SPEECH FOR THE OFFICIAI OPE IIIG Of IHE FIFIH

scsstoN ot rHE ElEvcil l AnoNAl ASsEMltY

BY

HIS EXCEILEI{CY MN. EDGAR CHAGWA I.UiIGU,

PTESIDCNT OF'HE REPUBIIC OF ZA'*IIA

ON TNIDAY, IEIIi SEPTEMIER,2OI5

INTRODUCIION

iAR. SPEAKER,

IT IS A GREAT HONOUR AND PR]VILEGE FOR ME TO ADDRESS THIS

AUGUST HOUSE AND, THROUGH YOU,IHE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA.

THIS IS MY FIRST ADDRESS IO THIS HOUSE AS REPUBLICAN PRESIDENT, IT

COMES IN THE WAKE OF OUR JUB]LEE CELEBRATIONS LAST OCIOsER

WHEN THE COIJNTRY MARKED 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE.

IHE CELEBRATIONS WERE A FITTNG TRIBUTE TO OUR FOUNDING

FATHERS AND MOTHERS, AS WEIL AS MEN AND WOMEN WHO HAVE

CONTRIEUTED IN VARIOUS WAYS TO MAKE ZAMBIA WHAT IT IS TODAY.

I SAY THANK YOU TO THE MULTITUDES OF ZAMBIANS WHO TURNED IJP

FOR THE CELEBRATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND TO THOSE WHO

CONIRIBUTED THEIR T]ME, RESOURCES AND TALENTS TO MAKE OUR

JUBILEE SUCH A SPECIAT OCCASION,

MR. SPEAKER,

UNFORTUNATELY, FOUR DAYS AFTER THE JUBILEE MARK, ON 28T3

OCTOBER, 20] 4, OUR CELEBRATIONS WERE CUT SHORT BY THE SAD

PASS NG ON OF OUR BELOVED REPUBLLCAN PRESIDENT, HIS

EXCELLENCY MR, MICHAEL CHILUFYA SATA, THIS WAS A TRYING

MOMENI FOR THE NATION AS WE HAD ONCE AGAIN LOST A S]TT NG

PRESIDENT,

THE LATE PRES DENT WAS A GALLANT LEADER WHO SERVED THE

PEOPLE OF ZAME]A SELFLESSLY AND WLTH GREAT PASSION, HIS

LEGACY W]LL tIVE ON.

THE NATION ALSO LOST TWO MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT DUR NG THE

FOURTH SESS ON OF IHE ELEVENTH NAT ONAL ASSEMBLY. THESE WERE

HONOURABLE CHIFI]A MATAFWALI, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR

BANGWEULIJ CONSTITUENCY AND HONOURABLE HIJMPHREY IDDOH

MWANZA, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR SOLWEZ WEST

CONSTI]UENCY.

MAY I REOUESI IHE HOUSE TO RISE AND OBSERVE A MINUTE OF

SILENCE IN HONOIJR OF OUR DIAR DEPARTED PRESIDENT AND THI TWO

HONOURABTE MEMBERS OF PARUAMENT:

MAY THEIR SOULS RESI N ETERNAL PEACEI

MR. SPEAKER,

ARISING FROM THE DEATHS OF THE MENTIONED MEMBERS OF

PARL AMENT, THE CHAWAMA BY-ELECTION CAIJSED BY MY ELECTION

AS PRESIDENT AND FROM COURT NULL F CAT ONS OF SOME OF THE

SEATS WON DURNG THE 20]I GENERAT ELEC]]ONs, BY.ELECTIONS

WERE HELD N THiRTEEN CONSIITUENCIES,

ALLOW ME NOW TO RECOGNISE

NOMINATED NEW MEMBERS

CONGRATULATE THEM.

THE THIRTEEN ELECTED AND TWO

OF PARLIAMENT, I WARMLY

IT IS, HOWEVER, REGRETTABLE ]O NOTE THAT INCIDENCES OF

VIOLENCE RE-OCCURRED IN SOME CONSTITUENCIES DURING THE BY

ELECT1ONS. I URGE POLITICAL PLAYERS TO ADHERE TO THE ELECTORAL

CODE OF CONDUCT EACH TIME THERE ARE ELECTIONS.

ID1RECT THE INSPECTOR.GENERAL OF POLICE TO DEVELOP AND

STRICTLY ENFORCE NEW MEASURES TO PREVENT VIOLENCE DURING

ELECTIONS.

MR. SPEAXER,

1I HAS BEEN E]GHT MONTHS SINCE IASSUMED OFFICE. LET ME TAKE

THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA FOR THE

SUPPORT HAVE RECEIVED SO FAR. ] LOOK FORWARD TO THEIR

CONTINUED SUPPORT IN THE YEARS TO COME.

I COME TO ADDRESS THIS HOUSE AT A TIME WHEN THE NATION IS

FACING THE MOST CHALLENGING ENERGY SHORTAGE SINCE THE

FOUNDING OF THIS GREAT NATLON. IHE POWER RATIONING DUE TO

REDUCED WATER LEVELS IN OUR POWER GENERATION DAMS HAS

MPACTED SEVERELY ON THE LIVES OUR PEOPLE.

I HEAR THE CRY OF THAT WELDER WHOSE |NCOME HAS DWINDLED

DUE TO POWER LOAD-SHEDDING; THAT HAIRDRESSER. THAT CHICKEN

RUNNER WHO CANNOT PUT UP WITH REPEATED POWER

DISRUPTIONS...

I FEEL THE FRUSTRATIONS OF THOSE WORKSHOP MECHANICS,

BARBERSHOP AND MARKEI STALL OWNERS WHOSE INCOME HAS

DECLINED AS A RESULT OF POWER SHORTAGE..,

] FEEL YOUR PAIN, ISHAR€ YOUR FRUSTRATIONS. NO ONE FEELS THE

ANGUISH OF THE CURRENT POWER SHORTAGE MORE THAN I DO... THE

BURDEN OF YOUR FRUSTRATIONS FALLS SQUARELY ON MY

SHOULDERSI

BUT tET ME ASSURE THE NATION THAT MY GOVERNMENT, YOUR

GOVERNMENT, HAS RAPDLY MOVED TO ADDRESS THIS POWER

SHORTAGE, IWILL TATER IN THIS SPEECH ANNOUNCE THE SPECIFIC

MEASURES ]O DEAL WITH THIS PROELEM.

DURING THE FOURTH SESSION OF THE ELEVEN]H NATIONAL ASSEMELY,

IHE HONOURABLE MEMBERS DEBATED SERIOUSIY AND, AT TIMES,

DELICATE MATTERS OF NATIONAT IMPORTANCE IN A WAY WHICH

UPHELD TRANSPARENCY AND ACCOUNTAE]LITY. THE HOUSE

CONSIDERED A TOTAL OF 847 QUESTIONS FOR BOTH ORAL AND

WR NEN ANSWERS, SEVEN PRIVATE MEMBERS' MOTIONS, 32

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE REPORTS, 4/ MINISTERIAL STATEMENTS,

50 ANNUAL REPORTS AND PASSED 22 GOVERNMENT BILLS-

WOULD LIKE TO EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO YOU MR SPEAKER, THE

HONOURABLE DEPUTY SPEAKER AND TI-]E HONOURABLE DEPUTY

CHAIRPERSON OF COMMITTEES OF THE WHOLE HOUSE FOR THE

DILIGENT, EFFICIENT AND IMPARTIAT MANNER WITH WHICH YOU

PRESIDED OVFR THt EJSI\TSS OF TPE HOUSF.

ALSO THANK THE CLERK OF IHE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY AND HER STAFF

FOR THE SERVICES RENDERED TO THE NAIION.

LEI ME ALSO CONGRATULATE ZAMBIA'S FIRST - EVER FEMALE LEADER

OF GOVERNMENT BUS NESS IN THE HOUSE, HER HONOUR MRS.

INONGE WINA, MP, V]CE PRES]DENT OF THE REPUBL]C OF ZAMS]A. HER

ABLE LEADERSI]IP IS A SOURCE OF PRDE FOR IHE HOUSE, THE

COUNTRY AND AFRICA AS A WHOLE.

MR. SPEAKER,

THIS SESSION OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IS UNIQUE FOR A NUMBER

OF REASONS, FIRSTLY, IT IS THE F]NAL SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH

NATIONAL ASSEMBLY BEFORE THE NEXT GENERAT ELECTIONS N 20]6.

SECONDLY, IT S DURING THIS SESSION THAT THIS HOUSE WILL BE

CONSIDERING THE CONSTITUT1ON AMENDMENT BLL, 20I5, THIRDLY,

HAVNG ATTAINED 50 YEARS OF INDEPENDENCE, ZAMBIA HAS

ENTERED A NEW PHASE OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION

FOR THE NEXT 50 YEARS.

IHIS IS IN TANDEM W1TH THE AFRICAN LJNION AGENDA 2063 WH CH

HIGHLIGHIS OUR ASPIRATIONS AND QUOTE: "TO EUILD AN

INTEGRATED, PROSPEROUS AND PEACE;UL AFRICA, AN AFRICA

DRIVEN AND MANAGED 8Y IIS OWN CITIZENS AND REPRESENTING A

DYNAIAIC FORCf IN IHE INIERNATIONAI ARENA," END OF QUOIE,

THIS COMPETS US TO REFLECT ON THE DESTINY OF OUR COUNTRY AS

ORDA]NED BY GOD. WE MUST APPLY OUR TALENTS TO FULFIL THAT

DESTINY. LET US, THEREFORE, CREATE THE FUTURE THAT WE WANT.

THEME OT MY ADDNESS

MR. SPEAKER,

IT IS AGA NST THIS BACKGROUND THAT WE, AS A NATION, NEED TO BE

ADAPTIVE, INNOVATIVE AND DETERMINED TO CHANGE THE WAY WE

DO THINGS. IN THIS REGARD, THE THEME FOR MY ADDRESS IS

'EMERACING A TRANSFORMATIONAT CUITURE FOR A SIAART ZAMSIA

NOI,V". TO ATTAIN TH S TRANSFORMATION, WE NEED TO CHANGE THE

WAY WE THINK, BEHAVE AND DO TH NGS. ZAMBIANS DESERVE THE

VERY BEST AND WE ARE DETERM1NED TO ENSURE THAT THIS IS

ACHIEVED,

MR. SP[AKER,

OUR TRANSFORMATIONAL CULTURE SHOULD, THEREFORE, START WITH

EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US GETTING INVOLVED, IN THIS

TRANSFORMATION, WE MUST LEAVE THE PAST BEHIND AND EMBRACE

POS]TIVE AN]TUDES IN ALL OUR ENDEAVOURS, WE MUS] TRANSFORM

OURSELVES BY:

(I) EMBRACINGINNOVATIoNAND ENTREPRENEURSHIP:

(2) ADoPTING A NEW PARADIGM To RESoLVING oUR cURRENT AND

FUTURE CHALLENGES;

(3] EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY

PROV SION OF SERVICES;

TO SIMPLIFY AND QUICKEN

(4) RE-ALIGNING OUR INSTITUTIONS WHERE NECESSARY TO MAKE

THEM MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE NATION:

(5] EEING PATRIOTIC AND PUTTING THE NATION BEFORE OUR

PERSONAL INTERESTS;

{6) PROMOTING COSI EFFECT]VE OPERATIONS N GOVERNMENT TO

ELIMINATE WASTE AND ABUSE OF PUBLIC RESOURCES;

(7) EMBRACING HIGH ASPIRATLONS AND THE COURAGE TO ACHIEVE

THEM WIIH A STRONG SENSE OF VISION AND MISSION;

(8) PROMO1ING AND MAINTA]NING A CLEAN, HEALTHY AND SAFE

LIVING AND WORKING ENVIRONMENTI

{9) IRANSITING TOWARDS A GREEN ECONOMY;

IIO) FOSTERING WIN-WIN PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE

COUNTRY ]O ACHIEVE NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND FULFIL THE

NEEDS OF OUR PEOPLEj

(]]] CREATING SMART NSTITUTIONS AND SMART BUDGEING THAT

PROMOTE A WHOLE-OF.GOVERNMENI APPROACH TO PUBLIC

SERVICE DELIVERY;

(12) PROMOTTNG A CULTURE OF SAVTNC AMONG CITIZENS lOPROMOTE INVESTMENT AND GROWTHI

(I3) PROMOIING PUNCTUAL]TY AND EFF]CIENCY TO ENHANCE

PRODUCTIVITY;

II4] PROMOTING AND NURTURING TALENT;AND, LASTLY

II5] PROMOTING LONG.TERM PLANN NG.

LET US ALL USE THIS TRANSFORMATIONAL CUTTURE TO MAKE OUR

COUNTRY MORE PROSPEROUS, GRADUATING FROM LOWER MIDDLE

INCOME TO A DEVELOPED COUNTRY BY 2064 IN A SPIRIT OF EQUITY

AND INCLUSIVENESS,

CRITICA1 ISSUES

'ACING THE ANO}.I

MR. SPEAI(ER,

WOUTD NOW LIKE TO ADDRESS CRIIICAL ISSUES OUR NATION IS

CURRENTLY FAC NG:

WE MEET TODAY AT A TIME WHEN THE NATION IS GOING THROUGH A

DIFFICULT PHASE. IMEET ZAMEIANS FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE WHO

SHARE THEIR FRUSTRATIONS WITH ME ON THE ON-GO]NG LOAD'

SHEDDING, AND HOW THIS IS NEGATIVELY AFFECTING THEIR LIVES AND

BUSINESSES, WHETHER 8IG OR SMALL.

NO ONE IS SPARED, NOT EVEN MYSELF, A FEW DAYS AGO IWAS IN

THE HEROES STADIUM WHEN THERE WAS A POWER FAILURE. I KNOW

HOW IT FEELS TO COME BACK HOME AND FIND THAT THERE 15 NO

ELECTRICITY, OR TO SEE CH LDREN WHO CANNOT DO THE]R

HOMEWORK BECAUSE THERE ]S NO ELECTRICITY, OR A MOTHER WHO

HAS NO ACCESS IO ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY TO PREPARE

A MEAL FOR HER FAMILY.

IAM ALSO AWARE THAT THE CURRENT POWER SHORTAGE HAS

NEGATIVELY AFFECTED THOSE RUNNING SMALT BUSINESSES LIKE

SALONS, BARBER SHOPS, WELDING WORKSHOPS AND BAKERIES,

HOWEVER, THERE ARE SHORT IERM MEASURES THAT WE AS A

COUNTRY CAN TAKE TO MINiMIZE THE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICITY,

THESE INCLUDE:

THE USE OF ENERGY SERVER BULBS, THE UsE OF ALTERNATIVE SOURCES

OF ENERGY FOR COOKING AND HEATING. THIS WILL CERTAINLY

REDUCE THE DEMAND FOR ELECTRICI]Y.

MR. SPEAKER,

TO CUSHION THE IMPACT OF THE POWER SHORTAGE. GOVERNMENT

HAS TAKEN MEASURES wHICH INCLUDE: IMPORTATION OF ELECTRICITY

FROM NEIGHBOURlNG COUNTRIES;

ADJUSTING THE PRICE OF ELECTRICITY FOR COMMERCIAL ENTITIES TO

AIIRACT INCREASED INVESTMENTS IN ELECTRICIry GENERATION;

DEVELOPING ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY SUCH A5 SOLAR,

THERMAL AND PROMOTING THE USE OF ENERGY EFFIC|ENT ELECTRIC

8ULBS,

MR, SPEAKER,

APART FROM THE LOW WATER LEVELS IN LAKE KARIBA AND KAFUE

RIVER THE POWER SHORTAGE HAS BEEN OCCASS]ONED BY ZAMBIA'S

INABIL]TY OVER THE YEARS TO ATTRACT NEW INVESTMENTS N

ELECTRICITY GENERATION ON ACCOUNT OF THE LOW ELECTRIC1IY

TARRIFFS.

