chiefs Palaces. A total of K1,228,540.50 was disbursed to the Provincial Administration, Central Province as at December, 2014, for the construction of three Chiefs Palaces in the Province, including Chieftainess Serenje’s Palace. Construction of palaces for the other Chiefs in Serenje District would be done in the next phases which were yet to be determined by the Ministry. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes the submission and resolves to await a progress report on the matter.

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MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, MOTHER AND CHILD HEALTH 20/14 – Mukabi and Luminu Farming Blocks for the Disabled On Tuesday, 17th June, 2014, the Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, plans are underway to develop the Luminu Mukabi farming blocks.” The Permanent Secretary submitted that the Government of the Republic of Zambia through the Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities (ZAPD) disbursed funds to Luminu and Mukabi Farming Blocks through the Provincial ZAPD office in the first week of December, 2014. The disbursed funds amounted to K18,000 broken down as follows; K13,000 for the purchase of chickens and goats and K5,000 for training. The disbursed funds to Luapula Province were for training of persons with disabilities in chicken and goats rearing. The other funds were for purchasing of the chickens and goats to be given to the trained persons with disabilities as capital. The number of persons with disabilities trained in chicken and goat rearing was as follows; Mukabi Farm block, nineteen and Luminu Farm block, fifteen. The Zambia Agency for Persons with Disabilities had grown ten hectares of maize in Mukabi farm block in the 2014-2015 farming season. The amount disbursed for this activity amounted to K47,760.00 and was disbursed in late October, 2014. It was further planned that the Agency procures a tractor to service farm blocks in 2015. This would increase the scale of production and lead to trickledown effect to persons with disabilities within and outside the farm blocks. Furthermore, consultations were on-going with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (Luapula Province) on how Mukabi farming block could be turned into a breeding centre for sheep and goats in 2016. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes the submission and resolves to await a further progress report on the matter especially in view of the proposed developments which are yet to be implemented. 21/14 – Scaling up of the Social Cash Transfer Programme On Tuesday, 24th June, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health made the following assurance on the floor of the House:

“The Government has been implementing the programme in selected districts since 2003 and this year, a decision was reached to scale it up to the rest of the districts not served.”

Your Committee was informed that the Government had been implementing the Social Cash Transfer (SCT) Programme since 2003. The programme was started as a pilot in

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Kalomo District and had been scaled up to other districts in a phased manner and was until 2013 being implemented in nineteen realigned districts as shown in Table 01 below. TABLE 1: 2003 TO 2013 – DISTRICTS S/N District No. of Beneficiaries Province 1 Kalomo 3,128 Southern 2 Zimba 1,349 Southern 3 Kazungula 2,578 Southern 4 Monze 3,936 Southern 5 Chipata 5,825 Eastern 6 Katete 5,298 Eastern 7 Sinda 3,934 Eastern 8 Kaputa 7,605 Northern 9 Nsama 5,733 Northern 10 Shang’ombo 4,178 Western 11 Sioma 3,003 Western 12 Kalabo 9,204 Western 13 Sikongo 4,251 Western 14 Luwingu 5,974 Northern 15 Serenje 3,216 Central 16 Chitambo 2,472 Central 17 Zambezi 6,072 North-Western 18 Milenge 2,843 Luapula 19 Chiengi 3,285 Luapula At the end of 2013, the Government made a decision to increase the funding to the programme from K17,500, 000.00 to K150,000, 000.00 for the year 2014. With this increment in funding, the Ministry embarked on a rapid scale up and in 2014, added thirty-one new districts bringing the total number of districts implementing the programme to fifty. The thirty-one new districts added are shown in Table 2. S/N District No. of Beneficiaries Province 1 Chilubi 2,096 Northern 2 Senanga 2,994 Western 3 Nalolo 1,812 Western 4 Chinsali 3,034 Muchinga 5 Lufyanyama 2,251 Copperbelt 6 Luangwa 1,415 Lusaka 7 Lunga 1,451 Luapula 8 Shiwang’angu 1,875 Muchinga 9 Lukulu 4,451 Western 10 Mitete 1,078 Western 11 Chavuma 959 North-Western 12 Mporokoso 2,245 Northern 13 Mwense 1,499 Luapula 14 Chipili 1,636 Luapula

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15 Nchelenge 2,487 Luapula 16 Kawambwa 1,962 Luapula 17 Mwansabombwe 1,701 Luapula 18 Itezhi-Tezhi 1,936 Central 19 Isoka 1,752 Muchinga 20 Mafinga 1,868 Muchinga 21 Mufumbwe 1,725 North-Western 22 Mungwi 2,601 Northern 23 Mambwe 2,588 Eastern 24 Petauke 6,698 Eastern 25 Gwembe 2,588 Southern 26 Luanshya 492 Copperbelt 27 Livingstone 532 Southern 28 Ndola 654 Copperbelt 29 Kitwe 791 Copperbelt 30 Lusaka 870 Lusaka 31 Samfya 2,552 Luapula The Ministry had planned to reach full country coverage by 2016, in a phased manner. However, this target might not be met as the amount of K150,000,000.00 allocated in 2014, had been maintained in 2015, which would make scaling up to the planned twenty-seven districts in 2015 difficult. The Ministry could only scale up to the twenty-seven districts planned for 2015, if additional funding was made available from the Treasury. Table 3 and Table 4 show districts planned for scale up plan for 2015 and 2016, respectively. TABLE 3: DISTRICTS PLANNED FOR 2015 S/N District Projected No. of Beneficiaries Province 1 Nyimba 3,401 Eastern 2 Chama 4,040 Muchinga 3 Lundazi 12,535 Eastern 4 Chadiza 2,399 Eastern 5 Vubwi 1,705 Eastern 6 Limulunga 2,067 Western 7 Nakonde 5,143 Muchinga 8 Kaoma 2,429 Western 9 Luampa 1,823 Western 10 Nkeyama 3,618 Western 11 Sinazongwe 4,215 Southern 12 Mongu 5,249 Western 13 Mpulungu 3,678 Northern 14 Namwala 3,734 Southern 15 Kabompo 1,599 North-Western 16 Manyinga 1,743 North-Western 17 Kapiri-Mposhi 11,841 Central

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18 Mazabuka 5,750 Southern 19 Chikankata 2,014 Southern 20 Mbala 6,771 Northern 21 Mansa 7,659 Luapula 22 Chembe 1,359 Luapula 23 Mpika 6,403 Muchinga 24 Chibombo 9,471 Central 25 Chisamba 3,429 Central 26 Chongwe 4,223 Lusaka 27 Rufunsa 1,503 Lusaka TABLE 4: DISTRICTS PLANNED FOR 2016 S/N District Projected No. of Beneficiaries Province 1 Sesheke 1,328 Western 2 Mulobezi 923 Western 3 Mwandi 759 Western 4 Siavonga 2,690 Southern 5 Kasempa 1,876 North-Western 6 Solwezi 6,644 North-Western 7 Choma 4,517 Southern 8 Pemba 1,680 Southern 9 Mpongwe 2,209 Copperbelt 10 Kasama 5,302 Northern 11 Masaiti 2,164 Copperbelt 12 Mkushi 3,064 Central 13 Luano 558 Central 14 Mumbwa 3,409 Central 15 Sibuyunji 954 Central 16 Chingola 3,307 Copperbelt 17 Kafue 3,075 Lusaka 18 Chilanga 1,446 Lusaka 19 Kabwe 2,586 Central 20 Mwinilunga 1,380 North-Western 21 Ikelenge 420 North-Western 22 Chililabombwe 746 Copperbelt 23 Kalulushi 730 Copperbelt 23 Mufulira 1,122 Copperbelt 25 Chirundu 1,513 Lusaka Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that due to inadequate funds, the Social Cash Transfer programme will not be scaled up at the pace planned by the Ministry. Your Committee urges the Government to find ways and means of sufficiently funding the programme so that more vulnerable people can be reached. Your Committee requests to be availed a progress report on the roll-out of the programme.

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MINISTRY OF MINES, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT

19/14 – New Electricity Connections in Kalabo

On Tuesday, 1st July, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development made the following assurance on the Floor of the House:

“A solution has now been found. ZESCO has signed annual running contracts with suppliers to ensure a steady flow of the materials.”

Your Committee was informed that as at 6th February, 2015, a total of 330 wood poles, 48 km of 100mmsq of conductor and other line construction accessories had been delivered to Kalabo in an attempt to clear the pending backlog. As a result of these deliveries, some works had been done.

Subsequent to the Government Assurance, a total of 154 works were pending under Kalabo. Out of these works, a total of 117 works had so far been completed and commissioned giving a balance of thirty-seven pending works as at 6th February, 2015. However, ZESCO had received a total of ninety-eight new applications for construction works giving the latest backlog of 135 works.

The outsourced contractor, EPL Contractors, who was, in July, 2014 assigned the construction works in the area, declined to execute the works citing challenges with the water logged terrain in Kalabo and proposed revised labour rates to undertake the same works. ZESCO declined to review the rates upwards and the contract had seen been terminated. ZESCO was currently working with local contractors to carry out construction works in various districts to reduce the backlog of pending jobs.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations

Your Committee notes the submission and resolves to await a progress report. 23/14 – Rehabilitation of Dams in Pemba

On 1st July, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, the Ministry is in the process of disbursing funds to the Provincial Water Officer (PWO) to come up with a detailed assessment, design and bill of quantities for Munyama, Ndondi and Nadubinga dams and K250,000 has already been put aside for the purpose. So anytime soon, we will start the process.”

Your Committee was informed as set out hereunder.

(i) Munyama Dam

Funds to carryout detailed designs were disbursed to the Provincial Water Officer in Southern Province and a report on the detailed design and bill of quantities for

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Munyama Dam had since been done. Funds amounting to K520,000 were disbursed in December, 2014, for the rehabilitation of Munyama Dam. The Ministry through the Southern Province Water Office was in the process of preparing Bid Documents and the works would be advertised so that a contractor could be awarded in order to start the works after the rainy season in 2015. (ii) Ndondi Dam

The Ministry had sent a team of officers to inspect the dam. The dam was in good condition except for the sill which had a crack and was allowing water to pass under it. An assessment would be carried out after the rainy season to ascertain the cost of repairing the crack.

(iii) Nachibanga Dam

Nadubinga (Nachibanaga) dam was inspected and it was observed that the spillway had developed a deep gully (spill way is eroded) which needed urgent attention. To this effect, a detailed assessment was yet to be done in 2015.


Your Committee notes the submission and resolves to await a progress report. OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

24/14 – Review of the National Food and Nutrition Commission Act On Wednesday 15th June, 2014, the Deputy Minister in the Office of the Vice-President assured the House as follows:

“The review of the National Food and Nutritional Commission Act has been included in the Ministry of Health 2014 policy. Therefore, the exercise will commence in 2014.”

Your Committee was informed that the Ministry of Health was committed to improving the legal frame-work that related to food and nutrition in the country. To this effect, the Ministry of Health was working in close consultations with key stakeholders. In 2014, the Ministry commenced the review process of the current National Food and Nutrition Commission Act, Chapter 308 of 1975. So far, two consultative meetings with stakeholders had been held and the first layman’s draft Bill had been developed. The legislative approval process was expected to commence by the end of the 1st quarter of 2015, after completion of the Regulatory Impact Assessment and upon building consensus on the final layman’s draft. The proposed Bill was aimed at promoting the attainment of optimal nutritional status for the Nation and also to enhance the operations of the National Food and Nutrition Commission.

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Your Committee observes that the current National Food and Nutrition Commission Act is an obsolete piece of legislation, which required immediate review. Your Committee recommends that the consultation process and other procedures being undertaken in the review process should be expedited so that the Bill can be presented to Parliament for enactment. Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK 12/14 – Improvement of Operations of Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) On Thursday, 6th March, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, the Government intends to improve the operations of NCZ through continued re-capitalisation and rehabilitation of the plant …”

Your Committee was informed by the Permanent Secretary that the Government had continued to improve the operations of NCZ through recapitalisation and rehabilitation of the plant. The Government recapitalised NCZ with K25 million for the rehabilitation of the Ammonium Nitrate Plant in September, 2012. The rehabilitation of the Ammonium Nitrate Plant was completed in September, 2013 and the plant was commissioned in the same month. Continued rehabilitation of the Ammonium Nitrate Plant was being financed by the money realised through contracts awarded to NCZ by the Government to supply basal dressing fertilizer under the Farmer Input Support Programme (FISP). NCZ had used such resource to procure thirty Ammonium tanks which would enable the company to sale Ammonium Nitrate solution to the mines. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations

Your Committee observes that NCZ was recapitalised to necessitate rehabilitation of its production plants. Your Committee resolves to await an update on the rehabilitation and operationalisation of the plants, especially the one for the production of Ammonium Nitrate. 17/14 – Investments in Irrigation, Agro-processing and Livestock Sectors On Tuesday, 17th June, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock made the following assurance:

“Sir, the Government has made significant investments in the development of farming blocks, irrigation schemes, agro-processing, livestock and animal health services ...”

Your Committee was informed as set out hereunder.

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(a) Farm Blocks (i) Luena Farm Block

A total of 816 farms were demarcated in Luena Farm Block in Kawambwa District, Luapula Province. Further, construction of Milindu and Kasumba Dams within the same Farm Block was completed in 2014. In addition, upgrading to bituminous standard of a 112 km main road through the Farm Block was under way as part of the Link Zambia 8000. A 40 km all weather gravel road off Chisembe turn off passing through Chibote and Kota Kota to Chief Chama’s Palace was near completion. ZESCO had also conducted some preliminary assessment of the power distribution network of the Farm Block.

