Parley approves K18bn State House allocation

Parley approves K18bn State House allocation
By Obert Simwanza

PARLIAMENT yesterday approved the over K18 billion allocation to State House in this year’s national Budget. Presenting the allocations, Vice-President, Rupiah Banda, said State House was a national institution and should therefore be in a condition befitting its status. He said the fleet of vehicles at State House was not in good condition as most of the vehicles were bought 12 years ago and therefore needed replacement. The allocation would include payment of personal emoluments, recurrent departmental expenditure and institutional support expenditure all amounting to K18,998,354,852. In the previous Budget, K12,025,087,395 was allocated to State House.

In supporting the allocation, Kalomo MP Request Muntanga (UPND) said since most of the vehicles at State House seemed to have outlived their lifespan, Government could transfer them to other departments.

Moomba MP Vitalis Mooya (UPND) said it had become clear that repairs for State House had kept on increasing each year, an indication that the building was too old. He said for instance last year, Government spent K 6 billion on repairs saying the only logical thing was to build another State House. Mr Mooya said building another State House was not a sign of extravagancy as the house neither belonged to an individual or a political party but was for the country.

Kabwata MP Given Lubinda (PF) said advisors to President Mwanawasa should advise him correctly to avoid embarrassing the institution of State House. Mr Lubinda said the advisors should realise that State House was an institution of governance and not an extension of somebody’s village. WORKS and Supply Minister, Kapembwa Simbao said for the two years that he had worked at State House, President Mwanawasa had refused rehabilitation works preferring the money to be used on other developmental projects.

Roan MP Chishimba Kambwili (PF) said the landscaping at State House was not befitting an institution of such status.

Sinazongwe MP Raphael Muyanda (UPND) said the golf course at State House needed to be worked on and that it could be used as a source of revenue if golf tournaments were hosted there.

Chairperson of the committee on supply Mutale Nalumango asked Finance Deputy Minister Jonas Shakafuswa to apologise to the House after he had told MPs to shut up as he was contributing to the allocation. Ms Nalumango said the sentence shut up was unparliamentary and therefore Mr Shakafuswa should withdraw and apologise.

In winding up debate, the Vice-President commended the House and emphasised that State House was not for the party in power but for all Zambians.

Mines and Mineral Resources Deputy Minister Maxwell Mwale told the House that Government would be reviewing all development agreements with mining investors to amend some clauses. Mr Mwale said the negotiating team would commence the negotiations this month, adding that the decision to review some agreements was to make them in line with the requirements of the Zambian people.

He was responding to a question from Mr Sejani who wanted to know when Government would start re-negotiating the contracts entered into with some investors who purchased the mines from ZCCM.
Mines Minister Kalombo Mwansa said on the negotiating team, the Government would not require the services of outsiders other than those from Government and the team put in place. He was responding to a supplementary question from Roan MP Chishimba Kambwili (PF) who wanted to know whether some MPs would be among the negotiating team.