TO ADDRESS THIS, GOVERNMENT HAS REVISED THE TARIFFS UPWARDS

FROM AN AVERAGE RETAIL ]AR FF OF 5.64 TO ]0,35 CENTS PER KIIO

WATT PER HOUR,

THIS WILL ATTRACT INVESTMENTS IN THE ENERGY SECTOR

PARTICULARLY THOSE NTERESTED IN RENEWABLE ENERGY SUCH A5

SOLAR, WIND AND WASTE-TO-ENERGY PRO.JECTS. IN VEW OF OUR

ABUNDANT DEPOSITS OF COAL, THERMAL ENERGY IN PAR]ICULAR IS

GOlNG TO BE AVERY VIABLESOURCE OF ENERGY,

I AM CERTAIN MR. SPEAKER THAT WTH THESE MEASURES WE HAVE

TAKEN, WE WILL SOON HAVE A GRADUAL REDUCT]ON OF POWER

SHORTAGE LEADING TO AN EVENTIJAL SURPLUS. INFACT IN JUST ]2TO]8 MONIHS FROM NOW, ZAMBIA SHALL BECOME A NET EXPORTER

OF ENERGYI

TO PROTECT LOW NCOME HOUSEHOLDS FROM HIGH ELECTRICITY

TARIFFS, A CERTAIN PROPORTION OF ELEC]RICITY WILL BE RESERVED

FOR tOW ]NCOME HOUSEHOLDS. IN IHIS REGARD, GOVERNMENT HAS

INCREASED THE LIFELIN€ ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION FROM IOO TO

5OO KILO WATT PER HOUR. IH]S WILL RESULT N A RED1JCTION IN THE

AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON ELEC]RIC TY BILLS BY LOW INCOME

HOUSEHOTDS WHILE ENABLING THEM TO USE ]HE ELECTRICITY FOR

BAS C NECESSITIES.

MR. SPEAKER,

HUNGER HAS BEEN STALKING SOME OF OUR PEOPLE DUE TO CROP

FAILURE THAT FOLLOWED THE POOR RAINS IN THE 20]4/20]5 FARMING

SEASON.

IN PLACES LIKE SIKONGO, THE SITUATION

PAST TWO CONSECUTIVE SEASONS. THE

THESE PLACES MEANS THAT OUR PEOPLE

WATER SHORTAGES AS WELL.

IWOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY MR SPEAKER, ]O ASSURE

OUR PEOPLE IN THESE DROUGHT.H]T AREAS THAT THE]R L]VES MATTER

AND THAT THIS GOVERNMENT WILL NOT FORGETTHEM.

HAS EEEN LIKE THIS FOR THE

DROUGHT EXPERIENCED IN

FACE NOT ONLY FOOD, BUT

GOVERNMENT HAS CARRIED OUT AN IN.DEPTH VUTNERABILITY AND

NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN FORTY-E GHT DISTRIC1S N CENTRAL,

COPPERBELT, EASTERN, L1JAPULA, MUCHINGA, NORTH.WESTERN,

SOUTHERN AND WESTERN PROVINCES,

OUR IMMED ATE INTERVENTIONS INCLUDE PROVISION OF RELIEF FOOD

TO 13I ,I58 HOUSEHOLDS, COVER NG 798,948 PEOPLE IN 3] DISTR]CTS,

REHABILITATION AND SINKING OF 1,58] EOREHOLES IN ALL THE FORTY'

EIGHT ASSESSED DISTRICTS AND PROVISION OF WATER SUPPLY

THROUGH DAMS AND WATER SCHEMES.

GOING FORWARD, GOVERNMENT WILL PROVIDE AGRICULTURAL

INPUTS TO 45,079 AFFECTED HOUSEHOLDS IN TWEN]'/'SEVEN DISTRICTS,

STRENGTHEN CONSERVATION FARMNG IMPLEMENTATON AND

PROV1DE APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGIES FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS.

ADDITIONALLY, GOVERNMENT W LL STRENGTHEN EPIDEMIC

PREPAREDNESS AND SCALE UP SUPPLEMENTARY AND THERAPE1JTIC

FEEDING PROGRAMMES IN SELECTED DISTRICTS WHERE MALNUTRITION

IS HIGH,

MR. SPIAKER,

WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUN TY TO ASSURE THE NAT ON THAI

THE COIJNTRY HAS ENOUGH MAIZE STOCKS TO SIJPPORT THE

20]5/20]6 RELIEF FOOD PROGRAMME AND THAT GOVERNMENT WILL,

THROUGH IHE DISASTER MANAGEMENT AND MITIGATION UNIT,

ENSURE THAI ADEQUATE FOOD AND WATER PROVISIONS ARE MADE

AVAILABLE TO ALL VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS.

IN OUR CITIES, WE HAVE THE EVER.PRESENI CHALLENGE OF CHILDREN

N DISTRESS, KIDS FORCED TO L]VE ROUGH ON THE STREEIS BY

CIRCUMSTANCES HARDLY OF THER MAKING. THESE ARE OUR

CHILDREN, NIECES, NEPHEWS AND GRAND CHILDREN, AT A TENDER

AGE, THEY ARE EXPOSED TO BEGGING AND VARIOUS ANTL-SOCIAL

V CES AND ABUSES WHILE EXPOSED IO THE ETEMENTS ON IHE STREEI

AND STALKED BY PERPETUAL HUNGER AND DISEASE, WE CANNOT

ALLOW TH]S TO CONTINUE?

MR. SPEAKER,

T IS TIME WE TURNED A NEW PAGE ON THE PLIGHT OF STREEI KIDS. IO

THIS EFFECT. ] AM DIRECTNG THE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR

GENDER, YOUTH, CH]LD DEVETOPMENI AND COMMUNIT/ SERV1CES

TO EXPAND THE INTAKE LEVELS OF STREET K]DS AT OUR ZAMBIA

NATIONAL SERVICE CAMPS FOR SKILLS AND ENTREPRENEI]RSHIP

TRAINING, WE NEED TO GIVE THEM HOPE AGAIN AND MOST

MPORTANTLY, OPPORTUNITIES FOR A BETTER LIFE.

MR. SPEAI(IR,

HARDLY A DAY PASSES W]THOUT HAV NG TO HEAR OR READ ABOUT

INSINUATIONS OF TRIBALISM. TH]S COUNTRY WAS NOI FOUNDED ON

DLVISIVE THINKING OR BEHAVIOR THAT CELEBRATES DISUNJTY AND

ANARCHY AMONG US. IT WAS FOUNDED ON THE FIRM PRINC PtE OF

IJNTY IN DIVERSITY, AND HENCE, OUR NATIONAL MOTTO, 'ONE

ZAMB|A O E NAIION".

TO TH]S END, WISH TO CALL ON ALL ZAME|ANS TO L VE AND WORK IN

UNITY REGARDLESS OF TRIBE, THAT IS WHY I HAVE EMBARKED ON AN

AMBITIOUS CRUSADE TO PROMOTE THE UNI]Y OF OUR PEOPLE AND

O1JR NATION, IN THIS REGARD, IHAVE MET AND WLL CONTINUE

MEETING AND ENLISTING THE WISDOM AND SUPPORT OF OUR

TRADITIONAL LEADERS AND OTHER STAKEHOLDERS ON THIS CRITICAT

ISSUE. THIS IS IMPORTANT IF OUR COUNTRY HAS IO MOVE FORWARD

IN ITS 5OC O AND PO- IICAI DLVELOPMEN-.

AS A PRACTICAL MEASURE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE OF TRIBALISM, I AM

DIRECTING THE MINSTER OF CHIEFS AND TRADITIONAL AFFAIRS ]O

WORK CLOSELY WITH THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES IN RESOLVING

OUTSTANDING WRANGLES BETWEEN CHIEFDOMS, IT IS IMPORTANT TO

PROMOTE EXCHANGE VISITS EETWEEN THEIR ROYAL HIGHNESSES AS

WELL AS JOlNT VENTURES IN UPLIFTING THE LIVES OF OUR PEOPLE.

MR. SPEAKER,

IN MY INTERACTION WI]H ORDINARY PEOPLE, IAM ALWAYS

REMINDED OF THE DIFFICULTIES THAT FAMILIES GO THROUGH EACH

TIME THE PRICE OF MEALIE,MEAL GOES IJP, YES, I FULLY UNDERSTAND

THE FRUSTRATIONS OF A FARMER WHO WORKS HARD YEAR IN, YEAR

OUT, AND STILL STRUGGLES IO SELL HIS OR HER PRODUCE AND HAS

TO WAI] FOR MONTHS BEFORE GETIING PAID. I AM ALSO ALIVE TO THE

DESPAIR FELT BY YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN CONSTANTLY SEEKING,

BUT NOT FIND1NG ]OBS.

IALSO WISH TO ENCOURAGE OTHER POLIT]CAL LEADERS TO,IOIN ME

]N THIS CRUSADE AGAINST TRIBALISM IN OUR SOCIETY.

MR. SPEAKER,

THESE ARE NOT IIJST INDIVIDUAL, BUT ALSO NATIONAL CHATTENGES

THAT WE MIJST RESOLVE WITH URGENCY N OUR QUEST FOR GREATER

PROSPERIIY AND INCLUSIVENESS.

MR. SPEAKER,

WE ARE DEALNG WITH THE HIGH COSTS OF MEALIE.MEAL BY

ESTABLISHING ]3 MILLING PLAN]S IHROUGH-OUT IHE COUNTRY. THE

MILLING PLANTS WILL BE MANAGED BY THE ZAMBIA COOPERATVE

FEDERA]ON AND THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL SERVICE. THE OBJECTIVE OF

THESE MEASURES ]S TO PRODUCE AFFORDABLE MEALIE MEAL FOR THE

CITIZENRY. THIS WlLL ALSO BRING THE MARKET FOR MAIZE CLOSER TO

THE FARMERS.

THE GOVERNMENT IS PROMOTING SKILTS DEVELOPMENT AND

EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR YOUNG PEOPLE BY ESTABLISHING

A SCHOOL OF MILLING TECHNOLOGY UNDER THIS INITIATIVE,

IT IS INDEED DISHEARTENING TO SEE THAT IHE CO-OPERATVE

MOVEMENT IN ZAME A DESPITE HAVING BEEN ONCE IJPON A TIME SO

VIBRANT AND AN ENVY OF COUNTRIES WTHIN EAST AND SOUTHERN

AFR]CA AND BEYOND IS NOW IN A STATE WHERE IT IS NOW

STRUGGLING TO MAKE ANY NOTABLE CONTRIBUIION TO OUR

COUNTRY'S ECONOMY.

I AM AWARE THAT IN THE ]9805, EAST AFRICAN COUNIRIES WERE

SENDNG ]HEIR GOVERNMENT OFFIC]ALS TO THE ZAMBIA CO-

OPERATIVE FEDERAT]ON TO UNDERTAKE A STUDY ON HOW THE

ZAMB A CO.OPERATIVE MOVEMENT HAD MANAGED TO REACH THAT

LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT.

IT IS ALSO WORTH MENTIONING THAT DURING IHIS PERIOD PR]OR TO

]99] ZCF, WAS THE NEXT LARGEST SINGLE EMPLOYER ONLY COMING

TH RD TO THE C]V L SERV CE AND ZCCM. THIS COULD HAVE MEANT

THAT CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT WAS SECOND IN TERMS OF

CONTRIBUTION TO THE COUNTRY'S GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT

(GDP),

CAN YOU IMAGINE WHERE WE COULD HAVE BEEN AS A COUNTRY

AND HOW MUCH WE COUTD HAVE GAINED ECONOMICALLY HAD

WE CONTINUED WITH THAT LEVEL OF DEVELOPMENT DRIVEN BY THE

CO OPERATVE MOVEMENT? IDO NOT UNDERSTAND THEREFORE

WHY AS GOVERNMENT WE DECIDED ]O DO AWAY WTH THIS

IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENT VEHICLE, ALL IN THE NAME OF

LIBERALIZATION.

DURING THIS ERA THE CHALLENGE OF MAIZE MARKETING OR CROP

MARKETING WAS NOT AN ISSUE TO TALK ABOUT BECAUSE CO-OPERATIVES WERE ENGAGED N MAIZE MARKETING AND CROP

MARKEIING IN GENERAL, BIJY1NG MAIZE AND ALL SORTS OF CROPS

FROM ALL SMALL SCALE FARMERS,

THERE WILL SE MASSIVE JOB CREATION IN ALL THE PROVINCES ONCE

THE COOPERATIVE MOVEMENT HAS BEEN REVIVED TO DRIVE RURAL

DEVELOPMENT

IN ]969 PRES]DENT KENNETH KAUNDA THROUGH HIS "CHIFUBU

DECLARATION", DECLARED COOPERATIVES AS A MASS

ORGANIZATION TO BE USED FOR MASS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

AMONGST ZAMBIANS THROUGH THE PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY

EASED ENTREPRENEURSH1P AMONGST THE MANY OF OUR CITIZENS

USING IHE COOPERATIVE MODEL.

THERE IS NEED TO EMBARK ON THE RESTORATION PROCESS N ORDER

TO REVAMP THE CO-OPERATIVES MOVEMENT IN ZAMBIA SO THAT WE

CAN HAVE A BALANCED JOB CREATION ROAD MAP COV€RING THE

WHOLE COUNTRY,

GOVERNMENT WIIL ENDEVOUR TO RE INSTATE THE CO-OPERATVE

MODEL OF ENTERPRSES BY BUILDING CAPACITIES OF THE CO-

OPERATIVE STRUCTURE IN THE COUNIRY SO THAT THEY STAND ON

THEIR FEET AGAIN AND PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT TO MANY OF OUR

WOMEN AND YOUTHS,

VIBRANT CO-OPERATIVES WORTD OVER HAVE BEEN KNOWN TO PLAY

A VITAL ROLE LN NAT]ONAL DEVELOPMENT BO]H ECONOMIC AND

SOC]AL, CO-OPERATIVES ARE CONTR]BUTING IMMENSELY TO

ECONOMIES OF EUROPE, ASIA, AMERICA AND SOME AFRICAN

COUNTRIES.

THERE S NEED FOR US TO EMBRACE CO-OPERATIVES IN OUR

NATONAL DEVELOPMENT AGENDA, IT IS A SUSTAINASLE MEANSADDRESSING HIGH LEVELS OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND POVERTY.

MOST OF US THINK THAT CO-OPERATIVES ARE ONLY FOR

AGRICULTURE RELATED ACTIVITIES SUCH AS MAIZE AND FERTILIZER.

THIS IS A VERY WRONG UNDERSTANDING OF CO-OPERATIVES, COOPERATIVES CUT ACROSS ALL SECTORS OF AN ECONOMY,

LET ME LIST SOME OF SECTORS WHERE CO-OPERATIVES CAN GO ALONG WAY IN HELPING IOB CREATION:

A)

B)

TRADING CO-OPERATIVES CAN ENGAGE IN

GENERAL TRADING BY OPENINGMULTI-PURPOSE SHOPS

CO.OPERAT VES CAN VENTURE

INIO HOTEL BUSINESSES

IOURlSM

C) TRANSPORT

D) SERVICE SECIOR

iI MASSIVE AND BALANCED EMPLOYMENT CREATION

ii) POVERTY REDUCTION

iii) INCREASE N REVENUE COLLECTION ARIS]NG FROM ANINCREASE IN THE TAX BASE

iv]ADDRESS THE RURAL UREAN MIGRAT ON CHALLENGE

V) ADDRESS THE CHALTENGES OF AGRICULTURE MARKET]NG

NOW, IN ORDER ]O STEER DEVELOPMENT OF ALL FORMS OF CO'OPERATIVES I HAVE DECIDED TO REMOVE THE "AGRICULTURE VEIL"

FROM THE FACE OF CO-OPERATIVES BY MOVING THE DEPARTMENT

OF CO.OPERATIVES FROM THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE ANDLIVESTOCK TO THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, TRADE AND INDUSTRY.

CO-OPERATIVES CAN VENTURE

INTO BOTH PASSENGER ANDCOMMERCIAL HAULAGE

OUR GRADUATING NURSES ANDDOCTORS CAN FORM CO-OPERATIVES AND PROVIDE BOTH

NlJRS]NG AND MEDICAL SERVICES TOTHE GENERAL PUBLIC AS OPPOSEDTO LOOKING FOR EMPLOYMENT IN

GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS, IHEY CANFORM A NURSING CARE CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY AND BECOMEPROUD OWNERS OF IHAT BUSINESS,

AND THIS IS TRUE FOR ALt OTHER

SERVICES SUCH AS, TEACHERS,

LAWYERS, ENGINEERS EIC.

WE SHALL THEREFORE ENGAGE iCF AND PUT MEASURES THAT WILL

ENSURE THAT CO'OPERAT]VES ACROSS THE COUNTRY ARE REVAMPEDAND IN RETTJRN WE EXPECT TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOW NG:

MR. SPEATER,

TO ADDRESS UNEMPLOYMENT FOR OUR YOUTHS AND WOMEN,

GOVERNMENT IS ACT]VELY PURSUING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE

NDUSTR]ALISATION AND JOB CREATION STRATEGY. GOVERNMENT IS

ALSO lMPLEMENTING VARIOUS EMPOWERMENI SCHEMES UNDER THE

MINISTRIES OF GENDER AND CH]LD DEVELOPMENT; YOUIH AND

SPORTS; COMMERCE, TRADE AND INDUSTRYI TOURISM AND ARTSI

AND TRANSPORT, WORKS, SUPPLY AND COMMIJNICATIONS. THE

COMBINED PROVISION FOR EMPOWERMENT IN GENERAL IS K]30

M LLION FOR 2015.