(ii) Nansanga Farm Block

A total of 353 medium and smallholder plots were allocated to Zambian citizens in 2013. Most farms were not active as they were depending on the establishment of an out-grower scheme with the core venture investor who had not yet been allocated following the withdrawal of the first investor who was selected.

A 2.5 km irrigation furrow was rehabilitated, whilst a 23 km road was graded. Infrastructure in the Farm Block was on care and maintenance and this included a 151 km trunk road, three bridges, thirty-three boreholes, 103 km of 33 kv power line and 66 km of 11 kv power line, three irrigation dams, and a 4 km irrigation canal at Saasa Dam.

(iii) Luswishi Farm Block

A 7 km access road out of the targeted 21 km was graveled in Luswishi Farm Block in Lufwanyama District. Further, a total of 5,000 hectares of land of the Core Venture was offered to Global Plantation Limited. The company had cleared the land for intensive agricultural production. 250 hectares of soy beans and 100 hectares of sunflower were under production. The production had created 500 jobs for the local community. The production from the farm was used as feed in the processing of oil products such as cooking oil and soap in Ndola. Further, a 2 km power distribution line had been constructed to supply power to the core venture.


Your Committee notes the amount of investments that the Government has put in place in the various farm blocks and hopes they will be implemented on time to ensure that the farm blocks become viable. Your Committee observes that in Nansanga Farm Block, most farmers were not active as they were depending on the establishment of an out-grower scheme with the core venture investor who had not yet been allocated due to the withdrawal of the first one. Your Committee recommends that the Government should urgently facilitate for the identification of a core venture investor in Nansanga so that the farmers can become productive. Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter.

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(b) Irrigation Schemes

Your Committee was informed that the Government intended to put over 17,500 hectares under irrigation by 2016. This was being carried out through five projects namely; Small Scale Irrigation (SIP), Irrigation Development Support Project (IDSP), Agriculture Productivity and Market Enhancement Project (APMEP), Finland Government Expanded SIP and JICA-COBSSI-T Project as set out below. Through these interventions, the Government would put 12,952 hectares of land under irrigation targeting 9,300 beneficiaries in thirty-three formal identified sites.

(i) Small Scale Irrigation Project (SIP) was funded by the Government of Finland and

through the African Development Bank (AfDB). This project had completed construction of Neganega Irrigation Scheme (495 hectares), Nzenga Irrigation Scheme (98 hectares) and Muleyabulima Irrigation Scheme (100 hectares). Land leveling had been completed and the farms were ready to commence production.

(ii) The Irrigation Development Support Project (IDSP) has detailed design of the 65 million cubic meter capacity dam to be put up in Mwomboshi, Chisamba District was complete. Pre-qualification tendering process to select a company to construct the three Schemes had been completed. About 3,200 hectares at Mwomboshi site, 300 hectares at Lusitu site and 1,200 hectares at Musakashi site had been targeted to be put under irrigation.

(iii) The Community Based Smallholder Irrigation (T-COBSI) Project jointly funded by

the Government of Japan through JICA and GRZ would contribute 950 hectares of irrigated land in Northern, Luapula and Muchinga Provinces.

(iv) The Agriculture Productivity and Market Enhancement Project (APMEP) funded

through a grant from the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP) has set aside US$19 million for irrigation development. The targeted districts were Gwembe, Sinazongwe, Rufunsa, Chongwe, Chitambo and Serenje where ten irrigation schemes would be developed covering 2,032 hectares and targeting 4,115 farmers.

(v) Prefeasibility studies were being conducted under the Government of Finland

support for expanded small scale irrigation projects in Eastern (Petauke, Lundazi, Chipata and Chadiza), Northern (Kasama, Mbala, Luwingu) and Muchinga (Isoka, Chinsali and Shiwang’andu). In 2015, the project intended to embark on full feasibility and other related studies.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that most investments under the irrigation scheme were in their formative stage. Your Committee, therefore, resolves to await a progress report on the matter.

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(c) Livestock and Animal Health Services

(i) Livestock Production

Under livestock, the construction and rehabilitation of infrastructure, stocking and restocking of livestock in the following breeding and production centers was done:

(i) Mukulaikwa in Shibuyunji; (ii) Mbesuma in Chinsali;

(iii) Kanchindu in Sinazongwe; (iv) Chishinga in Kawambwa; (v) Kanyama in Mwinilunga;

(vi) Jiwundu in Solwezi; (vii) Kalungwishi in Mporokoso;

(viii) Chief Mwase in Lundazi; and (ix) Senanga in Shang’ombo.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that there is a lot of investment that is going into the livestock sector particularly the development of livestock and animal health services, albeit scarce funds. Your Committee recommends that the Government should allocate more resources to this sector as it is key in alleviating poverty especially in the rural areas. A progress report is awaited. (ii) Regional Laboratories

To reduce the work at the Central Veterinary Research Institute (CVRI) and the time farmers have to wait to get their results for their samples, the Ministry was constructing regional laboratories. Progress that has been made in the rehabilitation and construction of regional diagnostic laboratories was as follows:

the construction of the Choma Regional Diagnostic Laboratory was

completed except for the fittings (benches, sinks etc) which were not budgeted for in the initial bill of quantities;

Chipata Regional Diagnostic Laboratory was rehabilitated and was 100 per cent completed;

the construction of the new laboratory in Mongu District was on-going and was 85 per cent completed;

the construction of the new laboratory in Solwezi District was on-going and was 95 per cent completed; and

the construction of the new laboratory in Kasama District was on-going.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that none of the regional laboratories were operational. Your Committee resolves to await for a progress report on the matter.

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(iii) Dip Tanks To control tick borne diseases in the country, Government was rehabilitating and constructing dip tanks throughout the country. By dipping the animals, the disease prevalence would be reduced. Work that had been done so far was as follows:

contracts have been awarded for rehabilitation and construction of 230 dip

tanks. Of these, twelve had been completed as follows; - two in Lufwanyama, two in Kitwe, one in Mumbwa and one in Isoka

District; and one Monze, one in Mpongwe and one in Choma (in 2013, twenty dip tanks were rehabilitated).

132 dip tanks were at various stages of construction or rehabilitation. Tenders for the construction of eight-six (86) dip tanks had been awarded and contracts were in the process of moving to the sites.

In the 2013 budget, one dip tank was constructed at Mwase in Lundazi and twenty dip tanks were rehabilitated (eleven in Mazabuka, three in Nakonde, two in Isoka, one in Kazungula, one in Mafinga, one in Kalomo and one in Serenje). Committee’s Observations and Recommendations

Your Committee observes that the construction of dip tanks country wide is in progress. Your Committee, therefore, await a progress report on the matter.

(iv) Check Points

To control the movement of animals from one area to the other, check points were mounted at strategic positions along the main routes in the country. These helped in controlling the spread of diseases. During the 2014 period, one check point was constructed at Nalusanga in Mumbwa District.

(v) Cattle Vaccination

To reduce prevalence of the major disease in the country, the Ministry vaccinated cattle against East Coast Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease and Contagious Bovine Pleuropnuemonia (CBPP).

(vi) Aerial Spraying

In 2014, the Department of Veterinary Services undertook tsetse control activities in parts of Sesheke, Mulobezi and Mwandi Districts of Western Province. The area covered was about 500 km². This was done to control tsetse flies, the vectors that transmit the parasites that cause trypanosomiasis.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes and commends the Government for the efforts being put in place to control movement of animals and vaccinate livestock against various diseases. Your Committee recommends for more resource allocation to disease control mechanisms so

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that the livestock populations can increase. They await a progress report on the matter.

(d) Agro Processing: Some private sector players had over the last few years invested in the following areas:

(i) expansion of beef and poultry processing, for example, Southern and

Copperbelt, chicken and real meat company; (ii) maize milling in Kapiri-Mposhi (Chinese company), Solwezi (APG Milling and

Simba Milling), Kasama and Chipata (Simba Milling). (iii) milk processing by Varum Limited; and (iv) stock feed production by Pembe Milling Company.


Your Committee notes the investments in the agro-processing sector. Your Committee, however, urges the Government to create an enabling environment that will enhance the participation by more private sector players especially local investors. 18/14 – Development of Sugarcane Production and Processing On Tuesday, 17th June, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, there are also plans to facilitate the development of sugarcane production and processing.”

Your Committee was informed by the Permanent Secretary that not much had taken place in this area except for plans which were in place for investment in the Luena Farm Block for sugar production and processing as well as plans for sugarcane production in Shang’ombo district. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations

Your Committee observes the lack of activity under this assurance, and resolves to await a progress report on the matter. MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, WORKS, SUPPLY AND COMMUNICATIONS

01/14 – Upgrading Chama/Lundazi Road to Bituminous Standard On Friday, 21st February, 2014, the Deputy Minister made the following assurance on the Floor of the house:

“Mr Speaker, I wish to inform the House that the upgrading to bituminous standard of the Chama/Lundazi Road shall be procured this year now that the feasibility studies have been completed.”

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Your Committee was informed that the upgrading of the Chama Lundazi Road to bituminous standard was part of the Link Zambia 8000 phase II road project. Your Committee was further informed that the techo-economic feasibility and detailed engineering designs for the Isoka to Muyombe to Chama and on to Lundazi were finalised in 2011. However, due to financial constraints, construction works to upgrade the roads had not commenced. The Government was however, discussing with Shanghai Construction which expressed interest to finance and construct the above mentioned road through the Exim Bank of China. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes the submission and resolves to await a progress report on the matter. 16/14 – Resurfacing of Chikwa Road On Wednesday, 17th June, 2014, the Deputy Minister assured the House in the following words:

“Mr Speaker, the Road Development Agency through the Local Roads Authority is considering the reconstruction of this section of the road under the Lusaka Urban Roads Programme.”

Your Committee was informed that the resurfacing of the Chikwa Road in Lusaka would be prioritised and included in the 2017 Road Sector Annual Work Plan. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that despite the assurance being made in 2014, resurfacing of Chikwa Road will only be prioritised in the 2017 Road Sector Work Plan. Your Committee wishes to express disappointment at such manner of planning and urges the Government to reconsider its position on this road. A progress report is being awaited. MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND ARTS

08/12 – Restocking of Game Management Areas (GMAs) On Friday, 16th March, 2013, the Minister of Tourism and Arts made the following assurance on the Floor of the House:

“Mr Speaker, all GMAs whose stocks are depleted are being considered for restocking.”

Your Committee was updated as set out hereunder. Translocation of animals was planned in the following areas:

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1. Nsumbu National Park; 2. Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park; 3. Lusenga Plains Park; 4. Lochinvar National Park; 5. Lower Zambezi National Park; and 6. Lusaka National Park.

However, translocations of animals were conducted in the national parks as set out below. Lusaka National Park (2010 to 2013) The National Park required an attractive stock of game for it to be opened to the public for tourism purposes. Animal species translocated were: Blesbok, Nyala, Wildebeest, Eland, Warthog, Impala, Sable, Kudu, White Rhino and Zebra.

Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park (2011 to 2013) The park required restocking to boost tourism. The United Nations World Tourism Organisation was targeted and the following animal species were translocated into the park: Impala, Sable, Zebra, Wildebeest and Kudu. Nsumbu National Park The planned translocations were never conducted because it was decided that the park protection needed to be enhanced before animals were translocated into the park. The infrastructure to enhance the park protection had not been funded and, therefore, the translocation had not yet taken place. Translocations for Lochinvar and Lower Zambezi National Parks were yet to be funded. No translocation for Game Management Areas had been planned until when concrete partnerships were made. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations

Your Committee observes that translocations in Game Management Areas and some national parks had not taken place due to lack of funds. Your Committee notes that the tourism sector particularly wildlife has the potential to significantly contribute to the country’s GDP. However, the Government’s investments in this sector are half-hearted. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Government should prioritise the wildlife sector by committing to such activities as translocation of animals to areas which have been depleted. Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter. Mweru-Wa-Ntipa National Park Your Committee was updated that Mweru-Wa-Ntipa National Park was declared a national park in 1971. It was approximately 3,134 km² (313,400 hectares) in size. The park was haven to vast herds of elephant and a large population of crocodiles. Currently, the national park was under-stocked in terms of wildlife and fish population due to human activities resulting from illegal settlements.

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At an inter-ministerial meeting held at the House of Chiefs in 2014, two options were identified concerning the encroachment in the park:

(i) to resettle the communities and give them an alternative land; or

(ii) excising-off the encroached portions of Mweru-Wa-Ntipa National Park by degazetting and re-gazetting the remaining extent of the national park.

It was later decided at another meeting held in Lusaka that part of the encroached portions of the Mweru-Wa-Ntipa National Park be excised-off by de-gazetting and re-gazetting the remaining extent of the National Park.

In view of the anticipated negative impact of the proposed degazetment of the portion of Mweru-Wa-Ntipa National Park and the associated tourism activities, ZAWA advised the Ministry of Tourism and Art against allowing the proposal of degazetting part of the national park, but consider the option of resettling the people to other areas outside the park because degazetting part of the National Park would:

(i) destroy the whole national park and all the future opportunities for the

development of sustainable nature based tourism; (ii) leave a number of people currently engaged in tourism activities jobless and the

current revenue accruing to the local community would also be lost thereby increasing poverty levels; and

(iii) set a bad precedent for other encroached areas like Mumbwa Game Management Area, Lukusuzi, Lower Zambezi where efforts to resettle people were beginning to bear fruit.

With regard to increasing fish stock, your Committee was informed that the Government should de-silt the Mofwe canal to tap water from Kalungwishi River and increase water levels in Lake Mweru-Wa-Ntipa. Kalungwishi River flowed all year round and the water just flowed to Congo DRC through Lake Mweru-Wa-Ntipa. After the water levels had increased in Mweru-Wa-Ntipa, an arrangement could be made with the Department of Fisheries for fingerlings to be released in Lake Mweru-Wa-Ntipa. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that there are challenges of encroachment in Mweru-Wa-Ntipa National Park which have serious repercussions on the development of the Park. Your Committee agrees with the recommendation from ZAWA that the people who have settled in the Park should be resettled outside the Park rather than excising-off the encroached parts. Your Committee resolves to await a progress report. MINISTRY OF DEFENCE

30/13 – Resuscitation of Mulungushi Textiles On Friday, 7th December, 2012, His Honour the Vice-President made the following undertaking:

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“Mr Speaker, my understanding of the PF policy position on selling cotton in the Eastern Province is not to withhold the cotton from the out-grower operators. That, obviously, was not feasible and I am sure the President did not actually say that. The project to get Mulungushi Textiles working again is underway. There are negotiations between the Ministry of Defence, which happens to have a chunk of that. It does not own the majority, but it owns a significant chunk of about 30 per cent or 34 per cent. We are expecting it to be open, again, as a textile factory, and not as a dairy or piggery, within the next year.”

Your Committee was informed that the current status was that the Lease Agreement was signed between the Zambia China Mulungushi Textiles Joint Venture Limited and Mohammed Enterprise Tanzania Limited (METL) on 30th July, 2014, in order to revamp operations.

In accordance with the roadmap between the parties, the assets of the company were handed over on Thursday, 11th December, 2014. It was envisaged that operations would start soon after the METL had attended to mobilisation and administrative arrangements. The foregoing notwithstanding, the METL did make a presentation before the Tax Policy Review Commission (TPRC) at the Ministry of Finance wherein, the company had been advised about the nature and principle of VAT in Zambia and also the relief provided for all investors under the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) Act tax incentives framework. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that beyond the signing of a Lease Agreement, nothing tangible has happened directed at resuscitating Mulungushi Textiles, therefore, a progress report is being awaited on the matter. PART II LOCAL TOUR REPORT MINISTRY OF LANDS, NATURAL RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 10/14 – Installation of the Zambia Integrated Land Management Information System (ZILMIS) On Tuesday, 6th March, 2014, the Minister of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, in June, 2014, my Ministry will complete the implementation of the ZILMIS.”

In line with the above assurance, your Committee visited the Ministry of Lands Headquarters to appreciate the extent to which the Ministry had migrated from the Lands Information Management System (LIMS) to the Zambia Integrated Land Management Information System (ZILMIS).

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Your Committee learnt that the ZILMIS was duly installed and had been decentralised to some Provincial Centres. Your Committee was informed that the system was functioning properly and had enhanced levels of efficiency with which various land transactions were being processed. With regard to curbing malpractices, your Committee learnt that the system was designed in such a way that it kept a trail of whoever interacted with it. It was, therefore, easy to detect what kind of transaction had been done and who had done it. Your Committee undertook a conducted tour of the various departments in the Ministry to appreciate how the system was being used and the general operations of the various departments. Your Committee learnt that the Ministry had procured scanners for the purpose of scanning all hard copy files so as to digitalise them. Your Committee noted, however, that the Ministry had engaged college and university graduates on internship basis to assist with the scanning and mapping processes required for feeding into the new system. This was done in view of the employment and wage freeze imposed by the Government. Your Committee also learnt that some officers tasked to manage the server had to work beyond normal working hours in order to facilitate for the smooth operation of the system. The workers involved put in extra hours without any pay. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee commends the Government for the installation of the Zambian Integrated Land Management Information System (ZILMIS), which has also been rolled out to some Provincial Centres. Your Committee is of the view that the system has greatly enhanced efficiency with which land transactions are being handled. Your Committee observes that the Ministry is understaffed and in some cases is dependent on the services of interns. Your Committee urges the Government to consider employing the youths who are on internship on permanent basis as soon as the employment freeze is lifted, in view of the skills they have acquired which can be put to good use within the Ministry of Lands, Natural Resources and Environmental Protection. Your Committee also observes that since the installation of the ZILMIS, some officers have been working beyond normal office working hours. Your Committee urges the Ministry to introduce a shift system so that there is equal work for equal pay. Your Committee further observes that as the Ministry has been expanding, there has not been corresponding expansion of work space at the Ministry’s Headquarters. As a result, officers and files alike are crumbed up in small work spaces. Your Committee appeals to the Ministry to consider creating space to ease its operations.

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MINISTRY OF HEALTH 03/14 – Dialysis Machines for Government Hospitals On Tuesday, 25th February, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Health made the following assurance on the floor of the House:

“Mr Speaker, under the hospitals' modernisation programme that my Ministry is undertaking, the Government has plans to have dialysis machines in all ten provinces.”

In line with the above assurance, your Committee undertook an on-the-spot-check of the Dialysis Unit at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH). Your Committee was informed that currently, there were only two such units in the entire country, namely; UTH and Kitwe Central Hospital. At the time of the visit, your Committee was informed that the Unit had seventeen machines ten of which were donated. Your Committee learnt that kidney disease or renal failure was on the increase in the entire country and, therefore, the demand for dialysis machines was also high. Your Committee learnt that the budget for the Unit was meant to cater for twenty patients, but the Unit always exceeded its budget due to high demand. At the time of the visit for instance, there were thirty-one patients with acute renal failure who required three sessions per week lasting four hours each. Your Committee was also informed that the consumables for the dialysis machines were very expensive to the extent that each patient was required to-pay K400 per session. However, the Government was hugely subsiding the patients to the extent that a patient was only required to pay either K100 or K50 depending on the type of treatment required. Your Committee was informed that in terms of staffing, the Department had three doctors and twelve nurses who were specifically trained to handle renal patients and dialysis machines. Further, it was anticipated that in the course of September, 2015, the University Teaching Hospital would conduct the first kidney transplant procedure with the assistance of the University of Birmingham, where one Zambian doctor had already been trained. Your Committee learnt that dialysis treatment was life-long and, therefore, very costly in the long term. Kidney transplants on the other hand, were costly on actual operation, but were meant to cure kidney disease somewhat permanently and, therefore, cheaper over-time. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that the dialysis machines are currently at the University Teach Hospital and Kitwe Central Hospital only, despite the assurance having stated that all ten provinces will be availed dialysis machines. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Government should as a matter of urgency roll-out this service to all provincial centres in view of the increase in the kidney disease burden.

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Your Committee also recommends that the Ministry of Health should carryout sensitisation programmes to educate the masses about the causes of kidney disease and the preventive measures that can be taken to minimise its occurrence. Your Committee notes the huge cost involved in the treatment of renal failure especially in terms of consumables required by patients. Your Committee, therefore, commends the Government for subsiding the patients so as to make the treatment affordable. In this vein, your Committee urges the Government to seriously support the option of kidney transplants locally as this would tremendously save the Government resources spent on treatment abroad. 02/14 – Hospital Fast – Track Emergency Departments On Friday, 21st February, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Health assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, in line with the Government policy of improving health service delivery, the Government has already commenced the establishment of the emergency and trauma centres in all major health facilities.”

In line with Government’s commitment to establish emergency or trauma centres, your Committee visited two major hospitals, namely the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) and Kabwe General Hospital. At University Teaching Hospital, your Committee visited the construction site of the one stop health facility which will house among others, the adult medical emergency centre. Your Committee learnt that construction was on course and would be concluded before the end of 2015. At Kabwe General Hospital, your Committee equally visited the construction site of the trauma centre. Your Committee learnt that the designs and plans for the building were done at the Ministry’s Headquarters without the involvement of the end-users (KGH) and the Central Province Buildings Engineer. As a result of this omission, it was discovered after the building had already been erected that the structure did not meet the requirements of a trauma centre as witnessed by the numerous variations which have delayed the completion of the project by over ten months. Further, due to the variations which account for about 25 per cent of the initial contract, the cost to the Government had escalated. The contractor was not on site as they awaited the Ministry of Health Headquarters to complete its tabulations on the variations, for onward transmission to the Provincial Buildings Engineer. Your Committee learnt that the contractor had been paid in full for the works that had so far been done. However, your Committee was not impressed with the general quality of works.

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Committee’s Observations and Recommendations In view of your Committee’s findings at Kabwe General Hospital, it recommends that prior to commencement of construction of Government projects in the Ministry of Health, there must be coordination between the Ministry Headquarters, Provincial Buildings Departments and the end users so as to avoid unnecessary variations to plans and drawings as the case is at Kabwe General Hospital. Your Committee is disheartened that such an important project has been delayed simply because the Ministry Headquarters did not consult the relevant stakeholders from the onset. This has resulted in huge financial losses to the Government as well as deprivation of the public from a facility meant to carryout emergency life saving procedures. Your Committee strongly urges the Ministry of Health to quickly put its house in order so that construction of the Trauma Centre at Kabwe General Hospital can resume without any further delay. Your Committee also recommends that supervision by the Provincial Buildings Department should be enhanced so that the contractor can deliver a structure of good quality. 14/14 – Completion of Clinical Officers’ Training School in Kabwe On Tuesday, 6th March, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Health assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, the completion is earmarked for 2014.” Your Committee visited the Clinical Officers’ Training School in Kabwe which had been completed and was awaiting enrolment of sixty non-resident students before the end of 2015. The College will be offering a clinical officers’ general course and was essentially an annex of Chainama Hospital in Lusaka. The College had already been equipped with relevant learning aids and students would undertake their practical work at Kabwe General Hospital. Your Committee learnt that the Institution was not built from scratch, but it was a rehabilitation of a Government building that had been rundown over a period of more than ten years. Your Committee, however, learnt that the Institution intended to build hostels for its students at a nearby plot, which was being solicited from Kabwe Municipal Council. Your Committee was, however, impressed to learn that the Institution had four staff houses built from scratch situated in the precincts of the College. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that the College has been completed and is ready to commence enrolling students in the clinical officers’ general course, although currently, there are no hostels for students especially those who may be coming from outside Kabwe. Your Committee, therefore urges the Government to facilitate for the acquisition

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of the identified piece of land from the local council to necessitate the construction of students hotels. 06/14 – Establishment for Doctors at Gwembe District Hospital On Tuesday, 25th February, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Health assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, the staff establishment for doctors at Gwembe District Hospital is five. There should be two general medical officers, one medical officer in-charge and two senior resident medical officers ...”

Sir, the filling of positions in the establishment is an ongoing process. Therefore, the Government will send more doctors to fill the vacancies within the course of the year.”

In line with this assurance, your Committee undertook a visit to Gwembe District Hospital to establish whether the Hospital had the required number of Doctors. Your Committee found that the Hospital had an establishment of six Doctors out of which three were currently stationed at the Hospital. Out of the remaining three, one had been transferred to Pemba while two were on study leave and it was highly unlikely they would return to Gwembe after specialisation. Your Committee learnt that the District currently had one Hospital which was situated on the plateau. People from the Valley had to cover long distances on bad roads, to access medical facilities. The Government had also embarked on the construction of a modern hospital in the Valley and phase I of the project was almost complete. Your Committee visited the hospital construction site and was impressed with the quality of works. With regard to the day-to-day operations of the District Hospital, your Committee found that there were a number of challenges which included; low staff levels, especially midwives, given the high number of maternity cases the Hospital was handling; defunct cold chain equipment for storage of vaccines; breakdown of vehicles; motor bikes and radios; which affected outreach services; low voltage in the x-ray department and lack of an automatic processor to process x-ray films. Other challenges included; the breakdown of the Hospital generator which required about K40,000 to repair; non availability of cervical cancer screening; non installation of dryers and roller iron in the laundry despite the same being purchased; as well as the dilapidated state of staff houses in the Hospital compound. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that despite the Government filling the vacancies at doctor level, two of the doctors have gone for further studies while one has been transferred to Pemba. This means that the Hospital currently has a shortage of three medical doctors. Moreover, the trend is that once rural-based doctors return from their studies, they

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rarely return to their base after specialisation, your Committee, therefore, recommends that the vacancies at Gwembe District Hospital be filled. Your Committee welcomes the Government’s efforts to construct a modern hospital in Gwembe. Your Committee is, however, doubtful if medical personnel will be found to run the hospital given that the only hospital at the moment has a critical shortage of staff. Your Committee, therefore, urges the Government to ensure that once the new hospital is complete and equipped, medical personnel should be made available to provide services to the people. Your Committee also recommends that the Government should find ways and means to address the operational challenges outlined above some of which include broken down equipment and vehicles and dilapidated staff accommodation which hamper the smooth delivery of health services to the people. Your Committee also urges the Government to ensure that the electricity standby generator which has broken down is either repaired or replaced. 26/13 – Health Facility Construction in Mulobezi District On 19th February, 2013, the Deputy Minister of Health made the following assurance:

“However, in 2013, the Government has planned to construct four health posts at the following places in Mulobezi District: (i) Kamanga;

(ii) Kasompa; (iii) Namakombwe; and (iv) Kasimu.

The four health posts to be constructed in Mulobezi District will be part of the 650 health posts to be built countrywide by the Government through the line of credit of US$50 million from the Government of India.”