AFTER BROAD-BASED CONSULTATION, THE M NISTER RESPONSISTE FOR

LABOUR WILL ERING TO THIS HOUSE THE EMPLOYMENT AMENDMENT

BILL A]MED AT REGULAT]NG THE CASUALISAIION OF LABOUR, SHORI

TERM CONTRACTS OF EMPLOYMENT AND UNDUE TERMINATION OF

EMPLOYMENT.

HAVE FOUND IT NECESSARY TO PLACE CO-OPERATIVES IN AMIN]STRY WTH A GENERIC FACE RATHER THAN IT EEEN SEEN ONLY

THROUGH AGRICULTURE OR ANY OTHER NARROW PERSPECT VE.

MR. SPEAKER,

THERE HAVE EEEN CONCERNS THAT ZAMBIA IS SLIDDING BACK INTO

THE DEBT TRAP. FOR AN ECONOMY THAT HAS GROWN FROM A USD 3

BIttON GDP IN 2OO5 TO A USD 28 BILLION TODAY, WE ARE WELL

W THIN THE ACCEPTABLE INTERNATIONAL THRESHOLD OF 40% OF THE

GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT. GOVERNMENT HAS EORROWED MAINLY

TO FINANCE ROADS, ENERGY

INVESTMENT THAT WILL

DEVELOPMENT ACROSS

DEVELOPMENT WLL CREATE

DEBT OBLIGATIONS.

TO ENSURE THAT WE REPAY

ESTABLISHED A S NKING FUND

SOLE PURPOSE OF MEEIING

FALL DUE.

AND INFRASTRUCTURE AS

SPUR ACCELERATED

SECTORS, ENHANCED

THE NEEDED CAPACITY

A LONG TERM

ECONOMTC

ECONOMTC

TO MEET OUR

GOVERNMENT'S STRATEGIC FOCUS TO ATTAIN THE VISION 2O3O AND

BEYOND

MR. SPEATER,

GOVERNMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE ATTAINMENT OF THE

VISION 2O3O OF BECOMING A PROSPEROUS MIDDLE INCOME NATION.

BEYOND 2030, WE ASPIRE TO BE A DEVELOPED COUNTRY BY 2064

THROUGH OUR TRANSFORMATIONAL AGENDA WHICH PRIORITISES

SEVEN THEMATIC AREAS. THESE ARE: DIVERSIFICATION AND

SUSTAINABTE DEVELOPMENT; INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENTJ

HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT; DEMOCRACY AND GOOD

GOVERNANCE; GENDER AND SOCIAL PROTECTION; ECONOMIC

DIPLOMACY, GLOEAL PARTNERSH PS AND NATIONAL DEFENCE; AND

CULTURE RE,MODELLING.

I WILL NOW PROCEED TO DISCUSS EACH OF THESE AREAS.

OUR EUROBONDS, GOVERNMENT HAS

WHICH IS A SPEC]ALACCOUNT FORTHE

OUR EUROBOND OBLIGATIONS AS THEY

DIVERSIFICA]ION AND SUSIAINABTE DEVITOPMENT

MR. SPEAXER,

ZAMEIA'S ECONOMY HAs BEEN REGSTERING FAVOURABLE GROSS

DOMEST]C PRODUCT GROWTH RATE OVER THE PAST DECADE,

AVERAG]NG AROUND 6%. HOWEVER, GOVERNMENT IS AWARE OF

IHE FACT THAT THERE IS NEED FOR THE ECONOMY TO REGISTER AI

LEAST ]O% GDP GROWTH RATE THAT CAN HAVE AN EFFECTIVE MPACI

ON REDUCING POVERIY WHICH IS CURRENTLY AROUND 60%,

O1JR A]M S TO MOVE TOWARDS A SMART ECONOMY WHICH IS

CHARACTERISED BY ACCESS TO CAPITAL, MARKETS, TALENT,

INFRASTRUCTURE AND, RELIABLE AND PREDICTABLE REGIJLATIONS. N

ADDITION, WE NEED TO PROMOTE A FUNCTIONAL CULTURE AND

SOC1AL NEIWORKS. FURTHERMORE, WE NEED TO PROMOTE ETHICAL

BEHAVIOUR IN PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECIORS ANCHORED ON ZERO

TOLERANCE TO CORRUPTION,

THE ZAMEIAN POPULATION IS PRO.IECTED TO REACH 52.I MILL]ON IN

50 YEARS' TIME. IO ANAIN OUR ASPIRATION TO BE A DEVELOPED

COUNTRY BY 2064 AND 8E ABLE TO SUPPORT A POPULATION OF THAT

SIZE, IHE ECONOMY NEEDS TO GROW AT A SUSTAINED DOUBTE D GIT

GDP GROWTH RATE. DOUBLE DGIT GDP GROWTH RATE CAN BE

ACHIEVED IF WE EMBARK ON STRATEG1C AND FOCUSED

D]VERSIF]CATION INTERVENTIONS THA] GENERATE NEW GROWIH

POSStBtLtTIES.

HISTORY HAS EXAMPLES OF COUNTR]ES LIKE SINGAPORE AND SOUTH

KOREA THAT HAVE TRANSFORMED INTO DEVELOPED COUNTRIES

WITHIN A GENERATION. THIS WAS AS A RESULT OF THEIR STRONG WILL

AND DETERMINATION, IT IS, THEREFORE, EQUALLY POSS BLE FOR US IO

ATTAIN THIS ASPIRATION AS LONG AS WE ARE FOCUSED AND

DETERMINED AS A NATION.

TO IMPLEMENT OUR TRANSFORMATIONAL AGENDA, WE NEED A

VISIONARY LEADERSHIP AT AtL IEVELS, A CLEAR MASTER PLAN FOR

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENTAND A MERIT BASED PUBLIC SERVICE.

MR. SPEAKER,

THE STARTING POINT IN PROMOTING DYNAMIC AND STRATEGICALLY

FOCUSED DIVERSIFICAT]ON AND RAPID GROWTH, IS REALIGNMENT OF

OUR INSTITUTIONS TO PROMOTE SYNERGIES IN THE PLANNING,

IMPLEMENTATION, MONITOR]NG, EVALUAT ON AND COORDINATION

OF NATIONAL PROGRAMMES,

I HAVE, IN TH]S RESPECT DECIDED TO MAKF THE FOLLOWING

CHANGES:

I.THE NATIONAL PLANNING FUNCTION BE MOVED FROM THE

MINISTRY OF FINANCE TO FORM THE NEW MIN]STRY OF

DEVELOPMENT PLANNING;

2.THE M NISTRY OF EDUCATION, SCIENCE, VOCATIONAL

TRAIN]NG AND EARLY EDUCATION BE SPLIT INTO THE

MINISTRY OF GENERAL EDUCATION AND THE MINISTRY OF

HIGHER EDUCATION;

3,THE MINISTRY OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENI, MOTHER

AND CHILD HEALTH WILL BE CALLED MINISTRY OF

COMMUNIry DEVELOPMENT AFTER 1TS 'MOTHER AND CHILD

HEALTH' FUNCTION 15 REVERTED TO THE MINISIRY OF

HEALTH;

4.THE MINISTRY OF GENDER AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT SHALL

8E RE DESIGNATED AS THE MINISTRY OF GENDER WHILE THE

FUNCTION OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT MOVES IO THE

M|NISTRY OF YOUTH AND SPORTS WHICH NOW BECOMES

THE MINISTRY OF YOUTH, SPORT AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT;

5.TH€ MINISTRY OF MINES, ENERGY AND WATER

DEVELOPMENT WILL BE SPLIT IN'O TWO: THE MINISTRY OF

MINES AND MINERAL DEVELOPMENI; AND THE MINISTRY oFENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENTJ

6.THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT, WORKS, SUPPLY AND

COMMUNICATION BE SPLIT INTO THE MINISTRY OF WORKS

AND SUPPLYj AND THE MINISTRY OF TRANSPORT AND

COMMUNICATIONi AND

7.THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND LIVESTOCK WILL BE

SPLIT INTO TWO: THE MINISTRY OF AGRICUTTURE; AND THE

MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND TIVESTOCK, THE COOPERATIVES

FUNCIION SHALL NOW FALL UNDER THE MINISTRY OF

COMMERCE, TRADE AND INDUSTRY AT A DIRECTORATE

LEVEL. THE NAME FOR THE MlNISTRY WILL REMAIN AS IT IS,

MR. 5PEAKER,

N ORDER TO COMPLIMENT GOVERNMENT EFFORTS IN THE DELIVERY

OF PUBLIC INFRASTRUCTURE, THERE IS NEED TO WORK WITH THE

PRIVATE SECTOR TO FIND ALTERNATIVE WAYS OF FINANCING

DEVELOPMENT, IT IS FOR THIS REASON THAT A STRONG PARTNERSHIP IS

A NECESSITY BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR AS

WE SEEK TO TAP PRIVATE SECTOR RESOURCES FOR NATIONAL

DEVELOPMENT, IT IS N THIS REGARD THAT I DIRECT THAT AN

AUTONOMOUS BODY BE CREATED TO PROFESSIONALLY DEAL WITH

PIJBL]C PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP MATTERS. TO THIS END, STATE HOUSE, IN

LIAISON W|TH CABINEI OFFICE AND RELEVANT STAKEHOLDERS, MUST

SPEARHEAD THE FORMATION OF THIS BODY WHICH WlLL EVENTUALTY

8E IRANSFERRED TO CABINET OFFICE. ]T IS NOT RIGHT THAT WELI-

MEANING POLICIES OF PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS CAN 8E ON

OUR STATUTE BOOKS FOR YEARS WITHOUT ANY TANGIBLE PROIECT

SEEING THE LIGHT OF DAY, MR, SPEAKER, IT HAS EEEN SIX LONG YEARS

SINCE THIS AUGUST HOUSE PASSED THE PPP ACT NUMBER 14 OF 2009.

II IS FOR THIS REASON THAT i DO NOT EXPECT GOVERNMENT-RED-TAPE

TO HINDER TH S PRONOUNCEMENT. I EXPECT ALL CIVIL SERVANTS IN

RELEVANT SECTOR M|NISTRIES TO WORK TOWARDS THE

HARMONISATLON OF THE LEGAL AND NSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK TO

ACTUALISE THIS PRONOUNCEMENT,

IAR. SPEAKER,

THE RECORD OF OUR DIVERSIFICAT]ON PROGRAMME IN THE LAST 50

YEARS HAS NOT EEEN SAT]SFACTORY. ABOUT 80% OF OUR EXPORT

EARNINGS STILL COME FROM COPPER, MAKNG THE COUNTRY

HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO FLUCTUATIONS IN IHE GLOBAL ECONOMY,

WE NEED TO DRAW LESSONS FROM COUNTRIES THAT HAVE

SUCCEEDED IN DIVERSIFYING THEIR ECONOMIES, THERE ARE OTHER

COPPER PRODUC]NG COUNTR ES OUT THERE THAT HAVE MANAGED

IO DIVERSIFY AWAY FROM COPPER MINING AND EXPORT BY

ESTABLISHING COMPLETE NEW INDUSTRIES AND GONE FURTHER TO

CREATE SOVERE GN WEALTH FUNDS.

PRIOR]TISATION ]S KEY TO SUCCESSFUL DIVERSIFICATION. IN THIS

CONNECTION, COVERNMENT WILL FOCUS ON PROMOTING TOUR]SM

AND VALUE ADDITION TO MINERAL AND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

WHICH HAVE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL TO CONIR BUTE TO RAPID

D VERSIFICAT ON OF OUR ECONOMY, OUR MANUFACTURING SECTOR

MUST BE DRIVEN BY GROWTH IN AGRO,PROCESSING AND FORESTRY

PRODUCTS WHICH WILL ENSURE WE DO NOI EXPORT RAW MATER|ALS

BUT WE ADD VALUE TO ALL OUR PRIMARY PRODUCTS.

IAM, THEREFORE, DIRECTING THE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR

TOURISM AND INDUSTRY TO DEVELOP A STRATEGICALLY FOCUSED

PROGRAMME OF DIVERSIFICATION N THESE PRIORITY AREAS AND

FAST-TRACK THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN

TOURISM CIRCUITS WH]CH HAVE HIGH POTENTIAL TO INCREASE

TOURST ARR]VALS AND EARNINGS. FURTHER, AM D RECTING THE

MINLSTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR TOURISM AND THE INDUSTRIAL

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO SET UP A SPECIAL PURPOSE

VEHICLE THROUCH WHICH ALL PUBLIC TOURISM INVESTMENT ASSETS

WILL BE OWNED,

FURTHERMORE, THE TWO M N]STERS SHOULD WORK W1TH LOCAL

AUTHORTIES TO PUT IN PLACE MEASURES THAT PROMOTE LOCAL

TOURISM AT DISTRICT LEVEL. LOCAL AUTHOR]TIES SHOUTD BE

CHAMPIONING THE DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL TOURISM PRODUCTS IN

AtL OUR TOWNS TO EXPAND FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC TOURISM.

MR. SPEA(ER,

TO FURTHER PROMOTE TOURISM, THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR

TOURISM AND ARTS WILL BRING TO TH]S HOUSE THE ARTS, CULTURE

AND HERITAGE BLLL AIMED AT HARMONISING INSTITUTIONAL

ARRANGEMENTS IN ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE TO REDUCE

OVERHEADS AND PROMOTE COST EFFECTIVENESS. ]N ADDITION, THE

M]NISTER WILL TABLE THE ZAMBIA INSTTUTE OF TOURISM STUDIES B]LL

AIMED AT TRANSFORM]NG THE HOTEL AND TOURISM TRA NING

NSTITUTE TRUST INTO A COIJNCIL AND MAKE iT MORE ACCOUNTABLE

TO STAKEHOLDERS.

MR. SPTAKER,

ZAMBA WLL SOON RATIFY THE TRIPARTITE FREE TRADE AREA

AGREEMENT WHICH WILL MAKE US PART OF THE LARGEST FREE TRADE

AREA IN AFRICA WITH A GDP OF ].3 TR]ILION UNITED STATES DOLLARS

AND A POPULATION OF OVER 650 MILLION PEOPLE, STRETCHING

FROM CAPE TO CA RO. WE ARE ALSO PART OF THE NEGOT]ATIONS

FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A CONT NENTAL FREE TRADE AREA WH CH

WILL CREATE AN EVEN BICGER MARKFT. THESE AGREEMENTS W]LL

OFFER MARKET ACCESS TO ZAMBIAN ENTREPRENEURS AND

NNOVATORS.

TO EXPLOT IHESE EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES, WE MUST IMPLEMENT

MEASURES THAT WILL RE.SHAPE OUR EXPORT EARNINGS SO THAT NOT

LESS THAN 50% OF OUR EXPORT EARNINGS COME FROM NON.

TRADITIONAL EXPORTS BY 2030. THIS WItt 8E ACHIEVED THROUGH

TRANSFORMING THE COUNTRY FROM EEING ONE OF THE LARGEST

EXPORTERS OF COPPER IN AFR CA TO EEING ONE OF THE LARGEST

EXPORTERS OF VALUE ADDED PRODUCIS.

T IS, THEREFORE, INCUMBENT ON US TO ENSURE THAT OIJR

PARTICIPA]LON IN REGIONAL NTEGRATION DOES NOT RESULT IN

ZAMBIA BECOMING A MARKET FOR THE CONTINENT AT THE EXPENSE

OF LOCAL INDUSTRY. WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO PRODUCE QUALITY

PRODUCTS THAI WItt COMPETE FAVOURABLY ACROSS THE

CONTINENT. ACCORDINGLY, OUR STANDARDS, STANDARDISATION

AND QUAL]TY ASSIJRANCE SYSTEMS MUST BE RESTRUCTURED TO

PROVIDE TRACEABILITY SERVICES THAT WILL SE RECOGNISED AND

RESPECTED 8Y ALL OtJR TRADING PARTNERS

THE COUNTRY MUST INDUSTRIAL1SE RAP DLY- THIS WILL ENTAIL

RATIONALISING AND STRENGTHENING IHE REGULATORY, LEGISLAT VE

AND INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK TO MAKE ZAMBIA A PREMIER

DESTINATION FOR FOREIGN DIRECT NVESTMENT,

MR. SPCAKER,

THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR INDUSTRY WILL BRING TO THIS HOUSE,

THE ZAMBIA DEVELOPMENT ACENCY BILL AIMED AT ALIGN]NG T WITI.]