Your Committee undertook a visit to Mulobezi District to check on the implementation of the assurance above. Your Committee interacted with the Acting District Commissioner as well as Heads of various Government departments. Your Committee was informed that Mulobezi was declared a District on 13th January, 2013. As a consequence of that declaration, your Committee was informed that a number of capital projects were underway and had reached advanced levels. In the health sector, your Committee visited the construction site of the Mulobezi District Hospital. The construction of the Hospital started in February, 2014 at the contract sum of K13,504,289.48. Your Committee found that the entire building had been roofed, the administration block had been fully tiled and the ceiling put, while for the rest of the building, tiling and ceiling was in progress. The contractor, however, bemoaned the general poor state of the roads which made ferrying of materials to site a nightmare. There was also a lack of water and electricity at the site which had tremendously delayed the completion of the project.

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Your Committee was informed that five health posts were earmarked for construction in Mulobezi District at the following places: Kasompa, Kamanga, Namuzingu, Namakombwe and Kasimu. Funds for these projects were not yet available. Therefore, construction had not yet commenced. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that construction of the Mulobezi District Hospital is nearing completion, although the road to the Hospital is in a deplorable state and there is lack of water and electricity at the Hospital. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Government should improve the state of roads in Mulobezi particularly the access road to the District Hospital. Your Committee also urges the Government to ensure that the Hospital is equipped with both water and electricity before it is opened to the public. Your Committee also hopes the Hospital will have adequate personnel to attend to the people. Your Committee notes that the Government has earmarked the construction of five health posts in different locations within the District. Your Committee recommends that commencement of construction of these projects be expedited so that medical and health services are taken closer to the people. The construction of these health posts was supposed to start in 2013 as per Government assurance, but to date nothing has been done. Your Committee reiterates the need to start constructing these facilities without any further delay. 33/10 – Measures to assist the Mentally Disturbed On 21st July, 2010, the Minister of Health assured the House that:

“The Government had put in place measures to effectively address the problem of mental illness in the country.”

In line with this assurance, your Committee visited Livingstone General Hospital to familiarise itself with the extent to which mental health services were being provided. Your Committee had visited Livingstone General Hospital in 2012 and made a number of recommendations. Your Committee was, therefore, gratified to note that apart from the Hospital being very clean, a number of improvements had been made including, the installation of elevators, new laundry and kitchen equipment e.t.c. Your Committee was taken on a conducted tour of the Psychiatric Department which was renovated and reopened in 2013. The Department provides service to the entire Southern Province and parts of Western Province. It has six bed spaces in each male and female wards although most of its patients were male. The Department did not have a trained Psychiatrist or new equipment to attend to acute psychiatric disorders. In this regard, patients with serious problems were still being referred to Chainama Hospital in Lusaka.

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Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that Livingstone General Hospital is upgraded from a second level to a third level Hospital. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Hospital should be urgently provided with the required staff and medical equipment to commensurate with the upgrade. Your Committee commends the Government for opening the Psychiatric Department to provide mental health services. Your Committee, however, recommends that the department should be provided with a Doctor trained in Psychiatry as well as modern equipment required for diagnosis and treatment of mental patients in-house. MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, WORKS, SUPPLY AND COMMUNICATIONS 12/09 – Lusaka-Chipata (Great East) Road On 27th February, 2009, the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications assured the House as follows:

"I wish to confirm to this August House that this particular project will receive my Ministry's immediate review and at a later date, I will be able to come back to this House and give you the action taken so far."

In line with the assurance to refurbish and expand the Great East Road from Lusaka to Chipata, your Committee decided to carry out an on-the-spot-check of construction works on the portion of the Road between Arcades roundabout and Airport roundabout. Your Committee was met on site with officials from Road Development Agency (RDA), the Consultants for the project as well as the Contractor, Stefanautti Construction Company. Your Committee learnt that the previous road surface had failed resulting in waves appearing on the said portion. This was attributed to seepage of water, over a prolonged period from an old water supply pipe which runs parallel to the road. The initial scope of works was pegged at K65 million and involved the refurbishing of the road surface. However, after the consultant was brought on board, the scope of works changed to construction of the entire portion. Your Committee learnt that after change of scope of works, more detailed designs had to be undertaken as well as a trial or test of the strength of materials on site. A portion of the road was, therefore, scrapped off after being done because the materials were not suitable for the portion after being tested. This was done at the contractor’s cost. After further tests, the three stakeholders found suitable asphalt which would resist conditions that were responsible for the failure of the previous road. The nature of the material required to be laid in layers hence the current undulating surface of the road.

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Your Committee learnt, however, that the road works had stalled due to insufficient funds in the road fund. The contractor had only been paid about 50 percent of the certified works and had been compelled to meet some costs using its own funds. After the contractor ran out of finances, he abandoned site stalling the works which were ideally supposed to be completed by 15th May, 2015. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that the consultant was engaged by the Road Development Agency after the contract had already been executed with the contractor, on a design and build basis. However, when the consultant was brought on board, detailed designs had to be done thereby pushing the cost from K65 million to K120 million. In view of the foregoing, your Committee urges the Government to ensure that proper procedures are followed prior to execution of road construction projects to avoid incurring extra costs in the course of the contract. Your Committee also observes that the previous road failed largely due to underground water seepage occasioned by heavy leakages from an underground pipe which supplies the Airport. The Government is urged to replace this old pipe which still poses a risk to the new road. Your Committee notes that the current road construction works have stopped because the contractor has not been paid for a considerable period of time now. Your Committee is of the view that the portion of Great East Road in question is a very important road as it is the entry point into the country from the KKIA Airport and the eastern part of the country. The Government is, therefore, urged to urgently source funds for the completion of the project. 05/09 – Conversion of Lusaka International Airport into Air Cargo Hub On 11th March, 2009, the Minister of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications made the following assurance on the Floor of the House:

"Mr Speaker, there are also plans to turn Lusaka International Airport into an air cargo hub to cater for the anticipated traffic from the economic zones."

In line with this assurance, your Committee visited the site office of the contractor, China Jianxzhi in the company of the Zambia National Airports Corporation Limited. Your Committee was shown and appreciated an artist’s impression of the proposed Airport buildings. Your Committee was informed that the project would be financed through a loan obtained from the Chinese Exim Bank with a thirty-five years repayment period and a seven years grace period. Your Committee was informed that the funds were available and the project would commence at the end of April, 2015. The construction would be in phases starting with the construction of the fire station and control tower. The project period was fifty-four months from the date of commencement.

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Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that an assurance which was made six years ago had finally been realised. Your Committee urges the Government to ensure that there is effective and speedy execution of the project to meet the proposed completion period. Your Committee also hopes that once the project is complete and fully operational, Zambians would be given sufficient opportunity to engage in various businesses and economic activities with the ZNAC. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK 12/14 – Improvement of Operations of Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) On Thursday, 6th March, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, the Government intends to improve the operations of NCZ through continued re-capitalisation and rehabilitation of the plant …”

In order to appreciate the extent of implementation of this assurance, your Committee visited NCZ situated in Kafue District. Your Committee learnt that Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia began its operations in 1970, as a very profitable venture. However, around 1986, through a World Bank financing, the Industry received new, but not tested technology which was being run by foreign expatriates, until 1990. In 1989, need arose to rehabilitate some parts of the Plant which had suffered wear and tear, but this had never been done to date. Between 1991 and 1999, NCZ virtually collapsed due to the liberalisation of the fertilizer industry which saw the importation of cheap fertilizer from abroad. In 2002, the Government injected some funds which resuscitated the Industry albeit for a year because the tonnage produced was not enough to sustain operations. In 2012, there was significant funding which saw the rehabilitation of the Ammonium Nitrate Plant, which was commissioned in 2013. However, production could not immediately start due to lack of feed stock. The Company has, however, managed to procure thirty tankers to the tune of K27 million, which would be delivered before the end of April, 2015, laden with Ammonium Nitrate. Your Committee learnt that NCZ was producing D-Compound fertilizer most of which was sold to the Government. The production of Ammonium Nitrate would commence as soon as the feed stock was delivered. The production of D-Compound fertilizer was being done from the D-Compound fertilizer plant although it was not operating efficiently due to a faulty boiler. However, improvements done to this plant increased the production capacity from 140 tonnes to 4000 tonnes per annum.

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Your Committee was informed that notwithstanding the capital injection in 2012, NCZ still had some operational challenges emanating from the following: delayed payments by the Government for fertilizer supplied last farming season; the outstanding debt to NAPSA of remissions plus penalties; and the non-rehabilitation of some fertilizer plants which have been pending since 1989. The Management was, however, optimistic that with the injection of funds by the Government which had helped to revamp some operations, NCZ would have improved liquidity by the end of 2015. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee recognises the commitment of Management and staff of NCZ some of whom served the Company through the period when the Company was virtually non-operational. Your Committee, therefore, urges the Government to provide further financial support to NCZ which can competently assist to run the plant so that it becomes a self sustaining and viable entity. Your Committee observes that the Government has delayed to pay for the fertilizer that was supplied by NCZ last year. The Government is urged to settle its debt so as to enable NCZ to continue production without inhibition in view of the onset of 2015/2016 farming season. Your Committee further observes that some fertilizer plants have remained in a state of disrepair since 1986, when plans were hatched to rehabilitate them. Your Committee urges the Government to ensure that rehabilitation of the said plants takes place so as to enhance fertilizer production by NCZ. This will ensure that NCZ becomes self-sustaining and able to off-set its debts such as the one owed to NAPSA. 17/14 – Investments in Irrigation, Agro-processing and Livestock Sectors On Tuesday, 17th June, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock made the following assurances:

“Sir, the Government has made significant investments in the development of farming blocks, irrigation schemes, agro-processing, livestock and animal health services.”

In line with this assurance, your Committee undertook visits to various districts in Southern Province to check on development in the Livestock sector. The districts visited were Mazabuka, Monze, Namwala and Choma. Below are your Committee’s findings: (a) Mazabuka

Tour of National Artificial Insemination Services (NAIS) Your Committee visited the National Artificial Insemination Services (NAIS) centre and learnt that NAIS was opened in 2013, to provide services for the production of cattle semen of different breeds. The Institution was under the Ministry of

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Agriculture and Livestock and the Government was, therefore, responsible for its setup and funding. The equipment to carryout artificial insemination as well as to produce Liquid Nitrogen was provided by the Czech Republic Government. At the time of the visit, your Committee found that the Liquid Nitrogen Plant was broken down and, therefore, the Institution was purchasing the Liquid Nitrogen from either Balmoral Farm or Affrox in Lusaka at a higher cost. The Liquid Nitrogen was essential in storing semen on site and in transit to farmers. Your Committee learnt that the Government had provided funding for training officers in Artificial Insemination Services who in turn were training farmers. However, erratic funding to the Institution was inhibiting the efficient delivery of this extension service. Your Committee was also apprised about the conservation of local cattle and chicken breeds being undertaken at NAIS. Your Committee was, however, informed that the conservation of local chicken breeds had suffered a setback after the incubator got damaged due to an overload on a ZESCO electricity supply line. Efforts to have ZESCO compensate NAIS have proved futile, hence resorting to natural incubation although some chicken breeds cannibalise their eggs. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that the activities being undertaken at the NAIS are of utmost importance in increasing the numbers of various cattle breeds. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the Liquid Nitrogen Plant be repaired urgently to cut out the cost of buying Liquid Nitrogen from Lusaka. Your Committee also urges the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to sensitise farmers countrywide about the services being provided at NAIS so that more farmers could access the service and increase and improve their animal stocks. Your Committee commends the conservation of local cattle and chicken breeds at NAIS, but appeals to ZESCO to urgently make compensation for the damaged incubators due to overload on their supply line. Tour of the Zambia Institute of Animal Health (ZIAH) Your Committee undertook a visit to the Zambia Institute of Animal Health (ZIAH) under the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. Your Committee learnt that ZIAH was established in 1943, for the purpose of training African Veterinary Assistants. Currently, the college trains students as Veterinary Assistants, Veterinary Laboratory Assistants, Tsetse Control Assistants and Livestock Assistants. ZIAH had three major sections: Administration; the Farm; and the Training Section. With regard to training infrastructure, the Institution had two classrooms and a lecture theatre, a teaching and diagnostic laboratory, a library, a computer laboratory and an abattoir.

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With regard to investments in the Institution, your Committee was informed that the Institution had benefitted from the World Bank funded – Livestock Development and Health Project (LDAHP) as well as the Orio (GRZ-Dutch) project. Under these projects, the Institution had managed to procure, among others, a motor vehicle, some veterinary books and various training materials. The Institution also had a lecture theatre under construction, but was still in its initial stages. The tender and evaluation process for the construction of a learning centre had been done. Amid the aforementioned positive attributes, the Institution was highly understaffed with only thirty-five employees out of an establishment of sixty-eight. Most staff especially in the training section were serving in acting capacity and had done so without confirmation for many months. Your Committee was informed that the Institution suffered from erratic funding from the Government. For example, in the 2014 financial year, only 13 per cent of the approved funding was released, thereby forcing the college to heavily rely on students’ user fees. The College also faced the challenges of shortage of students hostels, dilapidated state of staff houses, encroachment on the estate housing the College, dysfunctional and obsolete laboratory equipment, old and deplorable water reticulation system, poor library infrastructure and acute shortage of books as well as delays in the completion of the construction of the lecture theatre due to lack of funding from the Government. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that the course being offered at ZIAH provides a cadre of veterinary officers who are front-liners in animal disease control. Therefore, the need to adequately fund the Institution of such importance cannot be overemphasised. Your Committee also observes that for the livestock sector to sustainably grow, more well trained officers are required to provide extension services required by farmers countrywide. In view of the above observations and challenges, your Committee recommends that the Government should adequately and timely fund the ZIAH to enable the Institution complete the various projects under construction as well as purchase the necessary teaching aids. Your Committee further recommends that the Government through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock should facilitate for the confirmation of professional staff serving in acting capacity, so as to motivate them to work more diligently.

(b) Monze Your Committee in its tour of Monze as an agricultural district learnt that cattle rearing was a major economic activity in Monze. The District had about thirty-

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three Agricultural Camps and twenty Veterinary Camps providing support to farmers especially subsistence farmers. Your Committee was informed that the Government had embarked on improvements and upgrading of Livestock Service Centres for livestock and animal health services. The provision of these services had greatly helped to curb diseases and thereby increase the numbers of livestock in the District. Your Committee learnt that the construction of dip-tanks in the District had, however, suffered some setback of delayed certification of projects due to inadequate professional staff from the Buildings Department under the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications. Further, payments to contractors in some instances, had been delayed thereby stalling the construction and rehabilitation of Livestock Service Centres. With regard to the condition of the twenty Veterinary Camps, your Committee learnt that accommodation for some Camp staff was inadequate or dilapidated, while other Camps had no houses at all. Furthermore, Camp facilities such as fridges for storage of chemicals for livestock were inadequate, thereby negatively affecting the provision of Veterinary Services to the farmer. Tour of Sikabenga Livestock Centre In order to appreciate the operations of a livestock service centre, your Committee visited Sikabenga Livestock Centre in the outskirts of Monze District. Your Committee learnt that the services being provided at the centre included dipping, deworming, dehorning and branding. The farmer was being charged an economical fee of K1 per animal in order to raise funds for maintenance of the facility. Although the Centre was Government owned, it was in the hands of the community which had a committee to run and maintain it. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock was not divorced from the Centre and was generally on standby in case need arose. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee commends the Government for the efforts being put in the construction and rehabilitation of livestock service centres, which provide among others, dipping facilities. Your Committee, however, notes that in some instances, there are delayed payments to contractors as well as failure to adequately supervise and certify works by the Buildings Department. Your Committee recommends that the Government should be making prompt payments to contractors so that construction works may proceed uninhibited. Your Committee further recommends that professional staff at the Monze District Buildings Department be made available for effective and efficient supervision and certification of projects. Your Committee observes that the twenty Veterinary Camps in Monze District do not have sufficient facilities required to adequately provide veterinary services to the farming communities. Your Committee recommends for more funding to these camps so as to enable them adequately attend to the farmers in accordance with their mandate.

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Tour of Monze Dairy Cooperative Your Committee visited Monze Dairy Cooperative in order to appreciate the viability of the livestock sector particularly dairy farming. The Cooperative was registered in 1995, with forty dairy farmers, two of whom were females. Currently, the Cooperative had 443 members with 327 being the most active. It had 109 shareholders and a Board of eight members. The Cooperative buys about 4,000 litres of milk per day in the dry season and 6,000 litres in the rainy season when grazing fields are in abundance. Your Committee learnt that the majority of the members of the Cooperative were small scale farmers, but had benefitted greatly from the Cooperative. Your Committee learnt that despite the successes of the Cooperative, there were a number of challenges which if addressed would make the livestock sector more profitable. These included; the high cost of animal drugs and other livestock inputs attributed to lack of subsides which are only extended in the crop sector. Other challenges were, the poor state of feeder roads which made it difficult for farmers to transport their milk to collection centres particularly in the rainy session; inadequate water reservoirs or dams, limited numbers of dairy technicians required to assist farmers, high numbers of stock thefts and the export of bran to neighbouring countries, which deprives livestock farmers of cheap feed for their animals. Your Committee was also informed that the local show ground where farmers market their products and exchange ideas on an annual basis was under siege by the Council who wished to demarcate and sell the land. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that the Monze Cooperative Society is viable and is a source of wealth for many dairy farmers. Your Committee, therefore, appeals to the Government to find ways and means to address the challenges aforementioned. The Government is urged to consider imposing a ban on the export of bran especially between May and December when pastures are dry. The Government is also urged to increase water reservoirs for animals and improve the state of feeder roads for ease of movement of dairy products. Further, the Government is strongly urged to prevail over the intended take-over of the Monze Show Ground so that farmers are not deprived of a place where they can market and sell their products as well as exchange ideas.

(c) Namwala Your Committee in its tour of Namwala as an agricultural district learnt that according to the 2014 statistics, Namwala had about 135,000 cattle. However, the District experienced a tremendous number of cattle movements to other places through purchases. The District has Veterinary Camps to provide livestock health services to farmers. The District also has benefitted from rehabilitation of some livestock service centres which have been handed over to communities to be run by them. Milk collection centres run by Cooperatives have also been introduced

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and in 2014, the Government budgeted for the construction of an Artificial Insemination Centre, but to date funds had not yet been released. Your Committee was informed that the District Agriculture Office had no office space or sufficient transport to carryout field work. Out of nineteen motorcycles only four were runners. The DACO too had no official vehicle and in some instances used personal transport or borrowed from other departments. Your Committee learnt that the veterinary camps houses were dilapidated or had collapsed and there was no budget line for their rehabilitation. With regard to the Milk Collection Centres, the Government had provided extension services and training, but no support for infrastructure. However, all animals which were being milked were tested and/or treated for disease. Tour of Namwala Central Livestock Service Centre Your Committee visited to Namwala Central Livestock Service Centre and interacted with several farmers who were the users of the facility. Your Committee learnt that the Centre was also used as a despatch centre where the Police were present to scrutinise animals before sell, a measure put in place to curb stock theft. While the farmers were appreciative of the services being provided especially that the disease burden had greatly reduced, they complained that their animals had to cover long distances to get to the centre of dipping, once per week. They requested for more livestock service centres to be established in view of the vastness of the District. The farmers also complained of the various levies which they had to pay to the Police, Council, Village Headmen and Veterinary Department. The farmers also bemoaned the inadequacy of water for animals especially in the dry season. They appealed for creation of more dams especially in the upper lands where water shortage was more critical. The farmers also complained of high levels of stock theft and the seemingly light punishment which was imposed on perpetrators. Your Committee also visited one Dairy Cooperative Society which started operating in 2014 and has a current membership of 120. The Cooperative has been operating well thus far and managed to buy 104,000 litres of milk in 2014, which feat would be surpassed in 2015, due to the increase in dairy animals and provision of animal diseases control facilities. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes the number of challenges which the District Agriculture Office in Namwala is faced with including lack of office space, motor vehicles, low staff levels, inadequate camp facilities and non commencement of construction of an artificial insemination centre. Your Committee urges the Government to urgently look into these challenges especially that Namwala’s economy thrives on the livestock industry.

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Your Committee commends the Government’s efforts to rehabilitate livestock centres, but urges the Government to construct more such centres considering the vastness of the District. Your Committee also urges for more efforts to harvest water required for livestock, through construction of dams, especially in upper areas which are worst hit during the dry season. Your Committee notes the farmers’ complaints on the issue of stock-theft which is a menace in the District. Your Committee recommends that the Government should through the Ministry of Home Affairs adequately finance the Police in Namwala so that in turn, they can effectively carryout patrols in an effort to curb the vice. Your Committee further recommends for more stiffer penalties for perpetrators of stock-theft so as to deter would be offenders. Your Committee notes the success of dairy cooperatives generally and particularly the ones visited in Southern Province. In this regard, your Committee recommends that the Government should sensitise more farmers on the importance of such ventures which are a means to alleviating poverty, especially in the rural areas.

(d) Choma

With regard to challenges in disease control, your Committee as they toured Choma was informed that there were little resources allocated to the control of East Coast Fever (ECF) because unlike CBPP or Foot and Mouth Disease, ECF was classified as a management disease rather than an economic disease. The Government policy was to provide sufficient funds for diseases classified as economic and leave the farmer to meet most of the costs in controlling management diseases such as ECF. Your Committee learnt that ECF was very difficult to control because it was tick-borne. While ticks could be controlled in livestock, there were no tick control systems in wildlife where most of the ticks came from. Spraying against ticks in wildlife was discouraged because it could disturb the eco-systems therein. Tour of the Provincial Veterinary Laboratory Your Committee also undertook a visit to the Provincial Veterinary Laboratory under construction. Your Committee learnt that the Laboratory had been under construction since 2012 and at the time of visit, the contractor had abandoned the construction site. Your Committee was informed that the initial contract sum was K3.2 million of which K2.9 million had been paid. Attempts to contact the contractor by the client (Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock) had proved futile. The client reached a decision to terminate the contract, but this could not be carried into effect because it had to go through the Provincial Procurement Committee which was chaired by the Permanent Secretary. Unfortunately, Southern Province had experienced a high turnover of Permanent Secretaries since 2011, which had negatively affected procurement processes and matters incidental thereto. Currently, the Provincial Permanent Secretary was on suspension, meaning that the Provincial Procurement Committee was also in abeyance. Furthermore and most importantly, your Committee discovered that the Provincial Buildings Department

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had lamentably failed to provide supervision on the Laboratory Construction Project as well as on the dip-tank construction in the District. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that the quality of works on the laboratory was sub-standard. The building looked as though it was an old structure and yet construction only started in 2012. On the other hand, the World Bank had pledged to fully equip it once complete, but this gesture was being hindered because of the absence of the Provincial Procurement Committee Chairperson, who was mandated together with the entire Committee to effect termination of contracts. Your Committee notes the classification of ECF as a management disease and the difficulties emanating from such classification. Your Committee, therefore, recommends for the reclassification of ECF from a management to an economic disease, so that its control can receive sufficient funding from the Government given its ravaging effects on the livestock sector. Your Committee is disappointed with the state of construction works at the Veterinary Laboratory in Choma and the red-tape that stands in the way of effecting the termination of the construction contract, especially that the contractor had long abandoned the project. There is sheer dereliction of duty by the Provincial Buildings Department which had led to some projects stalling or being of poor quality. Your Committee strongly recommends that the officers in the Department should be reprimanded and necessary steps taken to ensure that Government projects are properly supervised. Tour of Choma Cooperative Union Your Committee was also privileged to visit another Cooperative Society – The Choma Cooperative Union. Your Committee learnt that the Cooperative started operating in 2002, with only sixty members. Currently, the membership was about 1,200 and the average quantity of milk bought per annum was about 5,000 litres in the rainy season and 3,000 litres during dry spells. The Cooperative was also into processing milk into yoghurt, Mabisi (sour milk) and cheese. The challenges being experienced by the Choma Cooperative Union were pretty much the same as those of other Cooperatives earlier visited. These include, poor roads to milk collection centres, lack of subsides in the livestock sector as is the case in the crop sector and lack of restrictions on the export of maize bran to other countries which was vital for animal feed especially during the dry season.

MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, MOTHER AND CHILD HEALTH 21/14 – Scaling up of the Social Cash Transfer Programme On Tuesday, 24th June, 2014, the Deputy Minister of Community Development, Mother and Child Health made the following assurance on the floor of the House:

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“The Government has been implementing the programme in selected districts since 2003 and this year, a decision was reached to scale it up to the rest of the districts not served.”

In line with the assurance, your Committee visited two Social Cash Transfer programmes. One in Gwembe and the other in Kazungula. (a) Gwembe District

In Gwembe, your Committee interacted with the Department of Social Welfare where it learnt that the Scheme was introduced in December 2013. The target case load was 2,058 beneficiaries, but currently 1,093 were on the scheme. Your Committee was informed that due to the vastness of the District, the Scheme had been divided into two phases. In the first round of enumeration, of the sixty-eight Community Welfare Assistance Committees (CWACS), thirty-four were picked who in turn identified the current 1,093 beneficiaries. Your Committee was informed that the Department at District level had a ten member – District Welfare Assistance Committees (DWAC), fourteen Area Coordinating Committees (ACC) at ward level and sixty-eight CWACS at community level. The CWACS were responsible for identifying the beneficiary households and worked in collaboration with the enumerators in conducting the interviews and filling registration forms. The CWACS also undertook awareness campaigns about the scheme, monitored any inclusion or omission errors which were reported to the ACCs and witnessed payments as well as received complaints if any, from the beneficiaries. Beneficiaries were entitled to a K70 cash transfer per month, which was paid bi-monthly. The Department faced a couple of challenges which included; difficulties in communication to the pay points and the CWACs due to lack of network in the valley, poor road network, which made it very challenging to access the beneficiaries, vastness of the district which made movements a challenge and the lack of banking and fuel facilities. Your Committee then visited Nakanjele CWAC and interacted with some beneficiaries. The beneficiaries spoken to expressed gratitude over the introduction of the Scheme, albeit some were of the view that the money being paid was little. Your Committee learnt that beneficiaries were generally characterised as the aged, the disabled, the terminally ill and care givers to orphans. Your Committee observed that some beneficiaries were ingenious enough to use the money to buy some domestic animals such as chickens and goats and engaged in other small businesses whose returns were enough to pay school fees and support the home-stead. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that the Social Cash Transfer Programme was introduced primarily to assist the most vulnerable in society especially those in rural

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communities. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that the programme should be rolled out urgently to the remaining districts. The Government should also consider increasing the amounts paid to beneficiaries when the programme is fully rolled out. Your Committee also observes that releases of funds are sometimes erratic. It, therefore, recommends that finances should consistently be made available in view of the distances that beneficiaries have to cover to reach pay points. Your Committee further recommends that the Government should consider improving the road network in Gwembe District and telephone communication, so that CWACs can be reached in time to organise the beneficiaries for payments.