THE NEW INDUSTRIAL POLICY. FURTHER, A NEW COMPAN ES BlLL WILL

BE PRESENTED TO THIS HOUSE AIMED A] STRENGTHENING CORPORATE

GOVERNANCE AND PROVDING FOR THE START-UP AND

FUNCTIONING OF SMALL COMPANIES,

ACCESS TO CAPITAL S A CHALLENGE FOR MOST OF OUR

ENTREPRENEURS AND NNOVATORS WHO WISH TO ESTABLISH OR

GROW THEIR BUSINESSES. THE COST OF CAPITAL NEEDS TO BE MADE

AFFORDABLE, I, THEREFORE, I,JRGE THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR

FINANCE TO PUT IN PLACE MEASURES THAT WILL ALLOW FOR LONG

TERM FINANC]NG AT AFFORDABLE RATES- IALSO CALL UPON THE

PRIVATE SECTOR TO ESTASLISI-] VENTURE CAPITAL FUNDS ]HAT WILL

FACILITATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GREENFIELD INVESTMENTS.

LEI ME URGE THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO PARTNER WIIH GOVERNMENT

TO PROMOTE BUSINESS INCUBAIION TO ENABLE OUR YOUNG

]NNOVATORS COMMERCIALISETHEIR DEAS.

AGRICUTTURE

MR. SPEAKER,

WITH ITS VAST ARAELE LAND AND ABUNDANT WATER, ZAMBIA HAS THE

POTENTIAL TO ATTAIN LAST NG FOOD SECURITY AT THE HOUSEHOLD

AND NATIONAL LEVELS. WE CAN ALSO CAPITALISE ON THESE

RESOURCES TO MAKE OUR COUNTRY A REGIONAL AGRICULTURAL

HUB AND GLOBAL EXPORTER OF PROCESSED AGRICULTI.JRAL

PRODUCTS.

TO TRANSFORM THIS POTENTIAL INTO COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE,

GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE INTRODUCING A BROAD RANGE OF

POtiCY REFORMS IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR STARTING WITH CROP

DIVERS FlCATION.

AS A PUSH FOR CROP D]VERS FICATION, THE RANGE OF CROPS IN THE

FARMER INPI]T SUPPORT PROGRAMME HAS BEEN EXPANDED FROM

MAIZE IO INCLUDE RICE, SORGHUM, COTION AND GROUNDNUTS.

FURTHER THE NUMBER OF BENEF]C ARIES HAS INCREASED FROM

s00,000 rN 20r3/20r4 AGRTCTJLTURAL SEASON TO 1,000,000 THIS

SEASON,

GOVERNMENT ]S N THE PROCESS OF IMPLEMENT NG THE ELECTRON C

VOUCHER SYSTEM IN THE DISTRIBUTION OF SUBSIDISED SEED AND

FERT1LISER INITIALLY ON A PILOT BASIS IN 13 DSTRICTS DURING THE

20I 5/2OI 6 AGRICULIURAL SEASON.

TO PROMOTE EFFICIFNCY AND COST EFFECTIVENESS IN THE SUPPLY

AND DISTR BUTION OF INPUTS UNDER THE E.VOUCHER, FARM€RS WILt

SOURCE INPUTS DIRECTLY FROM AGRO DEALERS, THE E-VOUCHER

WILL ALSO GIVE FARMERS A WIDER CHOICE OF INPUTS INCLUDING

THOSE OF LIVESTOCK AND FISHERIES,

MR. SPEAKER,

GOVERNMENT iS CONCERNED BY THE INAB]LITY OF FARM€R NPUT

SUPPORT PROGRAMME BENEFICIAR1ES TO SECOME SELF' SUSTAINING,

OUR OBIECTIVE I5 TO HEIP OUR SMALL SCALE FARMERS BECOME

SELF.SUFFICIENT AND EVENTUALLY GRADUATE FROM GOVERNMENT

SUPPORT.

TO THIS END, IAM, D]RECTING THE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR

FINANCE AND AGRICUTTURE TO COME UP W]TH A MECHANISATION

PROGRAMME FOR SMALL-SCALE FARMERS WORKING IN

COLLABORATION WITH IHE PRIVATE SECTOR AND CIVIL SOCIEIY.

FOR AGRICUL]URE TO BE TRANSFORMED, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THE

HIGH COST OF AGRICULTURAL INPUTS. OIJR DEPENDENCE ON

IMPORTED INPUTS MAKES OUR FARMERS UNCOMPETITIVE IN THE

REG]ON. LOCAL PRODUCTION OF NPUTS IS CRI]ICAL IN

CONIROLL]NG AND MANAGING COSTS. THEREFORE, GOVERNMENT

REMAINS COMMITIED TO ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF NITROGEN

CHEMICALS OF ZAMBIA AND OTHER PRIVATE SECTOR

MANUFACIURERS IN ORDER TO BROADEN THE COUNTRY'S

MANUFACTURING BASE FOR AGRICULTURAL INPUTS, I CALI UPON THE

PRIVATE SECTOR TO INVEST N THE PRODUCTON OF FERT]LISER AND

OTHER AGRICULTURAL INPUTS.

MR. SPEAKER,

IN 20]4, THE FOOD RESERVE AGENCY PURCHASED ],03],303 METRIC

TONNES OF MAIZE AND I,I]5 METR C TONNES OF PADDY RICE AT A

COST OF ].4 BITLION KWACHA. GOVERNMENT'S OBJECTIVE IS TO

LEAVE THE BULK OF COMMOD1TY TRADING TO THE PRIVATE SECTOR,

IN THIS REGARD, AM ENCOURAG]NG FARMERS TO FORM PRODUCER

AND MARKETING COOPERATIVES TO ENABLE THEM NEGOTIATE FROM

POSIT ONS OF STRENGTH WHEN DEALING WITH PRIVATE

AGRICULTURAL COMMOD TY TRADERS.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CALI UPON THE MIN STER RESPONSIBLE FOR

COOPERATIVES TO COME UP WITH MEASURES TO STRENGTHEN THE

INSTITUT]ONAL FRAMEWORK FOR COOPERATIVES IN THE COUNTRY. LET

ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO THANK THE I]ARD WORKING ZAMB]AN

FARMERS WHO HAVE YET AGAIN MET THE CHALLENGE OF

PRODUC]NG ENOUGH FOOD TO FEED OUR PEOPLE, TH S WAS DESPITE

A PARTIAL DROUGHITHAT AFFECTED MOST PARTS OF THE COUNTRY, IT

iS FOR THS REASON THAT THE GRAIN PRODUCED UNDER VERY

DIFFICIJLT WEATHER COND]TIONS SHOUTD BE SAFE GUARDED AND

STORED N APPROPRIATE STORAGE FACILITIES TO AVOID WASTAGE.

GOVERNMENT, ]HROUGH THE FOOD RESERVE AGENCY, HAS

EMBARKED ON PROVIDING OVER-ROOFING FACILTIES FOR STORAGE

SHEDS ]N 98 STRATECIC LOCATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THIS

PROJECT WHICH IS UNDER WAY IS EXPECTED IO 8E COMPLETED N

2016.

MR. SPEAI(ER,

TO M TIGATE THE ADVERSE

AGRICI]LTURE, GOVERNMENT

IRR]GAT ON EACH YEAR,

BY 2030, WE SHOULD HAVE OVER /5,OOO HECTARES UNDER

IRR GATION, THIS WOULD PLACE A FIFTH OF IRR]GABLE LAND UNDER

RRIGATION AND EXPAND PRODIJCT]ON, IN THIS RESPECT, URGE THE

M NISTER RESPONS]BLE FOR AGRICULTURE TO ENSURE SPEEDY

UT LISATION OF THE ] ]5 MILLION IJN]TED STATES DOLLARS UNDER THE

IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT SUPPORT PROGRAMME,

EFFECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON

WIIL BRING 5,OOO HECTARES UNDER

MR. SPEAKER,

LIVESTOCK DEVELOPMENT IS CRITICAL TO DIVERSIFICATION. TO

INCREASE THE POPULATION OF LIVESTOCK, GOVERNMENT WILL

DOUBLE THE NUMBER OF LIVESTOCK BREEDING CEN]RES FROM THE

CURRFNT TEN TO ]WENTY 8Y 2023 WHICH WILL PROV DE OPT MUM

SERV CES NATIONWIDE. THE BREEDING CENTRES TO BE ESTABLISHED

WLL BE MOSTLY FOR GOATS AND SHEEP, WHICH HAVE A HUGE

MARKET IN AFRICA AND THEMIDDLE EAST.

THERE IS RAP D DEPLETION OF FISH N OUR RIVERS AND LAKES DUE TO

INTENSIVE AND UNSUSTA NABLE HARVESTING. GOVERNMENT IS

INVESTING IN SUSTA]NABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE NATURAL FISHERIES

RESOURCES THROUGH RESTOCKING AND WORKING WITH THE LOCAL

COMMUNITIES N PROMOTING SUSTAINAELE FISHING METHODS,

TO ENSURE THAT FISH FARM]NG GROWS, GOVERNMENT IS

ESTABLSHING TWO FISH HATCHERIES IN EACH PROVINCE AND

PROMOTING PRIVATE-OWNED HATCHERIES. FUR]HER, GOVERNMENT

WILL ESIABLISH ONE COMMUNITY FISH FINGERLING NURSERY IN EACH

DIs]RICT. GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO TRAIN ],400 FISH FARMERS N FISH

FEED PRODUCTION. THIS WILL RESULI IN PRODUCTION OF 8O,OOO

TONNES OF FARMED FISH AND 9O,OOO TONNES OF FISH FROM

NATURAL FISHER]ES AND ACHIEVE SELF.SUFF]CIENCY WITHIN THE NEXT

THREE YEARS,

MR. SPEAKCR.

GOVERNMENT HAS A DUTY IO ENSURE THAT AGRICULTURAL

PRODUCTS BEING SOLD ON OUR MARKET ARE SAFE AND OF GOOD

QUALITY, IAM, THEREFORE, DIRECTING THE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE

FOR AGRICULTURE AND TRADE TO ENSURE THAT SAN]TARY AND

PHYIO-SANITARY STANDARDS ARE STRENGTHENED AND STRICTLY

ENFORCED.

O{JR DIVERSIFICATION AGENDA W LL NOT BE COMPLETE WI]HOUI

AGRO PROCESSING, AM ENCOURAGED BY THE EFFORTS OF SOME

PRIVAIE SECTOR AGRO PROCESSORS WHO ARE NOW EXPORTING TO

PARTS OF AFRICA, EUROPE AND ASIA. WOULD, HOWEVER, LIKE TO

SEE AN INCREASED NUMBER OF AGRO PROCESSING COMPANIES

ESTABLISH BUSINESS IN ZAMBIA.

IAM EXTREMELY CONCERNED WLTH THE LACK OF PROGRESS ON

FARM BLOCK DEVELOPMENT. I AM, IN THIS REGARD, D1RECTING THE

MINISTERS RESPONSiBLE FOR AGRICULTURE AND NDUSTRY WORKING

IN CONJUNCT ON WITH THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

CORPORATION, TO COME t]P WITH URGEN] MEASURES TO SPEED UP

FARM BLOCK DEVELOPMENT.

BROAD.BASED CITIZENS ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT

MR. SPEAKER,

GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO INCLUSIVE GROWTH. AS PART OF

THE TRANSFORMATIONAL AGENDA, OUR ECONOMY MUST

PROGRESSIVELY BE CONTROLLED BY CITZENS. GOVERNMENT WLL,

THEREFORE, PRIORITISE BROAD-BASED CITIZEN ECONOMIC

EMPOWERM€NT, GOVERNMENT SHALL, IN THIS REGARD, PUI IN PLACE

INTERVENTIONS THAT WILL ENSURE THAT CITIZENS HAVE S]GNIFICANT

CONTROL OF ECONOM C ACTVITIES IN THE AGRICULTURE, TOURISM

AND MANUFACTURING SECTORS, THIS WILL BE ACH EVED THROUGH

PARTNERSHIPS AND JOINT VENTURES BETWEEN FORE1GN INVESTORS

AND CITIZENS.

WE MUST, THEREFORE, FACILITATE ACCESS TO AFFORDABLE FINANCE,

TECHNOLOGY AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS FOR OUR PEOPLE TO

EFFECTIVELY PARTICIPATE IN JONT VENTURES AND PARTNERSH PS.

OUR CI]IZENs ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAMME MUST BE

REFORMED -TO

F]ELP ZAMBIANS ESTABL|SH SMALL AND MED1UM

ENTERPRISES,

GOVERNMENT IS A MA.]OR CONSUMER OF GOODS AND SERV CES IN

THE ECONOMY. DESPITE MEASURES TO ADVANTAGE C]TIZEN.OWNED

ENTERPRISES THROUGI-] PREFERENTIAL PROCUREMENT, MANY OF OUR

SMALL AND MEDIUM ENTERPRISES STILL LACK THE CAPACITY TO

DEL VER QUALITY PRODUCTS AND SERV CES AT COMPETITIVE PRICES, I

AM, THEREFORE, DIRECTING THE MINISTER RESPONSIELE FOR

COMMERCE TO COME UP WITH MEASURES FOR CAPACITY BUILDING

OF OUR CITZEN-OWNED ENTERPRISES TO BECOME MORE

COMPETITIVE,

MR. SPEA(ER,

ANOTHER MEASURE TO EMPOWER OUR CITIZENS IS TO ENABLE THEM

OWN SHARES IN SOME OF THE STATE-OWNED COMPANIES IN THE

COUNTRY. THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION WILL BE AN

IMPORTANT TOOL IN ACH EVINC THIS GOAL, ALL STATE.OWNED

ENTERPRISES MUST ULT MATELY L]ST ON THE LUSAKA STOCK EXCHANGE

WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE TO TEN YEARS SO TI-]AT WE CREATE

OPPORTUN]TIES FOR CLTIZENS TO OWN THESE COMPAN]ES.

GOVERNMENT HAS TRANSFERRED TS SHARES IN ALL STATE'OWNED

ENTERPRISES INCORPORATED UNDER THE COMPANIES' ACT AND THE

BANKING AND FINANCIAL SERVICES ACT TO THE INDUSTR1AL

DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, THE NDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

CORPORATION WILL HOLD THE SHARES ON EEHALF OF GOVERNMENT

AND SUPERVISE THESE STATE OWNED ENTERPRiSES.

N THIS REGARD, STATE,OWNED ENTERPRISES WILI NO LONGER BE

FUNDED THROUGH THE NATIONAL BUDGET, TH]S ACTION WILL REDUCE

IHE BURDEN ON THE TREASURY SIGNIFICANTLY AND HELP CONTAN

THE F1SCAL DEFICIT WHILS] FREE]NG UP THE AVAILABLE SCARCE

RESOURCES TOWARDS POVERTY REDUCTION PROGRAMMES. ALL

STATE,OWNED ENTERPRISES SHALL CONTRIBLJTE TO THE SOVEREIGN

WEALTH FUND THROUGH DIVIDENDS.

EMPTOYMINT AND PRODUCTIVI

MR. SPEAKER,

]N OUR EFFORT TO DIVERSIFY IHE ECONOMY AND CREATE JOBS,

GOVERNMENT IS COMMITTED TO ENSURING IHAT OUR PEOPLE HAVE

ACCESS TO DECENT JO8S. N THE LAST FOUR YEARS, ]HE ECONOMY

HAS CREATED OVER 48O,OOO .]OBS IN VARIOUS SECTORS. HOWEVER,

IOO MANY OF OUR PEOPTE STILL REMAIN OUTSIDE THE FORMAT

SECTOR.

IT IS, THEREFORE, NECESSARY THAT GOVERNMENT, WORKING WITH THE

PRIVATE SECTOR ENHANCES THE FORMALISATION OF THE ECONOMY

SO THAT MANY OF OUR PEOPLE CAN HAVE ACCESS TO DECENT JOBS,

OUR DIVERSIFICATION AGENDA MUST, THEREFORE, INCLUDE A SET OF

MEASURES THAT W LL FACILITATE THE FORMALISATION OF MICRO AND

SMALT BUSINESS IN ALL SECTORS-

GOVERNMENT IS IMPLEMENTING MEASURES THAT WILL RESULT IN

STREET VENDORS FORM]NG COOPERATIVES IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE

IN PUBLC PROCUREMENT. THESE COOPERATIVES WILL PARTICIPATE IN

INTERVENT]ONS SUCH AS PAVE ZAMBIA 2OOO AND ESTABLISHMENT OF

INDUSTRIAL CLUSTERS.

FUR]HER, GOVERNMENT WILL INVEST IN CAPAC]TY BUiLD]NG OF THESE

COOPERATIVES TO ENSURE THAT THE WORK IS DURABLE AND OF

GOOD QUATIT/.

MR. SPEAKER,

THE TRANSFORMAT1ON AGENDA REOUIRES WORKER PRODUCTIVITY

TO SIGNIFICANTLY MPROVE, THIS, THEREFORE, CALLS FOR CHANGE IN

WORK CULTURE.