(a) Kazungula

Your Committee as they toured learnt that the office is housed in Livingstone due to lack of office space in Kazungula. Kazungula being the second largest District in Southern Province had twenty-four (24) Area Coordinating Committees (ACCs) and 136 Community Welfare Assistance Committees (CWACS). About 2,578 households were under the scheme though this was not enough given the increase in the number of vulnerable people, who also required Government assistance to sustain their lives. Your Committee was informed that just like in the case of Gwembe, some CWACs were difficult to contact due to lack of network in some areas. This made it very difficult to inform the beneficiaries as and when finances were available. Beneficiaries were entitled to K70 per month which was paid bi-monthly although release of funds from Government was not consistent. Your Committee also interacted with some beneficiaries on the Scheme who attested to the benefits they had derived from the funds being paid to them. Some of the activities being done by some beneficiaries included, the rearing of goats and chickens, making of door mats, knitting and tailoring. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that the District Welfare Department has no offices in Kazungula. This presents operational challenges in administering the Social Cash Transfer programme. Your Committee, therefore, recommends that office space be found for the Department to ease the administration and access to the ACCs and CWACs. Your Committee also observes that release of funds to the programme by the Government is erratic, thereby affecting the planning of activities under the programme especially on the part of the CWACs who interact with the beneficiaries. Your Committee recommends that as the Government is rolling out the programme, matching resources should be made available timely to make the programme sustainable.

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Your Committee also recommends that the Government should facilitate for the improvement of telephone and cellular phone network coverage so as to enhance communication with the far flung areas.

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS 32/06 – Developing a Border Control Computerised System throughout the Country On 28th February, 2006, the Minister of Home Affairs made the following assurance on the Floor of the House:

“The Department is in the process of developing a border control computerised system aimed at enhancing and monitoring of movement of persons. As a pilot project, the Lusaka International Airport is being computerised with the assistance of the International Organisation for Migration.”

In line with this assurance, your Committee undertook visits to Kazungula and Livingstone border posts. Your Committee learnt that both border posts were connected to the new system called New Zambia Immigration Management System, which was interlinked with other borders and was monitored from Lusaka at the Immigration Headquarters. The system had enhanced the speed with which travellers were being attended to. Furthermore, the system had enhanced security because it was interlinked with other border controls such as Kenneth Kaunda International Airport and Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula Airport, among others. Your Committee, however, learnt that with the introduction of the Universal VISA system which was being piloted between Zambia and Zimbabwe, it was highly likely that revenue collections might be affected. Preliminary investigations showed that revenues at Livingstone Border had drastically reduced after introduction of UNI-VISA. It would, therefore, be prudent to investigate revenue benefits or the lack thereof of the UNI-VISA regime when it comes under review in July, 2015. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee is gratified that the two borders visited were computerised and linked to other border controls including being monitored by the Immigration Headquarters. Your Committee also observes that the introduction of the UNI-VISA system may negatively affect collection of revenue. Your Committee recommends that the Government should undertake a study to ascertain the revenue benefits or lack thereof after introduction of the UNI-VISA. Your Committee awaits the results of such a study.

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MINISTER OF TOURISM AND ARTS 10/12 – Improving Accessibility to Tourism Sites On Friday, 16th March, 2012, the Minister of Tourism and Arts assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, I will try to inform the nation that we are looking at ways of increasing accessibility to all tourist sites, including Pambashe.”

In line with this assurance, your Committee decided to visit the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park in Livingstone, prior to which your Committee interacted with officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Arts and the Zambia wild Life Authority (ZAWA). Your Committee learnt that Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park was the smallest in Zambia covering 66km2. Animals found in the park included; Giraffe, Elephants, Zebras, Buffalo, Waterbuck, Puku, Impala, Sable, Wildebeest, Warthog, Kudu and the endangered White Rhino. In terms of accessibility, your Committee was informed that the Park was easily accessible especially that it was located in Zambia’s Tourist Capital. With regard to Park visitations, statistics indicated that during the course of 2014, 21,997 tourists visited the Park as compared to 17,871 in 2013. The ZAWA Unit for Livingstone had a total of 100 staff, fifty-one of which were Wildlife Police Officers (WPOs). Your Committee learnt that the WPOs country-wide worked under very difficult conditions which included, lack of proper accommodation, poor salaries, inadequate equipment and vehicles required to effectively carryout patrols. Your Committee witnessed the fact that WPOs in Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park had to guard the White Rhino night and day irrespective of the weather conditions. Your Committee was informed that with the proposed transformation of ZAWA into a department under the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, the WPOs would have their conditions of service improved as they would be aligned to the Ministry’s conditions of service. However, for the very senior officers in ZAWA, the transformation would entail a downward adjustment to their emoluments. With regard to the general operations of ZAWA, your Committee learnt that when the Institution was first created in 1998, it was supposed to be substantially funded by an International Donor on condition that the top management would be in the hands of foreigners. The Government of the day declined this condition which effectively meant refusal of the financial aid. Henceforth, ZAWA was being funded by the Government although the funding had been erratic. Your Committee also learnt that for the wild-life sector to be viable, it required sufficient capitalisation of ZAWA operations. The decision, therefore, by the Government to collapse ZAWA into a department would not change anything unless the funding aspect was addressed.

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Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee observes that although Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park was the smallest Park in Zambia, it was among the four most profitable parks due to the fact that accessibility to the Park was fairly easy throughout the year. In the rest of the parks, infrastructure was virtually inexistent coupled with a 6 months period of inaccessibility due to flooding. Your Committee notes that the Government had decided to convert ZAWA to a department under the Ministry of Tourism and Arts, due to operational and funding challenges. Your Committee is of the view that the decision to convert ZAWA into a department is retrogressive. This decision would result into ZAWA losing vital senior staff who have acquired unique expertise in the wild life sector. Given the corruption allegations in the Ministry specifically during organisation of the UNWTO, your Committee is of the view that the wild-life sector will suffer from this vice in view of its position as a potentially lucrative industry. Your Committee further notes that despite the financial and operational challenges under which ZAWA is currently operating, it has a dedicated and dynamic management and staff that are able to make the Industry thrive provided the Government capitalises the Institution. In view of the above observations, your Committee recommends as follows: (i) the Government should improve the road infrastructure and access roads in and

around most national parks in the country; (ii) the Government should give leverage to ZAWA to engage with local and

international institutions in the wild life sector that may be willing to partner with ZAWA for the growth of the sector;

(iii) the Government should seriously reconsider the decision to convert ZAWA into a department as doing so may breed corruption, inefficiency in the management of wild-life and result in loss of vital staff with expertise in the sector; and

(iv) the Government should increase the grant to ZAWA which would greatly help in improving the conditions of service of Wild Life Police Officers who work under very difficult conditions for the good of the country .

PART III CONSIDERATION OF THE ACTION-TAKEN REPORT (ATR) FOR THE THIRD SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK 18/11 – Fish Farming On 28th November, 2012, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock made the following assurance:

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“Sir, in the Sixth National Development Plan (SNDP), the Government was committed to the construction of eight new fish seed production centres and upgrading the nineteen existing Government fish farms to farm seed production centres. Funds had been released for the construction of three fish seed production centres in Katete, Petauke and Kasempa. Works are also in progress to upgrade existing fish farms into fish seed production centres.”

Your Committee had resolved to await a progress report. Your Committee was updated that fish stocks in most of the water bodies across the country had reduced. The reduction in fish stocks was attributed to the increase in the number of fishers and gears, increased use of destructive fishing gears, fishing in fish breeding areas and fishing during restricted periods such as the fish ban. The Government’s focus on increasing fish production was two-fold namely, conservation and stock enhancement. The Government through the Department of Fisheries had been conducting sensitisation meetings in fishing villages across the country with the view of establishing Fisheries Co-management structures so that fishers (resource users) participate in conservation. The Government had also introduced a programme called Fish Stock Enhancement (Fish Restocking). In the areas where communities have been trained, fish pens had been placed in water and fish was growing to build the stocks. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes the number of interventions the Government has employed in order to increase fish stocks. Your Committee resolves to await another progress report in view of the interventions being put in place. 20/13 – Diversification and Production On 11th November, 2011, the Minister of Finance during the Budget presentation for 2012, made the following assurance:

“Sir, in the agricultural sector, we will extend support to crops beyond maize, strengthen research and extension services, invest in irrigation, develop and rehabilitate livestock infrastructure and promote disease free zones. In addition, the Government will reform the agricultural marketing system, promote agro-processing and forward linkages including the development of farm blocks. Other strategies will include technological transfer and land development.”

It was reported in the ATR that the legal opinion on the Agricultural Marketing Bill had already been sought from the Ministry of Justice. The next step was the preparation of a Cabinet Memorandum in order to get comments from other Ministries and thereafter, the Bill would be submitted to Cabinet for approval. Once approved by Cabinet, it would be tabled on the Floor of the House.

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With regard to the review of the National Irrigation Policy, the process had already begun. The process of procuring a consultant to carry out the review and updating of the current policy was under way. Nzenga Irrigation Scheme was complete, while the Sinazongwe Irrigation Scheme was 80 per cent complete. The canal had been constructed and the pipes had been procured. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes the steps being taken with regard to legal and policy measures to enhance diversification and production in the Agricultural sector. Your Committee, therefore, resolves to await a progress report on the matter. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE, VOCATIONAL TRAINING AND EARLY EDUCATION 03/13 – Ntatumbila and Shemu Basic Schools On Thursday, 21st February, 2013, the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Vocational Training and Early Education made the following assurance:

“The Provincial Education Officer (PEO) for Muchinga Province has been tasked to identify schools in the Province which could be transformed into secondary schools. This process of identification and transformation has already started in Muchinga Province and the Honourable Member of Parliament will be informed in due course.”

Having requested for a progress report, your Committee was updated that the list of proposed schools for upgrading was submitted by the Province and officers at that level prioritised based on the needs and other factors such as population of children out of school and distances to the nearest Secondary School. However, the inclusion of Ntatumbila School among the twenty-two schools to be upgraded will be undertaken in 2015. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Since Ntatumbila School was only included on the 2015 list for upgrading, your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter. 34/13 – Construction of Chalimbana, Mukuba and Kwame Nkrumah Universities On Friday, 22nd February, 2013, the Vice-President assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, according to the latest information I have, and it is very hot-off-the-press, I think, this morning, in fact, the progress in the construction of Chalimbana, Mukuba and Nkrumah Universities is good. They will open as universities this year, 2013.”

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Having requested for a progress report, it was reported in the Action-Taken Report that the Government had allocated a total sum of K79, 900,000 in the 2014 budget earmarked for the continued construction activities at various universities in pursuant to the Presidential directive. The Ministry issued a Statutory Instrument No 110: The Chalimbana University (Declaration) Order, 2013. However, the opening of the University would only be undertaken once the following additional infrastructure was constructed:

(i) two double storey lecture rooms; (ii) two four storey hostels; (iii) one lecture theatre; and (iv) ten staff houses.

The Government issued Statutory Instrument No. 108 of 2013: The Mukuba University (Declaration) Order, 2013. In the 2014 budget, the Ministry had earmarked the construction of the following at the Mukuba University: Phase I (ongoing)

(i) two double storey lecture rooms; (ii) two four storey hostels;

(iii) two lecture theatres; and (iv) one library. Phase II (ongoing)


(iii) one lecture theatre; and (iv) ten staff houses. The Government further issued Statutory Instrument No. 107 of 2013: The Education (Kwame Nkrumah Teachers’ College Board) (Dissolution) Regulations, 2013. It further earmarked the construction of the following structures at the University: Phase I (Completed)


(iii) two lecture theatres; and (iv) one library.

Phase II (ongoing)


(iii) one lecture theatre; and (iv) ten staff houses.

The Government had put in place a road map for the full transformation of the institution into a fully-fledged university. So far, the Councils of the three declared Universities (Chalimbana, Mukuba and Kwame Nkrumah) had been approved by

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Cabinet and were now being constituted. The Councils were to be inaugurated during the first two weeks of September, 2014. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations In view of the numerous construction works taking place at the three universities, your Committee resolves to await for an updated report. MINISTRY OF HEALTH 25/13 – Health Services On 11th November, 2011, the Minister of Finance, during the Budget presentation for 2012, made the following assurance:

“Sir, a provision of K77.9 billion has been made for the net recruitment of 2,500 front line medical personnel, while K389.3 billion has been provided for infrastructure and medical equipment. Key programmes under infrastructure development will include the completion of eight (8) district hospitals and the construction of five new district hospitals including the requisite housing for medical personnel.”

Your previous Committee had resolved to await a progress report. It was reported in the Action-Taken Report that the status of the three (3) out of the eight (8) hospitals target for construction was as shown below. Province District Status

North-Western Solwezi (Lumwana) ZESCO had installed a transformer, but

power had not been connected yet.

Eastern Chama Construction works on phase III were 60 per cent complete. It was expected that phase III would be completed before the 4th Quarter of 2014.

Luapula Chiengi Phase III had been completed and the hospital was commissioned in July, 2014.

The progress on the construction of the six District Hospitals was as follows: Province District Status

Southern Kalomo The construction of phase I of the Hospital, commenced on

25th January, 2013. Works were currently in progress although behind schedule. Phase II of construction of the hospital had been advertised and works were expected to

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commence in the 4th quarter of 2014.

Southern Gwembe The construction of phase I of the Hospital, commenced on 24th January, 2013. The Ministry of Works was currently in progress and is doing finishing touches. Phase II of construction of the hospital had been advertised and expected to commence in the 4th quarter of 2014.

Western Lukulu The construction of phase I of the hospital, commenced on 24th January, 2013. Works were currently in progress and were approximately 92 per cent complete. The contractor was finalising works on the buildings. Phase II of construction of the hospital had been advertised and was expected to commence in the 4th quarter of 2014.

Eastern Nyimba The initial contract, for construction of the hospital was awarded to Yashab Contractors Limited. The contract was terminated for non-performance and re-awarded in April, 2014. Work on phase I commenced on 1st June, 2014 and was in progress. Excavations had been completed, while backfilling and compaction of the substructure was underway.

Northern Chilubi The construction of phase I of the hospital commenced on 24th January, 2013. Works were currently in progress and were approximately 97 per cent complete. The contractor was attending to snags on the buildings. Phase II of construction of the hospital had been advertised and was expected to commence in the 4th quarter of 2014.

Muchinga Mpika The construction of phase I of the hospital commenced on 24th January, 2013. Works were currently in progress and were approximately 90 per cent complete. The contractor was finalising works on the buildings. Phase II of construction of the hospital had been advertised and was expected to commence in the 4th quarter.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that construction of various health centres is still on-going. Your Committee, therefore, resolves to await an update on the projects. 27/13 – Health Centre at Katikulula Resettlement Scheme On 19th February, 2013, the Deputy Minister of Health made the following undertaking:

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“Mr Speaker, the Katikulula Resettlement Scheme already has a health post that is under construction. The health post building is completed. For it to commence operations, it requires a staff house. The staff house and ventilated improved pit latrines (VIP) are planned for construction this year, 2013. The construction of the staff house and four VIP latrines are expected to cost about K100 million or KR100,000. The time frame for their construction is six months and this depends on the availability of funds.”

It was reported in the Action-Taken Report that as per the 2013 Ministry of Health Infrastructure Operational Plan, funds were remitted in the amount of One Hundred and Ten Thousand Kwacha (K110,000.00) towards the construction of staff houses and ventilated improved pit (VIP) latrine at Katikulula. Construction of the staff house was in progress and works were currently at roof level while construction of the VIP latrine had also commenced. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await a progress report since works are still in progress. MINISTRY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND HOUSING 28/13 – Settlement Upgrading in Kwacha Constituency On 19th February, 2013, the Deputy Minister of Local Government and Housing made the following assurance:

“Mr Speaker, the Ministry, through Kitwe City Council and Nkana Water and Sewerage Company, has plans to improve the road network and water supply and sanitation in the settlements of Kwacha Constituency.”

It was reported in the Action-Taken Report as follows: HOUSEHOLD SANITATION Description Twaiteka

Chambishi Ipusukilo Kitwe

Kamatipa Kitwe

Project Total

Project Scope Total initially targeted to be constructed

503

500

500

1,503

Extras beyond initial target

176

176

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Community Response Respondents (excluding vulnerable households)

679

500

495

1,674

Vulnerable households Identified

56

0

0

56

Construction Progress Demonstration sites

3

2

3

8

Completed toilets and in use

539

301

289

1,129

Roof Level (awaiting doors)

12

21

09

42

Superstructure Block Level

07

35

22

64

Substructure Block Level

03

16

02

21

Footing Level

0

10

0

10

Sunplat cast

561

373

322

1,256

Overall Picture Total number of households

4,512

4,897

2,064

11,473

Number of households reached

3,075

4,717

1,829

9,621

Total toilets under construction

561

383

322

1,266

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter.

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MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, WORKS, SUPPLY AND COMMUNICATIONS 04/13 – Machile Bridge On Friday, 22nd February, 2013, the Deputy Minister in the Vice-President’s Office made the following assurance:

“Sir, the report obtained from the Road Development Agency (RDA) indicates that permanent works will only be undertaken after the rainy season. However, as an interim measure, my office, through the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU), has released a boat to ease the movement of people and goods. This will alleviate the hardships being experienced by the travelling public in the short term.”

Your previous Committee had asked for a progress report and was updated that no additional permanent works had been carried out on the Machile Embankment since the last rehabilitation works which were completed in December, 2013, by Force Account of the Road Development Agency (RDA). Currently, the embankment was in good working condition allowing for the free flow of goods and services. The RDA was, however, planning for maintenance works on the remaining 92 km of Simungoma to Mulobezi D787 in the 2015 Road Sector Annual Work Plan. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to wait a progress report on the matter. 31/13 – Blacklisting of Zambian Registered Planes On Friday, 30th December, 2012, His Honour the Vice-President made the following undertaking:

“Mr Speaker, one of the first things this Government did when it was elected was to get a task force together, centred on the civil aviation authorities and the Ministry responsible for communication and transport. We communicated with Brussels, the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and all other relevant organisations. An audit, which is, hopefully, the final one that will normalise the situation, is due in December, 2012, after which this ban should be lifted.”

Having requested for a progress report, your Committee was updated as follows: (i) the Government appointed the Board of Directors for the Civil Aviation Authority

on 19th November, 2013; (ii) review of Technical Guidance Materials, Manuals and Certification checklists to

conform to latest amendments, ICAO standards and recommended practices (Annexes) was completed on 29th November, 2013;

(iii) the Second Draft of the Aviation Act had been completed by the consultant and a stakeholders Aviation Bill Review workshop was held from the 28th – 30th June, 2014;

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(iv) the Zambia Civil Aviation Requirements had been updated to conform to the latest SADC Generic Regulations;

(v) six Inspectors in Operations and Airworthiness had undergone ICAO Government Aviation Safety Inspector training;

(vi) six Inspectors in Operations and Airworthiness had undergone ICAO on the Job Training;

(vii) ICAO Continuous Monitoring Approach (CMA) Online Framework (OLF) Training was conducted in March, 2014, on cost recovery basis ( with assistance from the 10th European Development Fund Project) for 19 DCA Inspectors to enable them update information regarding activities pertaining to corrective action plan and safety for Zambia on a secured online framework;

(viii) the Director General for the Civil Aviation Authority had been appointed from 1st April, 2014 and the process for the recruitment of the rest of the staff had started;

(ix) ICAO Air Operator Certification on the Job Training Project for Operation and Airworthiness Inspectors to be conducted from 21st July to 21st October, 2014 under the ICAO SAFE Fund;

(x) experts from the AFI-CIS under the Africa Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) to be engaged on a cost recovery basis for Operations and Airworthiness in October 2014 to enhance Air Operator Certification; and

(xi) the Ministry shall engage the European Commission Directorate General of Transport and Mobility for the removal of the EU Ban by November, 2014.

Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter. MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS 12/13 – Construction of Staff Houses at Chitambo Mission Police Post

On 21st February, 2013, the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs made the following pronouncement:

“Mr Speaker, the Government, through the Ministry of Home Affairs, has plans to construct staff houses at Chitambo Mission Police Post, which is going to be upgraded as part of the on-going Infrastructure Development Plans which are scheduled to commence in the course of 2013.”

Your previous Committee had resolved to await a progress report on the assurance. It was reported that the Government had planned to construct 10,000 housing units for the Zambia Police, Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), Immigration and Zambia Prisons Service. The tender procedures were currently underway for the first 3000 houses and was expected to close on 15th September, 2014. Chitambo Mission Police Post was one of the expected beneficiaries. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter.

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MINISTRY OF MINES, ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 14/13 – Construction of Dams in Mapatizya Constituency On Friday, 22nd February 2013, the Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development made the following assurance:

“Mr Speaker, the Government through the Department of Water Affairs plans to rehabilitate the mentioned dams in 2013. This will be done after the rainy season.”

Your previous Committee having resolved to await an updated report on the matter was appraised that the study reviewed that only three out of the six sites were found to be suitable for dam construction and these were Tambana, Siambelele and Chundwe. The detailed topographical survey and design for Tambana had been done. According to the engineer’s estimates, Tambana proposed dam would cost K2,432,565.19 to construct. The design, bill of quantities and tender documentation were available for verification. Tambana Proposed dam would be included in the 2015 budget for construction of dams. Siambelele and Chundwe sites would be subjected to screening for possible inclusion in the National Dams Development Plan which the Ministry was embarking on. The feasibility studies were not conducted in April, 2014, as planned due to the non-availability of funds. They would be done as soon as funds for maintenance of dams were made available. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the construction of dams at the sites found to be suitable as well as to be updated on the fate of the other three dams. 15/13 – Requirements for Establishing Fuel Filling Stations On Friday, 22nd February, 2013, the Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development made the following undertaking:

“Mr Speaker, the Government has a programme to construct, at least, two filling stations per year. However, it is also up to the Hon Members of Parliament to talk to oil marketing companies (OMCs) and encourage them to invest in their areas.”

Having requested for a progress report, it was reported in the Action-Taken Report that the consultant CM Architects finalised the design of new filling stations in July, 2014 and the designs had since been submitted to the Ministry and were considered by the Ministerial Tender Committee on 8th August, 2014. A Ministerial Tender Committee Paper had since been prepared so as to allow for advertisement in order to engage contractors to begin the construction of the filling stations in Mporokoso and Luwingu.

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Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await an update on the matter. 16/13 – Electrification of Rufunsa District On Thursday, 21st February, 2013, the Deputy Minister of Mines, Energy and Water Development made the following undertaking:

“Mr Speaker, the delay in connecting Rufunsa District to the national electricity grid was caused by a lack of political will. This is not the case now, as the Government is committed to having the district connected. In this regard, implementation of the project started in December, 2012, and is expected to be completed by December, 2013. I am sure the Honourable Member for Rufunsa was there when we conducted groundbreaking ceremony two to three months ago.”

Having requested for a progress report, your Committee was informed through the Action-Taken Report that the electrification of Rufunsa was part of the project to connect Luangwa District to the national grid. The project objective was to replace the expensive and unreliable diesel generation supply at Luangwa with hydropower from the grid and to increase access to electricity in Luangwa District. The works were a complete electrification package covering construction of 211 km of 132kV transmission line, two 132/33kV substations, 130 km of 33kV distribution lines, 33/0.4kV Pole Mounted Transformers and low voltage lines, 750 by 400/230V service connections and two new ZESCO offices and twelve staff houses. The project was funded through a loan facility from the Export Import (EXIM) Bank of India. The Engineering Procurement and Construction contract was signed with PME Solutions of India on 20th June, 2011, with a project implementation time of 18 months and at a contract price of US$63 million. The Contract start and completion dates were 13th December, 2012 and 12th June, 2014, respectively. Additional works at Leopards Hill involving the extension of the 330kV and 132kV switchyards were added to the contract and agreed at a meeting between ZESCO and PME in June, 2013. Further works were added to the Contract as follows: extension of the optic fibre network to Luangwa Boma by installing 60 km of ADSS

optic fibre cable on the 33kV line to Luangwa Boma; and installation of ADSS optic fibre cable between the 132/33kV substations and the

proposed offices at Mpanshya and Chitope in order to connect these new offices to the ZESCO Business Information System.

The Contract expired on 12th June, 2014, with only about 10 per cent of the works done. PME had, however, delivered approximately 85 per cent of the materials required for execution of the project. The company had evidently failed so far to meet the

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requirements of the project and ZESCO Management was currently reviewing the project to decide on the way forward. PME had been requested to provide its proposal on how it would complete the project in the shortest possible time, ZESCO Management had also invoked the maximum penalties as dictated in the contract. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee is disappointed that such a huge capital project has stalled. Your Committee resolves to await an update on the matter. 32/13 – Provincial Fuel Storage Facilities On Friday, 30th November, 2012, His Honour the Vice-President made the following assurance:

“Mr Speaker, well, at the risk of giving a Government assurance, let me say that, in the next two or three months, that programme should be completed.”

After your previous Committee had resolved to await a progress report on the matter, the status was submitted in the Action-Taken Report as follows: Lusaka Depot: (25 million Ltrs) – The depot was operational; Mongu Depot: (6.5 million Ltrs) – The works had not yet commenced since the

contract to construct the access road to the site had not yet been finalised. The contract was submitted to the Ministry of Justice in June, 2014, for clearance;

Mpika Depot: (6.5 million Ltrs) – 100 per cent complete and waiting commissioning

on 5th September, 2014; and Solwezi Depot – (12.5 million Ltrs) – Overall progress was at 51 per cent complete. The works on the depot included civil works which were 36.40 per cent complete and mechanical woks at 25.96 per cent complete. The status of the works is set out hereunder. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that apart from the Lusaka depot which was operational and the Mpika depot which had been completed, Solwezi and Mongu depots were still under construction. Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter. MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND ARTS 21/13 – Mweru-Wantipa and Nsumbu National Parks On 21st February, 2013, the Deputy Minister of Tourism and Arts made the following assurance:

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“Furthermore, ZAWA plans to recruit 800 more wildlife police officers between 2013 and 2020 and this will enable Nsumbu and Mweru-Wantipa National Parks to have adequate ZAWA field officers, hence the CRB village scouts will not conduct patrols in these parks, but concentrate their patrol efforts in the Game Management Areas (GMAs).”

Your previous Committee had resolved to await a progress report on the matter. It was reported in the Action-Taken Report that the issue of recruiting about 800 Wildlife Police Officers (WPOs) had been actively pursued by the Ministry of Tourism and Arts with the Ministry of Finance. However, the Ministry of Finance informed the Ministry of Tourism and Arts that that Government could not authorise the recruitment of 800 WPOs because the Government had suspended the recruitment of staff in the public service. Therefore, going ahead with recruitment of WPOs would undermine Government’s policy to suspend recruitment of staff in the public sector. In this regard, the Government was advised to defer the exercise in line with Government policy to suspend all recruitments in 2014. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter. MINISTRY OF FINANCE 01/11 – Public Financial Management On Friday, 11th November, 2011, the Minister of Finance during the Budget presentation for 2012, made the following assurance:

“Sir, to this effect in 2012, the Government will finalise and begin to implement a revised PFM strategy that practically integrates these core principles into its PFM practices. Further, Government will bring to this House a Planning and Budgeting Bill and an amendment to the Public Finance Act to place these cardinal PFM principles on a legal footing.”