GOVERNMENT IS, THEREFORE, COMMIN€D TO HAVING APRODUCTIVE WORKFORCE AS A PRECOND]TION FOR SUSTA]NABLE

DEVELOPMENT AND IMPROVED WELL-BEING OF THE PEOPLE.

GOVERNMENT HAS ESTABLISHED THE KAIZEN INSTITUTE AND IS ALSO

CONSIDERING ESTASLISHING A NATIONAL PRODUCTIVITY CENTRE

WHICH WILL PROMOIE CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT THROUGHOUT

THE ECONOMY.

TO MAKE USE OF THE KAIZEN ]NSTITUTE, I HAVE DIRECTED THE

SECRETARY TO THE CABINET TO ENSURE THAT CONTNUOUS

IMPROVEMENT IS INSTITUTIONALISED N THE PUBL C SERVICE.

ARTS, CUTTURE AND HERITAGE

MR. SPEAKER,

DESPITE THEIR ECONOMIC POTENTIAL AND DYNAMC NATI]RE, THE

ARTS, AND CULTURE SECTORS HAVE THUS FAR, BEEN EITHER

OVERLOOKED BY POLCYMAKERS OR INADEQUATELY ADDRESSED

WITH

PIECEMEAL OR TRADITIONAL APPROACHES, THIS HAS CREATED A

CHALLENGE IN THE AREA OF COORDINATION, PROPER PLANNING

AND OPTIMAL RESOURCE ALLOCATION AND APPLICATON.

CONSEAUENTLY, OPPORTUN T]ES HAVE LARGELY NOT BEEN

EFFECTIVELY UTILISED IN NOT ONLY CREAT]NG A VIBRANT NAT ONAL

IDENTITY, BUT ALSO ]N TAPP NG NTO A SECTOR THAT CANCONTR BUTE MEAN NGFULTY TO OUR ECONOM]C GROWTH AND

MA,IOR CONTRIBUTOR TO IHE JOB OR CAREER MARKET,

THE COORDINATION OF LEGISLATIVE REGULATIONS, LCENSES,

POLICIES AND CONVENTIONS HAVE PROVED TO BE A CHALLENGE

AND SOMET]MES AN OBSTACLE ]N THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SECTOR,

SOME OF THESE REGIJLATION AND POLICY CHALLENGES HAVE

PROVED TO PLAY ASIGN FICANT ROLE N THE APPARENT DISCONNECT

8E]WEEN THE ARTS AND CULTURAT SECTOR FROM THE LARGER

ECONOMIC AND DEVELOPMENT SECTOR,

THE PF GOVERNMENT IS TH NKING CREATIVELY AND BOLDLY ABOUT

USING ALL THE P LLARS OF DEVELOPMENT iN THE MOST EFFECTIVE

WAY, THE DECISION FOR THIS GOVERNMENT TO USE TOURISM, THE

ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE AS ONE OF THE VEHICLES FOR LOCALECONOMIC DEVELOPMENI, AND,IOB CREATION, IS A EOLD ANDPROGRESS VE ONE. THIS DECISION S N ADDITION TO BUILDING ONOUR ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE FOUNDATION FOR A SOtDNATIONAL SRAND AND IMAGE THAT ALSO UNDERSCORES AND

EMBRACES OUR HERITAGE AND CULTUREOF PEACE AND UNTY.

ITAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EMPHAS]SE THAT OUR CULTURE ANDHERITAGE IS A NATIONAL ASSET AND THE CORNERSTONE OF OUR

NAT ONAL IDENTITY. ]T MUST BE SAID THAT THIS INTERVENTION IS NOT

ONLY ENTIRELY N LINE WTH THE PF MANIFESTO ON THE CREATIVE

SEC]OR, BUT ALSO W]HIN THE CURRENT STRATEGIC FRAMEWORKS

THAT ARE BEING ADOPTED BY PROGRESSJVE GOVERNMENTS THE

WORLD OVER,

AS THE PF GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE REMAINED COMMITTED TO OUR

NTENIION ]O PLACE THE CREATIVE ECONOMY IN A STRONG

POSITION TO CONTRISUTE TO GOVERNMENTS EFFOR]S ]O GROW THE

ECONOMY, CREAIE JOBS AND BUILD SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS,

IN HS SPEECH DURING THE OFFICIAL OPENING OF THE SECOND

SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMELY ON FRDAY, 2I$SEPTEMBER, 20]2, OUR IATE PRES]DENT, MR, M CHEAL CHILUFYA SATA,

DIRECTED THE MINISTRY OF TOURISM AND ARTS TO ESTABLSH THE

NATIONAL ARTS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE COMMISSION N LINE WITH

THE PATRIOTIC FRONT IPF) MANIFESTO, THAT DIRECTIVE WAS INTENDED

TO ACCELERATE THE CREATIVE NDUSTRY'S CONTRIBUTION TO

ECONOMiC DEVELOPMENT AMONG OTHER CONS DERATIONS.

IN THIS REGARD, THE REPEAL OF THE NAT ONAL ARTS COUNCIL OF

ZAMBIA AC], NO,3] OF 1994, IS FUNDAMENTAL TO THE SUCCESSFUL

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE D REC]IVE,

I AM HAPPY TO INFORM YOU MR SPEAKER, AND HONORABLE

MEMBERS, THAT MY GOVERNMENT W TH THE INPUT OF STAKEHOLDERS

IN THE CREATIVE INDUSTRY. HAS WORKED HARD TO PRODUCE THE

DRAFT CULTURE AND HER]TAGE BILL WHCH WILL BE BROUGHT ]OYOUR ATTENT ON BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR.

IHIS HOUSE HAS ALREADY SUPPORTED THE INITIAL FUNDING TO

CREATE A NATIONAL ARIS, CULTURE AND HERITAGE COMM1SSION AS

REFLECIED IN THE 20I5 BUDGET IN WHICH AN AMOUNT OF K3,sOO,OOO

WAS APPROVED BY THIS PARLIAMENT FOR THIS PURPOS€. THE NEWLY

CREATED COMMISSION WILL IMPROVE THE COORDINAT ON,

ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT OF ARTS, CULTURE ANDHERITAGE SECTOR IN THIS COUNTRY AND REFLECT OUR COLLECTIVE

COMMITMENT TO BUILDINC AN ]NCLUSIVE, ECONOMICALLY

PRODUCTIVE DESTINY FOR ALL THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA.

INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT

MR. SPEAKER,

ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT ISA

CATALYST FOR ZAMBA'S TRANSFORMATION TO A DEVELOPED

COUNTRY BY 2064. IN ]HIS REGARD, GOVERNMENT REMAINS FIRMLY

COMMTTED TO RAPIDLY DEVETOPING OUR INFRASTRI]CTIJRE, N

RECOGNISING THAT INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT CUTS ACROSS

ALL SECTORS, GOVERNMENT WILL TRANSFORM ZAMBIA INTO A HUB N

AREAS OF INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY, POWER

GENERATION AND DISTRIBUTION, TOURISM AND TRANSPORT

FACILIIATION, AMONG OTHERS.

WHILE INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT REMAINS A PRIORITY,

GOVERNMENT RECOGN]SES THAT FINANCING REMAINS A KEY

CHALLENGE.

I] S, IN TH1S REGARD, THAT GOVERNMENT IS EXPLORING INNOVATIVE

MEANS OF FINANCING CAPTAL PROJECTS NCLUDING PUBLIC

PRIVATE PARTNERSH PS,

TO FACILITATE INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF

INFRASTRUCTURE, GOVERNMENT W]LL REVIEW INSTITUTIONAL

ARRANGEMENTS TO MAKE IT MORE RESPONSIVE TO CURRENT AND

FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS,

LET ME NOW ADDRESS SPECIFIC NFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES THAT

GOVERNMENT HAS PRIORITISED ]O DRIVE OIJR TRANSFORMATION

AGENDA.

TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATIONS

MR. SPEAKER,

ZAMBIA'S GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION MAKES IT A NATURAL

TRANSPORT HUB AND TRANSIT POINT W]TH N THE sUB-REGION AND

BEYOND, IT IS, THEREFORE, GOVERNMENT'S GOAI TO ENSURE THAT

ZAMBIA BECOMES THE PREFERRED TRANS I POINT IN THE REGION, TO

ACHIEVE THIS, GOVERNMEN] S NVESTING IN ROAD, RAIL, AIR AND

WATER TRANSPORTATION,

GOVERNMENT WILL DEVELOP AN INTEGRATED, RELABLE AND

EFF CIENT TRANSPORI SYSTEM TO LEVERAGE ITS CENTRAL LOCATION

TO ENSURE THAT 25% TO 307. OF ALL CARGO TRAFFIC SOUT}I OF THE

EAUATOR IS PROCESSED THROUGH ZAMB A BY 2064.

CONSEOUENTLY, GOVERNMENT IS DEVETOPING A TRANSPORT

MASTER PLAN WHICH WILL ENSURE THAT THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE

TRANSPORT SYSTEM IN ZAMBIA IS DONE IN AN INTEGRATED MANNER

LINKING AIRPORTS, HARBOURS, DRY PORTS AND IRADE CENTRES. THIS

WILL ENSURE THAT GOODS AND SERVICES ARE EASILY TRANSPORTED

TO MARKETS WITHIN THE COUNTRY AND BEYOND.

MR. SPEAKER,

N THE ROAD SECTOR, GOVERNMENT WLL ACCELERATE THE

MPLEMENTATION OF ROAD PROJECTS UNDER THE LINK ZAMBIA 8,OOO

PROJECT AS A MEANS OF IMPROV NG CONNECTVITY AND

TRANSPORTA]ION OF GOODS AND SERVICES,

THIS WILL BE DONE BY UTILIS|NG THE PUBLIC PR]VAIE PARTNERSHIPS TO

FINANCE SETECTED ROADS. TO THIS END, GOVERNMENT HAS

IDENTIFIED SIX COMMERC]ALLY V ABLE ROADS TO BE CONSTRUCTED

UNDER THE PUBUC PRIVATE PARTNERSH P FINANCING MODALITY, WITH

A TOTAT ESTIMATED LENGTH OF 2,200 KILOMETRES, THIS W]LL BE N

ADDITION TO THE 2,700 KILOMETRES UNDER IMPLEMENTATION ]N

PHASE IOF THE LINK ZAMBIA 8,OOO ROAD PROJECT,

GOVERNMENT IS IN A HURRY TO COMPLETE THE ROAD PRO.JEC]S ON

TIME. TO THIS END, I AM DIRECTING THE MIN STERS RESPONSIBLE FOR

FINANCE AND TRANSPORT, TO ENSURE THAT THE FlNANCING

MODALITIES ARE STREAMLINED,

FURTHER, GOVERNMENT WILL REVIEW THE OPERAIIONS OF THE ROAD

DEVELOPMENT AGENCY WITH A VLEW TO ENHANCING ITS

EFFECTIVENESS AND EFFIC]ENCY IN FACILITATING CONSTRUCTION

AND MAINTENANCE OF ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE-

MR. SPEAXER,

GOVERNMENT WILL COMMENCE THE REHABILITATION AND

CONSTRUCTION OF TOWNSHIP ROADS ON THE COPPERBETI

THROUGH THE C4OO ROAD PROJECT COVERING 408 K LOMETRES.

A SIMILAR PROJ€CT, TI-]E LUSAKA L4OO ROAD PROJECT IS

PROGRESSING WELL AND SO FAR I4l K|LOMEIRES HAVE EEEN

SURFACED. THESE PROJEC]S WILL RESULT INTO DECONGESTION OF

TRAFFIC AND LEAD TO EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS AND

SERVICES.

TO SAFEGUARD THE HIGH INVESTMENTS N THE ROAD SECTOR,

GOVERNMENT HAS DEVELOPED AND IS IMPLEMENTING THE ROAD

MAINTENANCE STRA'EGY WHICH RUNS FROM 2015 IO 2024. IO

ENSURE THAT FINANC NG FOR ROAD MAINTENANCE AND

REHABIT]TATION IS READ]LY AVAILABLE, GOVERNMENT COMMENCED

THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ROAD TOLLING PROGRAMME IN 20]3.

SO FAR, K545 MILLION HAS EEEN RAISED USING EXISTING WEIGH-

BRIDGES,

AM DIRECTING THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR ]RANSPORT TO

ACCELERATE THE CONSIRUCTION OF TOLL.GATES ON OUR MAJOR

HIGH WAYS IN ORDER TO ]MPROVE REVENUE GENERATION FOR ROAD

MAINIENANCE,

MR. SPEAX€R,

THE COMBINED INSTALLED FREIGHT CAPACITIES FOR THE ZAMBA

RAILWAYS AND TANZANIA-ZAMBIA RAILWAY AUTHORTY IS EIGHT

MILLION TONNES PER YEAR. IN ORDER TO FIJLLY UT]LISE THIS CAPACITY

TO TRANSPORT FREIGHT TO AND FROM THE SEA PORTS, GOVERNMENT

HAS CONT1NUED TO INVEST IN THE RAILWAY SECTOR. THIS IS A MORE

SUSTAINABLE STRATEGY TO ENSURE COMPETITIVENESS AND PREVENT

THE TRANSPORTAT]ON OF HEAVY GOODS ON THE ROADS,

N LNE W]TH IHE OBJECTIVE OF TRANSFORMING ZAMBIA INTO A

REGIONAL HU8, GOVERNMENT HAS IDENTIFIED A NUMBER OF

GREENFIELD RA1LWAY PROJECTS WHCH WLL LINK ZAMB]A TO THE

EASTERN AND WESTERN PORTS OF AFRICA.

THESE INCLUDE THE NSELUKA. MPULUNGU SPUR LINKING ZAMB]A TO

THE GREAT LAKES REGION; THE LIVINGSTONE - KATIMA MULILO SPUR

LINKING ZAMBIA TO THE WALVS 8AY PORT lN NAMIBIAj THE SEREN.JE

VIA PEIAUKE SPUR LINKING ZAMBIA TO THE PORT OF NAMPULA N

MOZAMBIQUE: AND CHINGOLA - JIMBE RAILWAY NEIWORK LINKING

ZAMBIA TO LOBITO 8AY IN ANGOLA, GOVERNMENT IS EXPECTED TO

INVEST ABOUT SIX BILLON UNITED STATES DOLLARS TO CONSTRUCT

THESE GREENFIETD RAILWAY L]NES. THE IMPLEMENTAIION AND

COMPLETON OF THESE PROJECTS WILL NOT ONLY CONTRIBUTE TO

INCREASED REVENUE GENERATION FOR ZAMBIA BUT WILL ALSO

CONTRISUTE TO JOB CREAIION.

l,tR. SPEAKER,

GOVERNMENT HAs ALSO PRIORTISED IHE CONSTRUCT1ON AND

REHABIL1TATION OF FEEDER ROADS AS THESE FORM THE BASIS FOR THE

DEVELOPMENT OF RURAL AREAS, IN ORDER TO ACCELERA1E THE

IMPLEMENTATION OF THE NATIONAL FEEDER ROADS PROGRAMME,

GOVERNMENT HAS TRANSFERRED THE FUNCT1ONS OF THE RURAL

ROADS UNIT TO THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL SERVICE.

FURTHER, THE ZAMBIA NATIONAL SERV CE HAS BEEN APPOINTED AS A

LOCAL ROAD AUTHORITY AND MANDATED TO REHABILITATE

APPROXIMATELY ]O,OOO K]LOMETRES OF PRIMARY FEEDER ROADS

OVER A PERIOD OF FOUR YEARS.

MR. SPEAI(ER,

GOVERNMENT REMAINS COMMITTED TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF

INLAND WATERWAYS TO PROMOTE EFFIC ENT AND SAFE WATER

TRANSPORTATION, GOVERNMENT HAS PROCURED SOME CARGO

AND PASSENGER VESSELS AS WELL AS MARINE PA]ROL BOATS TO BE

D]STRIEUTED TO DESIGNATED AREAS, GOVERNMENT HAS ALSO

PROCURED AND IS DISTR BUTING DREDGING MACH NES TO THOSE

AREAS WHICH REQUIRE WATER CANALS TO BE CLEARED,

ADD]TIONALLY, GOVERNMENT IS WORKING IN COLLABORATION WITH

NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES IO DEVELOP WATER TRANSPORT

INFRASTRUCTURE ON SHARED WATERS SUCH AS MODERNISATION OF

THE POR] OF MPULUNGU, THE ZAMBEZ]-SHIRE WATERWAYS AND

SHANGOMBO-RIVUNGU CANAL.

MR. SPEAKER,

TI]E AVIATION SECTOR HAS POTENTIAL TO CONTRIBUTE TO TOURISM

DEVELOPMENT, INCREASED BUSINESS AND TRANSFORMATION OF

ZAMEIA'S ECONOMY. IN THIS REGARD, GOVERNMENT HAS

COMMENCED THE MODERNISAT]ON AND UPGRADING OF AIRPORT

INFRASTRUCTURE WHICH INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS,

PROVINC]AL AND SELECTED DISTRICT AERODROMES AT AN EsT MATED

COST OF ],7 BILLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS,

GOVERNMENT HAS MADE SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS IN ESTABLISHING A

NATIONAL AIRLINE WHCH IS SCHEDULED TO START OPERATING IN

20]6. THIS W]LL GREATLY PROMOTE BUSINESS AND TOURISM. IN

ADD TION, NEW EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES WILL BE CREATED

FOR OUR YOUNG PEOPLE,

IN OUR QUEST TO BE COMPLIANT WTH THE INTERNATIONAL C]ViL

AVIATION ORGANISATION STANDARDS, THE M]NISTER RESPONSIBLE

FOR TRANSPORT WILL BR NG TO TH]S HOUSE, TI-]E CIV L AVIATION B1LL

AIMED AT THE CONTROL, REGUTATION AND ORDERLY DEVELOPMENT

OF CIVIL AVIAT]ON IN ZAMBIA. THE MINISTER WILL ALSO TAELE THE

METEOROLOGICAL BILL TO PROVIDE FOR MFTEOROLOGICAL AND

RELATED ADVISORY SERVICES,

IO ENSURE ADEQUATE SUPPLY OF HUMAN RESOURCE FOR OUR

AVIATION INDUSTRY, I AM DIRECTING THE MINISIER RESPONSIBLE FOR

IRANSPORT TO COME UP WITH A REVITALIZATION PROGRAMME FOR

THE ZAMBIA AIR SERVICES TRAINING INSTITUTE.

MR. SPEAKER,

ZAMBIA HAS JOINED THE DIGITAL GLOBAL VILLAGE AND HAS

SUCCESSFULLY MIGRATED FROM ANALOGUE TO DIGITAL TERRESTR AL

TELEVISION TRANSMISSION. IN THIS REGARD, PHASE I OF THE DIG]IAL

MIGRAT ON HAS BEEN SUCCESSFULTY COMPLETED AND THIS COVERS

THE LINE OF RAIL. THIS HAS MADE ZAMBIA ONE OF THE FOUR

COUNIRIES IN THE SOUTHERN AFRICA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY

(SADC) REGION TO HAVE MEI THE JUNE I7, 2O]5 INTERNAT]ONAL

TELECOMMUNICATIONS UNION DEADLINE, PHASE 2 AND 3 WILL

COMMENCE BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR TO COVER THE REST OF

THE COUNTRY. DIGITAL MIGRATION WILL PROVIDE A PLATFORM FOR

ENSURING MAX]MUM FLOW OF INFORMAT ON ACROSS THE COUNTRY,

CITZEN PARTICIPATION N GOVERNANCE ISSUES AND CREATION OF

NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR EMPLOYMENT.

DIGITAL MIGRATION WILL REQUIRE A LOT OF TOCAL CONTENT IN OUR

TELEVISION PROGRAMMING AND TH]S WILL BE YET ANOTHER WINDOW

FOR DEVELOPMENT OF TALENT AND JOB CREATION,

ZAMBIA WILL CONTINUE TO ENHANCE E,GOVERNMENT AS A CRTICAL

COMPONENT OF OUR TRANSFORMAIIONAL CULTURE FOR A SMART

ZAMBIA NOW. OUR PEOPLE ARE NOW ABLE TO ACCESS SOME

GOVERNMENT SERVICES AND NFORMATION ON.L]NE WITHOUT

HAVING TO QUEUE UP OR WAIT FOR MONTHS TO BE SERVED, THE

SERVICES INCLUDE APPLICATION FOR PASSPORTS AND TITLE DEEDS. IN

ADDITION, IT PROV DES FOR PAYMENT FOR SELECTED PUBLIC

SERVICES, REG]STRATON OF COMPANIES AS WELL AS FILING OF

ANNUAL RETURNS,

GOVERNMENT IS MAKING ANNUAL SAV NGS OF ABOUT ]6,8 MILLION

KWACHA ON THE COST FOR |N]ERNET SERVICES SINCE THE

GOVERNMENT-WIDE AREA NETWORK WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2O]4,

FURTHERMORE, GOVERNMENT HAS MPLEMENTED COST SAVING

MEASURES WHICH INCLUDE ESTABTISHMENT OF A CIVL SERVICE

TRAVEL OFF]CE, ABOLITION OF ADMIN]STRATIVE COMMMEE

ALLOWANCES AND MOTOR VEHICLE SCHEME TO REPLACE PERSONAL

IO HOLDER MOTOR VEHICLES,

ENERGY

MR. SPEAKER,

EARLIER, ADDRESSED THE SHORT,TERM SOLUTIONS TO THE CURRENT

POWER SHORTAGES BEING EXPERIENCED ACROSS THE COUNTRY. tET

ME NOW TURN TO THE LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS WH CH ARE IN LINE

WITH GOVERNMENT'S LONG TERM GOALS,

GOVERNMENT HAS PARTNERED W]TH THE GOVERNMENT OF TI-]E

REPUBLIC OF ZIMBABWE TO EXPLORE THE POSSIBJLITY OF DEVELOPING

A I,8OO MEGAWATT POWER STATION AT BATOKA GORGE IN

SOUTHERN PROVINCE BY 2O]9 AT AN ESTIMATED COST OF FOUR

BILL]ON UNITED STATES DOLLARS,

IN ADD TION, GOVERNMENT IS WORK]NG WITH THE PRIVATE SECTOR

TO EXPAND POWER GENERATION AT THE KAFUE LOWER HYDRO

POWER PLANT WHICH, UPON COMPLETION IN 20]8, W LL GENERATE

AN ADDIT1ONAL 750 MEGAWATTS OF ELECTR CITY.

THE INSTALLATION OF IwO GENERATORS AT THE KARIBA NORTH EANK

IN 20]3 AND 20]4 WAS A STRATEGIC INVESTMENT WH CH INCREASED

POWER GENERATION BY AN EXTRA 360 MEGAWATTS.

O]HER LONG.TERM MEASURES INCLUDE INCREASING POWER

GENERATION AT CHISHIMBA AND MUSONDA FALLS FROM THE

CURRENT StX (6) TO t4.8 MEGAWATTS AND FROM F|VE (5) TO lEN (10)

MEGAWANS RESPECTIVELY.

GOVERNMENT IS ALSO UPGRAD NG THE LUSIWASI HYDRO POWER

PROJECT ]N SERENJE IN ORDER TO INCREASE IIS GENERATION

CAPAC]I/ FROM THE CURRENT TWELVE (]2) TO ]01 MEGAWATTS

UPON COMPLETlON,

GOVERNMENT WILL ALSO COMMISSION THE COAL-FIRED POWER

S]ATION AT MAAMBA COLLIERIES AND THE ITEZHI-TEZHI HYDRO POWER

STATION. THE TwO PROIECTS WILL CONTRIBUTE AN EXTRA 420

MEGAWATIS TO THE NATIONAL POWER GRID 8Y.]ANUARY 20]6.

IN LUAPULA PROVINCE, GOVERNMENT HAS ENGAGED THE PRVATE

SECTOR ]O CONSTRUCT THE 150 MEGAWAITS KALUNCWISHI HYDRO

POWER STATION.

MR. SPEAKER,

ALONGSIDE THE CONSTRUCTION OF NEW HYDRO POWER STATIONS,

GOVERNMEN] IS ALSO REHAB1LI]ATING TS OLD POWER STATIONS AND

THIS HAS SEEN THE UP-RATINC OF THE KAFUE GORGE POWER STATION

FROM PRODUCI\G 9OO IO 990 MLGAWATS,

THE RE-INSTATING OF THE VICIOR A FALLS POWER STATION TO ITS FULL

GENERAT NG CAPACITY OF ]80 MEGAWATTS AND THE UP.RATING OF

THE KARIBA NORTH BANK POWER STATION FROM 600 TO 720

MEGAWANS ARE PART OF THE ROBUST GOVERNMENT INTERVENTIONS

TO NCREASE ZAMBIA'S INSTALLED HYDROPOWER CAPACITY]

IN LINE WITH THE D VERSIF CATION AGENDA, GOVERNMENT HAS

BEGUN TO ACTIVELY PURSUE ALTERNATIVE SOLJRCES OF ENERGY SUCH

AS IHERMAL, SOLAR, WIND AND 8IO-MASs.

GOVERNMENT, THROUGH THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

CORPORATION, IS MPLEMENTING A SOLAR-BASED RENEWABLE

ENERGY PROGRAMME TO REDRESS THE CURRENT POWER DEF]CIT.

THIS SOLAR PRO,IECT WILL ADD 600 MEGAWATTS IO THE NATIONAL

POWER GRID. IN ]HE SAME VEIN, GOVERNMENT HAS DECIDED TO

PROMOTE THE USE OF NATURAL GAS AS AN ALTERNATIVE SOURCE OF

ENERGY. TO ]HIS END, GOVERNMENT 5 ENGAGING NEIGHBOURING

COUNTRIES ON THE POSSIBILITY OF ACCESSING NATURAL GAS FOR

EOIH INDUSTRIAL AND DOMESTIC USE,

THIS IS LN ADD]TION TO EXPLORATION OF NATURAL GAS WITHIN THE

COUNTRY. I, THEREFORE, DIRECT THE MIN]STER RESPONSIBLE FOR

ENERGY TO QUICKLY MOVE TO FAC LITATE THE EXPLORATION OF GAS

BY TI-]E PRIVATE SECTOR, THIS IS AN EMERGENCY THAT SHOULD 8E

TREATED WITH THE NECESSARY URGENCY. I WILL ACCEPT NO EXCUSES

WHATSOEVER 8Y THOSE CHARGED WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY TO

]MPLEMENT THIS DIRECTIVE. CABINET HAS IN RECENT WEEKS BEEN

UNDERTAKNG WIDE-RANG]NG INTERVENTIONS TO SPEED UP THE

PROCUREMENT PROCESSES N RESPECI OF NEW POWER INITIATIVES

ESPEC]ALLY FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY,

HAVE EXAM NED SEVERAL PROPOSALS THAT HAVE COME TO ME

DIRECTLY, OTHERS THROUGH THE VICE-PRESIDENT AND THROUGH THE

ENERGY MINISTRY AND 1 WISH IO SHARE MY FRUSTRATION THAT A

NUMBER OF THESE INI]IATIVES REMAIN UNATTENDED TO FOR MONTHS

AND YEARS AT THE MINISTRY OF ENERGY AND OTHER RELEVANT

INSTTUTIONS DEAL]NG WITH ENERGY-

ITHEREFORE WISH TO DIRECI FURTHER THAT ZESCO, WHICH HAS BEEN

MANDATED TO DEAL WITH THE PROCUREMENT OF ALTERNATIVE

SOURCES OF ENERGY, MUST MOVE EXPEDITIOUSLY TO CONCLUDE

THESE PROCESSES. AS THIS MANER IS A NATIONAL EMERGENCY, I

DIRECT THE MINISTER OF ENERGY TO BRING TO CABINET ALL

NECESSARY CAS]NET MEMORANDA IO ENSI]RE IHAT THESE

PROCUREMENT PROCESSES ARE COMPTETED NOT LATER ]HAN THREE

WEEKS FROM NOW,

WE MUST ABANDON THE BUSINESS AS USUAL APPROACH TO MATTERS

OF GRAVE NATIONAL IMPORTANCE. THOSE WHO ARE AFRAID TO

VENTURE INTO NEW WAYS OF DOING THINGS MUST NOT HOLD THE

SYSTEM HOSTAGE BY THEIR FEAR, ]WANT ACTION AND TANGIBLE

RESULTS OTHERW SE I PROM SE ACTION AGA1NST THOSE DELAY|NG U5

FROM MOV NG FORWARD.

AM PLEASED TO NFORM ]HE HOUSE THAT A REFINED PETROLEUM

MULT-PRODUCT PIPELINE WORTH 2.5 S LLION UNITED STATES DOLLARS

WILL BE EUILT FROM LOBITO BAY IN ANGOLA TO LUSAKA UNDER ANAMBITIOUS PRIVATE-SECTOR INIT ATIVE WHICH MY ADMINISTRAT]ON

FUTLY SUPPORTSI THE PIPELINE, WHOSE CONSTRUCTION WLL

COMMENCE IN 20]7, WILL DEL]VER REFINED PETROLEUM PRODUCTS

AS WELL AS GAS FOR POWER GENERATION FOR THE COUNTRY

ESTIMATED AT 5OO TO ],OOO MEGAWATTS.

TI,lIS MASSIVE PRO.IECT WILL ALSO GENERATE JOBS. ]HIS PROJECT !{LLL

MAKE ZAME]A A DISTRIBUTION HUB FOR PETROLEUM PRODUCTS IN THE

SADC REGION,

THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR ENERGY WILL BR NG TO THIS HOUSE

THE ENERGY REGULATION BILL AIMED AT STRENGTHENING LEGAL

PROVIS]ONS AND THE ELECTRICITY BItt AIMED AT PROMOTING

PR VATE SECTOR INVESTMENT IN ELECTRICITY GENERATION ANDDISTRIBUTION.

THOSE WHO DOUBT OUR RESOLVE TO CONFRONT THE CHALLENGES

THAT CONFRONT US MUST WATCH OUT AS 1 LEAD A CREDIBLE

RESPONSE TO MAKE ZAMBIA TRANSITION FROM THE CURRENT ENERGY

DEFICI] ]O A NAT]ON OF POWER SURPLUS IN ]UST OVER A YEAR

FROM NOWI

HOUSING

MR. SPEA(ER,

GOVERNMENT IS COMMIiTED TO THE

AND QUALITY HOUSING FOR OUR

INVESTMENT IN CEMENT PRODUCTION

CONSTRUCTION OF AT LEAST ]O,OOO

COUNTRYWIDE.

PROVSION OF AFFORDABLE

CITIZENS BY FACILTATING

AND EMBARKING ON THE

HOUSING UNITS ANNUALLY

IAM, HOWEVER, CONCERNED BY THE INABILITY OF NATIONAL

HOUSINC AUTHORITY TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSES ACCORD]NG TO

ITS MANDATE, AM, THEREFORE, DIRECTING THE MINISTER OF LOCAL

GOVERNMENT AND HOUS NG TO RESTRUCTURE AND REAL]GN IT TO ITS

ORIGINAL MANDATE.

HEATTH

MR. SPEAKER,

AS A DEMONSTRATION OF THE SUCCESS OF GOVERNMENT'S

NVESTMENT IN HEALTH, THERE IS PROGRESS IN OVERALL INDICATORS

OF THE HEALTH STATUS OF OUR PEOPLE. LATEST STATISTICS ]NDICATE

THAT CHILD AND MATERNAL HEALTH INDICATORS HAVE IMPROVED

SIGNIFICANTLY. MATERNAL MORTALITY RATIO HAS DECLINED FROM

59] DEATHS PER ]OO,OOO LIVE BRTHS IN 2AO7 IO 398 DEATHS PER

I00,000 UVE BTRTHS rN 20t4.

SIMILARLY, THE UNDER'FIVE MORTALITY RATE HAS DECLINED FROM ] I9

PER I,OOO LIVE BIRTHS IN 2OO7 TO 75 PER ],OOO LIVE EIRTHS IN 2O]4,

INFANT MORTALTY RATE HAS DECLINED FROM 70 TO 45 PER ],OOO IIVE

BIRTHS OVER THE SAME PERIOD. SIMILARLY, NEONATAL MORTALTY

RATE HAS DECLINED FROM 37 PER ],OOO L VE SIRTHS TO 24 OVER IHE

SAME PERIOD. THESE NDICATORS DEMONSTRATE THAT WE ARE

MOV NG IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION,

MR. SPEAKIR.

THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE CANCER DISEASES HOSPITAL IN LUSAKA

HAS BEEN COMPLETED, TH S W LL NOT ONLY CATER FOR TREATMENT

OF LOCAL CANCER PATIENTS BUT W]LL ALSO PROMOTE MEDICAL

TOURISM FROM THE REGION AND BEYOND.

GOVERNMENT HAS TRANSFORMED LIV NGSTONE GENERAL HOSPITAL

TO CENTRAL HOSPITAL STATUS WHICH W|LL ALSO BE A TEACHING

HOSPITAL, IN ADDITION, MODERN SPECIALISED MEDICAL EQUIPMENT

HAS BEEN INSTALLED AT MANSA, KASAMA, CHIPATA, LEWAN KA,

SOLWEZI AND KAEWE GENERAL HOSPITATS. FURTHERMORE,

GOVERNMENT IS EXPANDING LEVY MWANAWASA CENERAL

HOSPI]AL BY AN ADDIT ONAL 8OO BED CAPACITY FACIT]TY WHICH IS

EXPECTED TO BE COMPLETED IN 2018,

GOVERNMEN] HAS COMMENCED CONSTRUCT|ON OF EIGHT NEW

D]STRICT HOSP]TALS. THESE ]NCLUDE VU8WI, IKELENG'E, MUFULIRA,

MAFINGA, MANSA, NALOLO, LIMULUNGA AND CHILUSI SLAND.