Having received the submission, your previous Committee had resolved to request for a progress report on the matter. Your Committee was appraised as follows: A. Enactment of the Planning and Budgeting Bill The Planning and Budgeting Policy Document was approved by Cabinet at its 11th meeting on 24th March, 2014, following the consultative programmes which was concluded in three stages as listed below. 1. A wider circulation of the Policy Document in the media was to avail the documents

to the public in order to allow for broader citizen’s participation. Through this process comments and contributions on the documents were elicited from the citizenry.

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2. Special Provincial Coordinating Committee (PDCC) meetings were held to solicit

comments from District and Provincial Structures involving State and Non-State Actors.

3. A National Stakeholders Consultative meeting was also held in Lusaka for umbrella

organisations including cooperating partners as the final process of soliciting comments from stakeholders.

The objectives of the Policy which would also be reflected in the Bill were to: (a) integrate National Planning and Budgeting processes with the greater results

orientation; (b) strengthen synergies in the various planning processes; (c) facilitate more participative/decentralised development planning and budgeting

processes; (d) align the National Development Cycle with the Electoral Cycle; (e) enhance budget credibility; and (f) facilitate greater evidence based decision making in development planning and

budgeting.

The National Planning and Budgeting Policy was officially launched by the Minister of Finance on 30th July, 2014. The Ministry had proceeded to formulating the Planning and Budgeting Bill in accordance with the Amended Constitution Article 118 of 2009, that “Parliament shall enact the Budgeting and Planning Legislation which shall provide for matters that relate to the annual budget and to medium and long term development plans”. Upon the launch of the policy, the Ministry of Finance had proceeded to initiate and finalise a Draft Bill which would be handed over to the Ministry of Justice for further technical scrutiny prior to finally tabling it before Cabinet for approval. However, this would only be done after a wider process of consultations to reach consensus with all stakeholders. Revision of the Public Finance Act The Treasury had since identified areas which required revision and was currently in the process of engaging a Consultant. The Consultant to be engaged was required to ensure that the revised Public Finance Act and Financial Regulations embraced modern ways of doing business to effectively and efficiently improve service delivery with regard to the administration of public finances. The review would also address the challenges faced in the implementation of the current Public Finance Act, 2004 and the Financial Regulations, 2006 as highlighted by the Auditor General in her Annual Reports.

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Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that from 2011, to date, the Planning and Budgeting Bill has not been presented to Parliament. Your Committee resolves to request for an update on the Government’s position regarding the Bill. MINISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORT 29/12 – National Stadium On Wednesday, 12th December, 2012, the Deputy Minister of Youth and Sport made the following assurance:

“Mr Speaker, I wish to inform this August House that the Government of the Republic of Zambia signed a concessional loan amounting to K470 billion equivalent to US$94 million with the People’s Republic of China in July, 2010, for the purposes of constructing and rehabilitating the grandstand at the Old Independence Stadium. Further, the Government is supposed to meet other obligations which were at the month end of June, 2012, K143 million spent on processing of work permits, clearing of land, connecting electricity to the site and sinking of boreholes. However, the complete draw down of the expenditure can only be availed upon completion of the stadium. For part (b) of the question, the construction of the Lusaka Stadium and rehabilitation of the Independence Stadium will be completed by January, 2014. The construction works began on 6th July, 2011, and will take thirty months. However, it is anticipated that works will be completed towards the end of next year, 2013. On (c), Mr Speaker, the cost of rehabilitating the Independence Stadium is estimated at K20 billion. Finally, on (d), there is a budgetary allocation in the 2013 Budget of K1.5 billion for the purpose of expanding the car park at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.”

Having received a written submission, your previous Committee had resolved to await for a progress report on the matter. It was reported in the Action-Taken Report that the construction was completed ahead of schedule in October, 2013. However, works on the identified snags and defects continued up to 24th May, 2014, when the Contractor handed over the facility to the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications. On the telecommunications services, your Committee was informed that Zamtel Limited had installed telephone and internet which were currently being activated for use. In addition, the Lusaka Water and Sewerage Company had completed the installation of water and sanitation services which were now fully operational. Furthermore, ZESCO had since completed the installation of the sub-station with two dedicated supply lines

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from Matero to the Stadium. However, the sub-station was yet to be commissioned after pressure-testing the supply lines. The project was scheduled to be completed in April, 2014. However, the delay had been attributed to the late arrival of some specialised imported components of the sub- station transformer. On the access road and car parks, it was reported that the construction works commenced late due to late release of funds. However, the contractor had assured the Ministry that the works would be completed by 31st August, 2014. With regard to the interchange at the junction of Kasangula and Great North Roads, with a flyover and footbridge, the construction works were scheduled to commence in 2015. On the issue of coming up with a Stadia Management Authority Structure, Treasury authority had not been granted by the Ministry of Finance to employ manpower under this structure. Consequently, the Ministry had continued working with the Taskforce at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium and had attached staff to the National Heroes Stadium. The National Heroes Stadium was officially handed over to the Ministry of Youth and Sport on 2nd June, 2014. However, the dates of the commissioning of the stadium would be availed to the nation as soon as external works were completed. On the issue of rehabilitating the terraces of the Old Independence Stadium, the facility would still be used as a training facility only with no improvements made to terraces. The Ministry of Youth and Sport was still going ahead to construct a car park at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium. However, the Ministry was lobbing for the Ministry of Finance to budget it under head 21. Once resources were made available, the project would go through a re-tender process. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to request for a progress report in view of a number of tasks which have to be completed. MINISTRY OF JUSTICE 09/13 – Local Courts at Nsumbu Business Centre On Thursday, 21st February, 2013, the Minister of Justice made the following assurance:

“Mr Speaker, the Government is committed to constructing the Nsumbu Local Court in Nsama District in 2013, in accordance with the strategic plan of the Judiciary and subject to the availability of funds.”

Having requested for a progress report, your Committee was updated that there had been no construction of buildings in Nsumbu area due to inadequate funding towards the infrastructure Development Fund. Nsumbu Local Court was initially earmarked for construction in the 2013 Plan, but works could not commerce due to insufficient funds.

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Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await a progress report. 10/13 – Local Courts in Nakonde District On Wednesday, 19th February, 2013, the Minister of Justice made the following undertaking:

“Mr Speaker, in accordance with the strategic plan for the Judiciary, the local court at Ntolondo in Nakonde District is earmarked for construction this year, 2013.”

Your previous Committee had resolved to await for a progress report on the assurance. It was reported in the Action-Taken Report that there had been no construction of buildings in Ntolondo area due to inadequate funding to the Infrastructure Development Fund. Construction of a court at Ntolondo in Nakonde District shall be considered in the future budgets when funds permit. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter. PART IV LOCAL TOUR Having undertaken a local tour to visit various Government projects, your previous Committee made several observations and recommendations on various assurances below. MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, TRADE AND INDUSTRY 04/12 – Enhancing Value Addition among SMEs On Wednesday, 14th March, 2012, the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry gave the following assurance to the House:

“Sir, I further wish to say that it is not now that I have realised the importance of SMEs. That is why I talked about value addition. This Government has always realised this and that is why according to its manifesto, it is implementing programmes which are based on value addition, especially driven by the SMEs.”

Your previous Committee had observed that the key components of the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) required that the right physical support such as infrastructure, institutional and legislative framework, which would encourage location of large and small-scale manufacturing industries closer to the sources of the raw materials targeted for value addition, be put in place. Your Committee had resolved to

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await a progress report on the creation of the necessary physical infrastructure, institutional and legislative frameworks to facilitate value addition. With regard to Chambishi MFEZ, your previous Committee had recommended that the Government intensifies sensitisation programmes to encourage local investors to form consortiums in order for them to benefit from the incentives that go with investing in the MFEZ. Further, it had been recommended that the Government should review the US$500,000 threshold for local SMEs in order to attract local investment. It was reported in the Action-Taken Report that the Multi-Facility Economic Zones programme was intended to catalyse manufacturing activities and the streamlining of fiscal incentives to the MFEZ/Industrial Parks and this would go a long way in enhancing manufacturing activities in the MFEZ/Industrial Parks. MFEZ/Industrial Parks developers were continuously being encouraged to embrace local SMEs in their respective MFEZ/Industrial Parks although the developers had bemoaned the issue of the minimum threshold of US$500,000 as a hindrance to entry into MFEZ/Industrial Parks by local SMEs. Previously, SMEs registered under the ZDA and in whichever sector were entitled to specific incentives which, however, fell through following the streamlining of incentives in 2013, with the priority sectors list being revised through Statutory Instrument No. 17 of 2014 and by the revision, SMEs undertaking manufacturing activities would have to operate in the MFEZ/Industrial Parks to access the incentives. However, to address the concern over the minimum threshold which disqualified the majority of the local SMEs from accessing incentives, recommendations were under review and discussion with stakeholders for the reduction of the minimum threshold that qualified SMEs operating in the MFEZ/Industrial Parks to qualify for incentives. With regard to Lumwana MFEZ, your Committee recommended that the Government should quickly come to the conclusion of the matter so that works on the Lumwana MFEZ could commence as soon as possible. Your Committee had resolved to wait a progress report on the matter. In response, it was reported in the Action-Taken Report that the Lumwana MFEZ was set to relocate in the approved Lumwana Integrated Development Plan area, and the Solwezi District Council that had the authority over the planned area was reviewing options for locating the Lumwana MFEZ in the area. The Government through ZDA was making follow-ups to ensure that works on the Lumwana MFEZ could commence in the shortest possible time. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter.

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MINISTRY OF HEALTH 11/12 – Resumption of 24-Hour Services by Health Centres in Kankoyo Parliamentary Constituency On Tuesday, 20th March, 2012, the Deputy Minister of Health made the following remarks:

“Mr Speaker, the Government will recruit health workers based on the K77.8 billion allocated for recruitment in the 2012 National Budget. The health centres in Kankoyo Parliamentary Constituency, under the Ministry of Health, will resume operating for 24 hours when more health workers are recruited.”

Having resolved to await a progress report, it was reported in the Action-Taken Report that existing Kankoyo establishment was twenty-eight staff and minimum required was fifteen for the centre to operate for 24 hours. Currently nine were in post and six had been identified for recruitment, therefore, the centre would be operational for 24 hours before the end of September, 2014. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee notes that six health workers are yet to be employed to reach the minimum establishment. Your Committee resolves to await a progress report on the matter. MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS 02/12 – Construction of Border Posts at Kalengelenge, Jimbe, Kambimba and Kamapanda On Tuesday, 13th March, 2012, the Deputy Minister of Finance assured the House as follows:

“Mr Speaker, the Government will, in due course, advise this House and the public on the Government’s development plans for Kalengelenge entry point. A modern border post is planned to be constructed in the near future at Jimbe Border and the Government is currently exploring various funding options. On Kambimba, the Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Buildings Department prepared tender documents on behalf of the Ministry of Home Affairs for the construction of a new border post and the contract was awarded. The same situation applies to Kamapanda Border.’’

Your previous Committee had noted the progress made so far and requested for an update on the completion of all these projects. Kambimba Border Post – Mwinilunga Your previous Committee had urged the Government to sink the borehole, install the solar power as soon as possible and also work on the road and bridges on the road. Your Committee resolved to await a progress report on the matter.

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It was reported in the Action-Taken Report that Kambimba border post was currently under construction and works were expected to be completed by September, 2014. Sinking of the borehole, installation of solar panels and upgrading of the road would commence after the completion of the border post. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await a further update on the matter. Kamapanda Border Post – Mwinilunga In line with the Executive’s submission in the Action-Taken Report regarding the status of the works, your Committee had observed that the border post was substantially complete. Your Committee had further noted that the border post was commissioned in 2013, although it had no water and electricity. Your Committee had also observed that the borehole which was sunk five km away from the border post was dry. Further, the border post had no transport and communication facilities and also needed an entry road from Angola and a parking lot. Having received a submission from the Executive, your Committee had recommended that in order to provide adequate water supply to the border post as well as houses, there was need to sink a borehole close to the border post building. Your Committee had also implored the Government to urgently provide communication and transport facilities, office furniture, construct an entry road from Angola as well as a parking lot. Your Committee was appraised that the road had been graded; two solar panels had been installed; water was found five km from the border post, but exploration for sinking a borehole at the border post itself had been planned for 2015. Construction of houses would be taken as part of the bigger project on housing under the Ministry. Committee’s Observations and Recommendations Your Committee resolves to await a further update on the matter. CONCLUSION 74. Your Committee wishes to express its sincere appreciation to you Mr Speaker, for the guidance rendered to it during the Session. Your Committee further wishes to extend its gratitude to all the stakeholders who appeared before it and made both written and oral submissions. Your Committee also wishes to thank the Office of the Clerk of the National Assembly for the advice and services rendered to it throughout its deliberations. M Habeenzu, MP June, 2015 CHAIRPERSON LUSAKA

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APPENDIX I List of Officials Mr S C Kawimbe, Principal Clerk of Committees Ms M K Sampa, Deputy Principal Clerk of Committees Mr F Nabulyato, Committee Clerk (Social Committees) Mr G Zulu, Assistant Committee Clerk Mrs R T Mwila, Acting Stenographer Mr R Mumba, Committee Assistant Mr M Chikome, Parliamentary Messenger

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