THIS BRINGS THE TOTAL NUMBER OF DISTR CT HOSPITALS UNDER

CONSTRUCTION ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO THIRTY-EIGHT.

GOVERNMENT IS ALSO CONSTRUCTING STAFF HOUSES.

I AM HAPPY TO REPORT THAT THE WORK ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF

IHE 3,OOO STUDENT CAPACITY FACIIIIi N LUSAKA AT LEVY

MWANAWASA HOSPITAL COMMENCED IN MARCH THIS YEAR.

ADDITIONALLY, THE CONSTRUCTION AND REHABIL]TATION

PROGRAMME HAS EEEN EXTENDED TO OTHER HEALTH TRAINING

SCHOOLS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

MR. SPEA(ER,

AS A COUNTRY, WE HAVE NOT PA D ADEQUATE ATTENTION TO THE

CHALLENGE OF MENTAL HEALTH. ACCORD]NGLY, THE M NISTER

RESPONSIELE FOR HEALTH WILL BRING TO THIS HOUSE THE MENTAL

HEALTH BILL A]MED AT PROMOTING AND PRO]ECTING THE RIGHTS OF

PERSONS WIIH MENTAL DISORDERS AS WELL AS REPEALING THE 1949

MENTAT DISORDERS ACT. THE MINISTER WILL ALSO TABLE THE FOOD

QUAL]TY AND SAFEry BILL AIMED AT PROTECTING THE PUBLIC AGAINSIFOOD-RELATED HEALTH HAZARDS AND FRAI]D IN THE SALE AND USE

OF FOOD AS WELL AS REGISTRATION AND REGUTATION OF FOOD

OUTLETS.

IDUCAIION

MR. SPEAKER,

EDUCATION IS IMPORTANT TO DEVELOPING A SKILLED WORK FORCE

REQU]RED FOR SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, THE

GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO ]NVEST IN UNIVERSAL AND QUALITY

EDUCATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE,

IN 20]4, A TOTAL OF ],526 EARLY CH1LDHOOD EDUCATION CENTRES

WERE OPERATIONALISED COUNTRYW|DE, WIIH AN INITIAL ENROLMENT

OF 7O,OOO LEARNERS, THESE CENTRES WERE CONSTRUCTED MAINLY IN

THE RURAL AND REMOTE AREAS WHERE, PREVIOUSLY, THERE WERE

VIRTUALLY NO SUCH FACILITIES.

MR. SPEAKER,

GOVERNMENT IS EXPANDING THE SECONDARY SCHOOL SUB-SECTOR

BY CONSTRUCTING NEW BOARD NG AND DAY SCHOOTS

COUNTRYW DE. GOVERNMENT IS AISO UPGRADING 220 EASIC

SCHOOLS INTO SECONDARY SCHOOLS, THIS WILL R€SULT IN THE

CREATION OF OVER lOO,OOO SPACES FOR LEARNERS.

GOVERNMEN] W]LL CONTINT]E WITH ITS PROGRAMME OF ENSURING

THAT EVERY PROVINCE HAS AT-LEAST ONE UNIVERSITY. SO FAR, THE

CONSTRUCTION WORKS AT LUBWA, CHAL]MBANA AND PALABANA

UNIVERSITIES ARE PROGRESSING WELL. CONSTRUCTION OF ROBERT

MAKASA UN VERS1TY IN MUCHINGA PROVINCE HAS BEEN COMPLETED

AND THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION IS ACTIVELY WORKING ON ]TS

OPERATIONALISAT ON.

GOVERNMENT WILL, BEFORE THE END OF THE YEAR, COMMENCE

CONSTRUCTION OF KING LEWANIKA UNIVERSft IN MONGU AND

LUAPULA UNIVERSITY IN MANSA,

HUMAN CAPITAT DEVElOPMENT

MR. SPEAKER,

HI]MAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT THROUGH EDUCA]ON AND SKILLS

TRAINING IS INSTRUMENTAL FOR THE TRANSFORMATION OF ANY

COUNTRY, THIS IS PARTICULARLY SO NOW, GIVEN THE GLOBAT

COMPEIITIVENESS, RAPID ADVANCEMENTS IN TECHNOLOGY AND

SIJSTAINED DEMANDS FOR HIGH PRODUCTIVITY AND PERFORMANCE-

IT IS N THIS REGARD THAT GOVERNMENT HAS RE.PRlORIT]SED

EDUCATION, SKILLS DEVELOPMENT, AS WELL AS SC ENCE,

TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION.

GOVERNMENT IS REVIEWING THE POLICIES ON EDUCATION, SCIENCE

AND TECHNOTOGY AS WELL AS THE TECHNICAL EDUCATON,

VOCATIONAL AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRA NING IN ORDER TO MAKE

THEM MORE RELEVANT TO THE CURRENT AND FUTURE NEEDS OF OUR

COUNTRY. THE MINISTER RESPONSlBLE FOR EDUCATION MUST ENSURE

THATTHLS PROCESS IS CONCLUDED BY JUNE 20]6.

MR. SPEAKER,

MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE LIE AT THE CORE OF INNOVATION, OUR

FUTURE COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE AND PROGRESS, N RECOGNITION

OF THE IMPORTANCE OF MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE, GOVERNMENT

]S TRAINING 2,700 TEACHERS WHO ARE UNDERGOING FAST-TRACK

CONTINUOUS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN MATHEMATICS AND

SCIENCES AT VARIOUS UNIVERSITIES, THIS WILL HELP REDUCE THE

ACUTE SHORTAGE OF SIJITABLY QUALIFIED TEACHERS OF

MATHEMAT CS AND SCIENCE IN OUR SECONDARY SCHOOLS-

THIS INVESTMENT IN TRAINING MUST GO HAND IN HAND WTH A

DELIBERATE POLICY TO EQUIP ALt OUR SCHOOLS WITH NFORMATION

COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY FACILITIES, OUR CHILDREN MUST BE

COMPUTER LITERATE.

MR. SPEAKER,

FURTHER,IO DEEPEN OUR CHILDREN'S INTEREST IN MATHEMATICS AND

SCIENCE, IAM DIREC]ING ]HE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR EDIJCAT ON

TO REVAMP AND STRENGTHEN THE JUNIOR ENGINEERS, TECHNlCIANS,

AND SC ENTISTS {POPULARY KNOWN AS JETS CLUBS) IN SECONDARY

scHooLs.

THIS SHOULD BE FOLLOWED BY AN EFFECTIVE TRACKINC SYSTEM OF

THESE BUDDING SCIENTISTS AS THEY PROGRESS IN THEIR EDUCATION

AND S]RONG CAREER GI]IDANCE PROGRAMME. A DELIEERATE

EFFORT MUST ALSO BE MADE TO AWARD SCHOLARSHIPS TO

DESERVING STUDENTS WITH A STRONG LEARNING IN MATHEMATICS

AND SCIENCE.

MR. SPEAKER,

I HAVE APPROVED AN NITIATIVE FOR TRANSFORMING THE

EDUCATION SECTOR THROUGH E,LEARNING BY USING ANINNOVATIVE EDUCATION TABTET CALLED THE ZEduPod DEVELOPED BY

THE LATE MR, MARK BENNETT IN CONSULTATION WITH THE MINISTRY OF

EDUCATION. THE ZEdUPod TABLET IS PRE-LOADED WIIH LESSONS,

LEARNING MATERIALS AND EXTENSION AGRICULTURE AND HEALTH

NFORMATION. I EXPECT THAT B\ 2417, 5A% OF OUR CHILDREN IN

SCHOOL W LL HAVE ACCESS TO THE ZEduPod AND PUT US ON A PATH

OF SMART EDUCATION. I, THEREFORE, CALL UPON THE MINISTERS

REsPONSIBLE FOR EDI]CATION AND NDUSTRY IN CONJUNCTION WITH

THE INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION TO INITATE APROGRAMME OF LOCALLY MANUFACTURING AFFORDABLE TABLETS,

MR. SPEAKER.

OUR RENEWED INTEREST IN MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ALSO CALIS

FOR A REVIEW AND RESUSC]TATION OF THE ROLE OF THE NATIONAI

TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS

COMMTRC]ALISING LOCAL INNOVAT ONS AND INVENT]ONS.

CEN]RE IN NURTUR NG AND

THE PATENTS AND COMPANY REGISTRATION AGENCY SHOIJLD ALSO

TAKE A LEAD ]N BUILDING L NKAGES WITH OUR LEARNINC, RESEARCH

AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRES TO MAKE SURE THAT ALL LOCAL

INVENTONS AND INNOVATIONS ARE DULY PATENTED. IN ADDITION,

THE ZAMB]A CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUS]RY MUST TAKE

KEEN INTEREST IN LINK]NG THE ZAMBIAN POOL OF INVENTORS AND

INNOVA]ORS WITH BOTH LOCAL AND FOREIGN INVESTORS AND

BUS]NESS PEOPLE.

MR. SPEAXER,

GOVERNMENT ALSO REMAINS COMMNED TO EMPOWERINC THE

ZAMBIAN PEOPLE WITH L]FELONG AND SURVIVAL SK]LLS BY

CONSTRUCTING AT-LEAST ONE TRADES TRAINING INSTITUTE ]N EACH

DISTRICT,

OVER THE YEARS. MOST OF OUR TRADES TRAINING INSTITUTES HAVE

ABANDONED THEIR ORIGINAL MANDATES AND FOCUSED ON

BUSINESS COURSES. THIS HAS DEPRVED THE COUNTRY OF CRITCAL

ARTISANAT SKILTS REQUIRED TO DRIVE INDUSTRY.

IHIS HAS ALSO CONTRISUTED TO THE H GH UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN

THE COUNTRY. I AM, THEREFORE, DIRECTING THE MINISTER

RESPONSIBLE FOR VOCAT]ONAL TRAINING TO ENSURE THAT THE

TRADES TRAIN]NG INSTITUTES REVERTTO THEIR ORlGINAL MANDATES,

AM ALSO DIRECTING THE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR INDT,ISTRY AND

LABOUR TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT AN APPRENTICESHIP

PROGRAMME TO ENABLE OUR YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN ACQUIRE

VITAL SKILLS ON THE JOB-

IN THE SAME VEIN, IAM CALLING UPON THE MINISTERS TO CLOSELY

NVOLVE THE PRIVATE SECTOR IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF CURRICULA

SO THATTHEY MEET THE NEEDS OF NDUSTRY

DEMOCRACY AND GOOD GOVERNANCE

MR. SPEAKER,

GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO DELIVERING A PEOPLE-DRIVEN

CONS]ITUT|ON IS I]NWAVERING, TO THIS END, THE FINAL DRAFT

CONSTITUTION WAS RELEASED TO THE GENERAL PIJBLIC IN OCTOBER

LAST YEAR TO ENABLE THEM STUDY IT AND MAKE COMMENTS-

AS A FOLLOW-UP, GOVERNMENT HAS PUBLISHED ]HE CONSTITUTION

(AMENDMENT) BrLL, 20r5 CONTATNTNG NON-CONTENTTOUS CTAUSES

AND IS SCHEDULED FOR PRESENTATION TO THE HOUSE DURING THIS

S]TTING,

I URGE ALL ZAMBIANS TO TAKE KEEN INTEREST IN THIS BILL AND

ENGAGE THEIR MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO ENSURE THAT THEIR

VIEWS ARE WELL REPRESENTED AND TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT WHEN THE

BILL IS DEBATED,

MR. SP€AKER,

]HE DECISION TO PRESENT THE NON-CONTENTIOUS CLAUSES FOR

ENACTMENT BY PARLIAMENT IS INFORMED BY THE REAL DANGER OF

LOSING EVEN THE PROGRESSIVE AND NON.CONTENTIOUS

PROVISIONS OF THE DRAFI CONSTTUTION IF THE ENTIRE DOCUMENT

WAS SUBJECTED TO A REFERENDUM.

TO DEMONSTRATE GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO DELIVERING A

PEOPLE-DRIVEN CONSTITUTION, THE REFERENDUM ACT HAs BEEN

AMENDED IN ANTICIPATION OF THE REFERENDUM TO BE HELD

ALONGSIDE THE 20]6 GENERAT ELECTONS. THIS AMENDMENT,

EXPRESSLY MANDATES THE ELEC]ORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA TO

BE THE REFERENDUM COMMISSION AND INST TIJTIONALIS ES THE

CONDUCT OF REFERENDA,

FURTHER, IT IS NECESSARY TO HOLD THE REFERENDIJM AIONGS]DE

NEXT YEAR'S GENERAL ETECIIONS AS A WAY OF ENHANCING

THE CHANCES OF THE REFERENDUM BEING SUCCESSFUL AND TO

ENSURE A COST,EFFECTIVE PROCESS.

MR. SPEAKER,

GOVERNMENT WILL CONTINUE THE FIGHT AGAINST CORRUPTION. TO

THIS END, DESPITE ZAMBIA MAK]NG HEADWAY IN REDUCING LEVELS

OF CORRUPTION, I WOULD LIKE TO RE-AFFIRM GOVERNMENT'S

COMMITMENT TO ZERO TOLERANCE TO CORRUPT ON.

WLLL NOT PROTECT ANY ONE SERVING IN PIJBLIC OFF1CE FOUND

WANTING N OUR ANTI-CORRUPTON DRIVE, GOVERNMENT ALSO

REMAINS COMMITTED TO ENSURING THAT IT FULFILS IIS OBLIGATIONS

OF PROTECTING, RESPECTING AND FULF]LLING HUMAN RIGHTS, I

WOULD L]KE IO RE'AFFIRM GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT TO

PRESERVE THE FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND ASSOCIATION,

TO THIS END, AM DIRECT NG THE MlNISTERS RESPONS]BLE FOR .IUSTICE

AND HOME AFFAIRS TO CONSULT WIDELY AND PREPARE AND PRESENT

A BILL TO TH]S AUGUST HOIJSE TO AMEND THE PUELIC ORDER ACT. I

AM FURTHER DIRECT NG THE MINISTER RESPONSIBLE FOR JUSTICE AFTER

CONSULTATION WITI-] POLITICAT PARTIES THROUGH THE ZAMEIA

CENTRE FOR INTER-PARTY DIALOGUE TO PREPARE AND PRESENT A B LL

TO THIS AUGUST HOUSE TO REGULATE AND PROTECT THE RIGHT OF

POLITICAL PARTIES TO FREELY ASSOCIATE. AM ALSO DIRECTING THE

MIN STERS RESPONSIBLE FOR INFORMAT]ON AND JUST1CE IO CONSULT

AS WIDELY AS POSSIBLE ON THE POSSIELE AMENDMENTS TO REMOVE

ARCHAIC PROVISIONSTHAT IMPEDE ON MEDIA FREEDOMS,

LET ME ASSURE THE HOUSE THAT GOVERNMENT ALSO REMAINS

COMMTTED TO MEETING MINIMUM STANDARDS OF THE UNITED

NATIONS FOR THE TREATMENT AND CARE OF PRISONERS,

GENDER AND SOCIAT PROTECTION

MR. SPEA(ER,

GOVERNMENT S COMMITTED TO PROTECT NG THE MARGINALISED IN

SOC ETY. ESPECIALLY WOMEN, CHILDREN AND PERSONS WITH

D]SAB]LIT]ES. TO THIS END, GOVERNMENT IS IMPLEMENTING THE

FOLLOWING SOCIAL PROTECTION PROGRAMMES: THE SOCIAL CASH

TRANSFER SCHEME, FOOD SECURITY PACK, WOMEN AND YOI]TH

EMPOWERMENTTO MENTION BUT A FEW.

TO DEMONSTRATE THIS COMMTMENT. ]HE SOCAL CASH TRANSFER

PROGRAMME HAS INCREASED THE NUMBER OF BENEF]CIARY

HOUSEHOTDS FROM I45,000 tN 2014 TO I91,500 rH S YEAR, OF WHICH

ABOUT I9,OOO ARE PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES, THIS SIGNIFIES THE

INCLUSIVE NATURE OF THE SOC AL CASH TRANSFER PROGRAMME.

MR. S'IAKER,

GOVERNMENT IS CURRENTLY DEVELOPING THE SINGLE REGISTRY OF

BENEFIC ARIES OF SOCIAL PROTECT ON PROGRAMMES TO ENHANCE

TARGETING AND TRANSPARENCY, IAM, THEREFORE, DiRECTING THE

M]NISTERS RESPONSIETE FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND HOME

AFFAIRS TO SPEED UP THE DEVETOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF

THE S NGLE REGISTRY. THE REGISTRY WILL ENABLE THE GOVERNMENT

TO MONITOR AND EVALIJATE BENEFICIARIES WITH A VIEW OF

PROMOIING GRADUATION.

GOVERNMENT HAS EMEARKED ON REFORMING THE SOC At SECURI

SYSTEM AIMED AT ESTABLSHING A COMPREHENSIVE AND RESPONSIVE

SOCIAL PROTECTION SYSTEM TO ADDRESS, AMONG OTHERS, THE

PL]GHT OF THE REIIREES. GOVERNMENT IS ALSO DEVELOP NG ANATIONAL SOCIAL HEALTH INSIJRANCE SCHEME TO ENABLE ALL

CIIIZENS ACCESS QUALITY HEALTH SERVICES TIMELY AND WITI]OUT

FINANCIAL HARDSHIP,

AM D RECTING THE MIN]STER OF JUSTICE TO PRIORITISE AND EXPEDITE

THE FINALISATION OF THE SOCIAL PROTECTION BILL.THE MINISIER

RESPONSIBLE FOR GENDER WILL BRING TO THIS HOUSE THE CH]LDREN S

CODE BILL AIMED AT ALIGNING THE DEATS OF ALL CH]LDREN S RIGHTS

W TH OUR DOMEST C LAWS.

MR. SPEAKER,

THE FORMER PRESIDENTS BENEFIIS ACT DOES NOT TAKE INTO

ACCOUNT THE ISSUE OF IONG-TERM SUSTAINABIL]TY. ]AM,IHEREFORE, DIRECTING THE MINISTERS RESPONSIELE FOR.IUSTICE AND

FINANCE TO REVIEW IHE }ORMER PRESIDENTS BENETITS ACT TO TAKE

INIO ACCOUNT OUR AB LITY TO PAY AS A NATION AND

INTERNATIONAL BEST PRACTICES.

DIPTOMACY, GIOEAL PARTNCRSHIPS AND TIAIIONAT DEfENCE

MR. SPEAKER,

RAPID SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION OF OUR COUNTRY WiLL

DEPEND ON ACCESS TO FOREIGN MARKETS, TRANSFER OF

TECHNOLOGY AND ATTRACTION OF FOREIGN INVESTMENT AS WELL

AS PROMOTION OFTOURlSM.

TO IMPLEMENT ECONOMIC DIPTOMACY, GOVERNMENT IS

COMMITTED TO DEVELOPING A PROFESSIONAL FOREIGN SERVCE

MANNED BY OFFICERS WIIH THE NECESSARY EXPERTISE AND STRONG

SENSE OF PATRIOTISM. I AM, ACCORDINGLY, DIRECTING THE MINISTER

OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS TO BRING TO THIS HOUSE A BILL CREAT]NG A

CAREER FOREIGN SERV]CE,

MR. SPEA(ER,

THE NEED FOR STRONG GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS CANNOT SE OVER-

EMPHASISED. GOVERNMENT WILL, IN THIS CONNECTION, CONTINUE

TO PROMOTE 8 LATERAL AND MULTI-LATERAL ENGAGEMENTS.

ZAMBIAN MISSIONS AEROAD PLAY A CR TICAL ROLE 1N FACILTATING

THESE PURSUTS- IN THIS REGARD, GOVERNMENT IS PROMOTING

ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY AS THE KEY TEVER OF OUR FOREIGN POLICY.

GOVERNMENT VALUES THE SUPPORT OF OUR B LATERAL AND MULT

LATERAL PARTNERS WHO CONTNUE TO PROVIDE FINANCE AND

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE CONTINUED

WARM RELATIONS WITH ALL OUR CO-OPERATING PARTNERS.

GOVERNMENT FURTHER RECOGNISES IHE IMPORTANCE OF CREATING

OPPORTUNITIES FOR THOSE OF OUR PEOPLE THAT ARE IN THE

D ASPORA LN ORDER FOR THEM TO CONTRIBUIE EFFECTIVETY TO OUR

DEVELOPMENT AGENDA. IN RECOGN TION OF THE IMPORTANCE OF

TI]IS CONSTITUENCY, GOVERNMENT IS DEVELOPING A DIASPORA

POLICY, WHICH W LL ENHANCE TI-]E PARTICIPATION OF ZAMBIANS

L]VING ABROAD N THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR COUNTRY.

MR. SPEAKER,

ZAMBIA IS COMMTTED TO PROMOTING PEACE AND SECURITY AT

HOME AND ABROAD. IAM GLAD THAT OUR DEFENCE FORCES

CONTINI.JE TO PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE ]N NA]IONAL DEFENCE AS WELL

AS PEACE-KEEPING MISSIONS AROUND THE WORtD.

GOVERNMENT IS MODERNISING OUR DEFENCE FORCES TO BECOME

MORE RELEVANT TO NAT]ONAL DEVELOPMENT. RECENTLY, I

LAUNCHED THE 48 MARINE UNIT IN KAWAMBWA IO BOLSTER OUR

DEFENCE CAPABILITIES.

CUI.TURE RE.MODEtTItIG

MR. SPEAKER,

TO IMPLEMENT OUR TRANSFORMATION AGENDA, WE NEED TO

CHANGE THE WAY WE THINK, BEHAVE AND DO THINGS. THERE LS NEED

FOR STRONG DETERMINATON, INTEGRITY AND RESPECT FOR IHE

TENETS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE ACROSS GOVERNMENT AND

PR]VATE SECIOR INSTITUTIONS,

THIS IS CRITICAL ]F WE ARE GOING TO IMPROVE OUR IND]V]DUAL AND

NATIONAT PRODUCTIVITY LEVELS TO TRANSFORM INTO A

PROSPEROUS NATION IN THE NEXT F FTY YEARS, ACCORDINGLY, I AM

DIRECTING THE SECRETARY TO IHE CAB]NET TO ENSURE THAT THIS

CHANGE IS IN5]ITUTIONALISED IN THE PUELIC SERVICE.

MR. SPEAK€R,

IN THE SAME VEIN IAM CALTING UPON ALL LEADERS, LOCAL

AUTHORITIES AND THE GENERAL PUBL]C TO JOIN THIS JOURNEY OF

NATIONAL IRANSFORMATON. IN THIS REGARD, THERE S NEED TO

STRIVE TOWARDS LIVING AND WORK NG IN A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT,

TO THIS EFFECT, IAM DIRECTING THE MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND ENVIRONMENT TO WORK WITH THE

PR]VAIE SECTOR AND CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISAT ONS TO

RESUSC TATE THE KEEP ZAMEIA CLEAN CAMPAIGN AND IMPLEMENT A

NAME AND SHAME CAMPAIGN FOR THE D RTIEST TOWNS IN OUR

COUNTRY, WE SHOULD ALSO RECOGNISE THE CLEANEST TOWNS. OUR

DESIRE 1S TO HAVE A SITUATION WHERE SOME OF OUR TOWNS AND

C T]ES JO N THE LEAGUE OF SMART CITIES OF THE WORLD WITHIN THE

NEXT FIVE TO TEN Y€ARS.

PARlIAMCNTARY SUSINESS

MR. SPEAKER,

AS WE EMBARK ON OUR TRANSFORMATION PROCESS TO CREATE A

SMART ZAMBIA, GOVERNMENT WILt COME UP W]TH SEVERAL POLCY

REFORM IN TIATIVES WHICH WILL TRANSLA]E INTO LEGISLATION,

GOVERNMENT IS AISO COMMITTED TO FACILITATING THE SMOOTH

FLOW OF THE sUSINESS OF THLS HOUSE, IN THIS CONNECTION, I

WOULD LIKE TO UNDER-SCORE MY COMMITMENT TO SEE TO IT THAT

ALL MIN STERS SUBMIT ON TIME FULLY RESEARCHED ANNUAL REPORTS

AS WELL AS RESPONSES TO COVERNMENT ASSURANCES, FURTHER,

MINISTERS SHOULD PROVIDE ANSWERS ON TIME AND ]N FULL TO ALL

QUESTONS ARISNG FROM THIS HOUSE NCLUDING THOSE FROM

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEES,

MR. SPEAKER,

THE FIRM COMMTMENTS THAT I HAVE MADE TO THIS HOUSE SHOULD

SIGNAT TO THE PUBLIC SERVICE, MY DES]RE TO SEE TS

TRANSFORMATION INTO A HIGH PERFORMANCE SERVICE THAT

SHOULD ENABLE ME FULF]L MY COMM TMENTS IO IHIS HOUSE ANDTHE ZAMBIAN PEOPLE.

I WlLL, IN THIS RESPECT, NOT TOLERA]E ANY COMPLACENCY BY ANY

MEMBER OFTHE PUBLIC SERVICE, I AM ACCORDINGTY DIRECIING THE

SECRETARY TO THE CABINET TO COME UP WITH A B]LL THAT WILL

REGULATE PUBI C SERV CE EMPLOYMENT, INCLUDING APERFORMANCE BASED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM.

IAM HUMBLED TO BE DOING THIS.IOB BECAUSE A5 YOUR ELECTED

PRESIDENT, YOU EFFECTIVELY MADE ME IN CHARGE OF ENSURING

THAT:

' YOUR HOSPITALS HAVE ENOUGH DRUGS AND BEDS SO THAT OUR

BABIES AND THE R MOTHERS DO NOT DIE NEEDLESSLY

. THE MAIZE PRODUCED BY OUR FARMERS DOES NOT GO TO

WASTE

' THAT THE FARMERS HAVE N-PUTS DELIVERED ]O THEM AT AGOOD PR CE AND A GOOD TIME

. THAT THE ROADS LEADING TO THE POINTS OF PRODUCTION ANDPOINTS OF CONSUMPTION ARE PROPERLY MAINTAINED

. THAT LAW AND ORDER IS OBSERVED SO THAT THERE IS NO

ANARCHY IN THE COUNTRY

. THAT WE HAVE NO SHORTAGES OF ESSENTIAL COMMODITIESSUCH AS DIESEL, PETROL AND DEFICITS IN ELECTRICITY SUPPLY TO

MENTION BUT A FEW

coNctustoN

MR. SPEAKER,

IMPLORE TH S HOUSE AND THE NATION AT LARGE TO EMSARK ON ANEW JOURNEY OF CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION FOR A SMART

ZAMEIA IN ORDER TO CONSOLIDAIE OUR INDEPENDENCE AND

ACCELERATE SOCIO,ECONOMIC PROGRESS.

IN PURSUIT OF THE VIRTUES OF EQUITY AND OUR ASPIRATIONS FOR ASMART ZAMBIA, IWISH TO ANNOUNCE CHANGES TO THE LAW THAT

PROVIDES FOR BENEFITS FOR RETIRED PRESIDENTS. I DO NOT THINK

THAT IT IS FA]R AND EQUITABLE THAT THE STATE MUST SU LD A HOUSE

FOR A RETIRED PRESIDENT AND NOT FOR OTHERS.

WE HAVE TO DEMONSTRATE STRONG COMMITMENT TO COSI.SAVING

MEASURES FOR NOW AND FOR THE FUTURE, I AM PROPOS]NG THAT

THIS FORFEITURE TAKES EFFEC] STARTING WITH ME.

THE NEED FOR REFORM OF PENSION PACKAGES FOR ALL

CONST1TUTIONAL OFFICE HOLDERS IS A MATTER WE MIJST

COLLECTIVELY INTERROGATE BECAUSE THESE PENSIONS WERE FIT FOR

PURPOSE AT THE TIME WHEN THEY WERE PASSED BUT NOT ANY

LONGER.

LEI US THEREFORE INTERROGATE THESE LAWS WITH AN OPEN MIND

WITH A VIEW TO STREAMLINING IHEM IN LINE WITH THE REALITIES OF

TODAY.

AS ICONCLUDE, IWOULD LIKE TO ONCE AGA]N CALL ON ALL

ZAMBIANS AT HOME AND IN ]HE DIASPORA TO FOCUS AND ATIGN

OUR ENERGIES W]TH A SENSE OF COMMON PURPOSE, URGENCY AND

RESILIENCE TO FULFIL OUR NATIONAL ASPIRA]ION TO BE A DEVELOPED

COUNTRY BY 2064,

FOR THOSE OF US IN THE POLITICAL ARENA, MR SPEAKER, MY APPEAL

IS THAT LET US CONDUCT ISSUE-BASED POLITICS. LET U5 RE.JECT

POLITICS OF CHARACTER ASSASSINATION AND THE CULTURE OF

INSULTS, TRIBALISM AND REGIONALSM WHICH HAVE CREEPED NTO

OUR POL1TICS,

THESE VICES ARE UNCHR]STIAN AND VERY UN ZAMBIANI tET U5 PUT A

STOP TO THIS AND CONCERN OURSELVES WITH REAL SSUES THAT

AFFECT THE GREATER MAIORff OF OUR PEOPIE. WE HAVE A DI]TY

TO RAPIDLY TRANSFORM ZAMBIA INTO A THR1VNG SOC]EIY THAT

ASSURES ALL CITIZENS OF EXPANDING BUSINESS, EDUCATION,

TRA N1NG AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES.

LIKE OUR FORE'FATHERS, WHO PIONEERED THE STRUGGLE FOR

INDEPENDENCE AND SELF-DETERMINATION, LET US BE PIONEERS IN

RAPID AND INCLUS]VE SOC O-ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL

TRANSFORMATION FOR A SMART ZAMEIA. THIS IS THE HISTORIC

MISSION OF OUR GENERATION.

A FAIR, JUST AND HUMANE SOCIETY IS POSSISLE. WE ARE AN

ASPIRATION NATION THAT HAS RISEN ABOVE MAJOR CHALLENGES IN

THE PAST. WE HAVE TO WORK TOWARDS BUILDING A FAIR SOCIETY

UNITED IN PEACFIJL COMMERCE, A ZAMBIA WHICH WILL OFFER A

RENDEVOIJS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL. WE MUST ALL ASPIRE FOR A

ZAMBIA THAT SPEAKS TO THE INTEREST OF ALL ZAMBIANS, LET US PUT

ZAMB]A FIRST AND SELF SECOND

]HIS WILL 1N TURN DELIVER RISING PRODUCTIVITY, INCOMES, GREATER

PROSPERIW, INCLUSIVENESS AND NATIONAL COHESION.

MR. SPEAKfR,

AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT ON 24IH OCTOBER, 2064, ZAMBA

SHOULD AWAKEN IO ONE UNDENIABLE TRUTH AND REALITY: THAT

OURS WAs A GENERAT ON OF ACHIEVERS, A GENERATION OF MEN

AND WOMEN WHO, PROPELLED BY II-]E ENERGY OF PATRIOTISM,

CHANGED THIS COUNTRY FOREVER.

CO,EXISTENCE IS THE KEY WORD HERE AND THE SPIRIT OF OUR

FOUND]NG FATHER OF THE NAT]ON DR KENNETH KAUNDA WHO

ENCOURAGED US TO ALWAYS LlvE BY THE MOTTO OF: "ONE ZAMBIA

AND ONf NAIION."

LET US CONCENTRATE, F€LLOW COUNTRYMEN, AND WOMEN ON THAT

WHICH UNITES US NOT THAT WHICH DIVIDES US. WE INHERITED THIS

BEAUTIFUT COUNTRY FOR OUR CHILDREN AND NOT FOR OURSELVES.

LET US WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE T BETTER FOR THEM. LET U5 HEAL ITS

DEFECTS AND MAKE IT A BENER PLACE,

HATE, BINERNESS, CONTEMPT AND ENVY ARE EV L VICES THAT HAVE

NO PLACE IN A SOCIETY LIKE OURS. WE ARE ABOVE THAT. WE ARE A

CHRISTIAN NATION, LEI ME TAKE THIS OPPORTUN]TY TO ANNOUNCE

THAT I HAVE PROCLAIMED ]BTH OCIOBER 2O]5 AS A DAY OF

NATONAL PRAYER, AND FASTNG FOR RECONCILIATION,

FORGIVENESS AND GENERALLY TO ENCOLJRAGE THE NATION TO SEEK

]HE FACE OF GOD, THE PROCLAMAIION ORDER W]LL BE PUBLISHED

ATFP TODAV.

MR. SPEAKER

I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT THE LIVING GOD WHO GUIDED OUR

FOREFATHERS WILL GUIDE US IN OUR CURRENT ENDEAVOURS. WE ARE

AN ASPIRATION NATIONI WE ARE A NATION OF FAITH. WE ARE A

CHRISTIAN NATIONI

iT IS NOW MY HONOUR AND PRIVILEGE, MR SPEAKER, TO DECLARE

OPEN, THE FIFIH SESSION OFTHE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.

MAY GOD BLESS OUR GREAT NATION, ZAMEIA.

IIHANT YOU.