16 August 2008
PARLIAMENT has approved the three bills that seek to increase salaries and gratuity for the President, Vice-President and other constitutional office holders.
This was when the President Emoluments (Amendment) bill, Ministerial and Parliamentary Offices (Emoluments) (Amendment) bill and the Constitutional Offices (Emoluments) Amendment bill came for third reading in the House yesterday.
With the three bills passing through third reading, what now remains is the President to assent to them so that they become law.
As soon as the three bills were introduced in the House, opposition Patriotic Front (PF) members walked out and notable, among them, was party vice-president, Guy Scott, Kabwata MP Given Lubinda, his Chingola counterpart Joseph Katema, Mandevu MP Jean Kapata and her Munali counterpart Mumbi Phiri.
Roan MP Chishimba Kambwili, however, remained in the House and as soon as the bills passed, he expressed joy and shouted 'yapita' meaning they have passed.
And the Industrial and Labour Relations (Amendment) bill passed through second reading. Committee stage on the bill would be taken on Wednesday next week.
And Justice Minister, George Kunda told the House that 1,989 criminal cases were pending in the courts of laws since 2003. Mr Kunda said that the reasons for the delay in disposing of the cases among others included adjournments because of illnesses, misplaced case records and absence of courts in some districts.
Mr Kunda said this when he responded to a question from Mr Kambwili who wanted to know th e number of cases pending and the reasons for the delays.
Mr Kunda also said that the Government had taken note of the fact that some magistrates, particularly in Lusaka were in a habit of starting work late. He said that the Government would soon address the matter but urged lawyers to also bring up the issue with the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ).
The minister said this when he responded to a follow up question from Chasefu MP Chifumu Banda (FDD) who asked what the Government was doing to address the problem of starting work late among the magistrates in Lusaka.
Agriculture and Cooperatives Deputy Minister, Albert Mulonga said that the ministry of Community Development and Social Services and the disaster management and mitigation unit (DMMU) in the Office of the Vice-President were working in collaboration to address the effects of the impending maize shortage as a result of the floods experienced during the last season.
Mr Mulonga said this when responding to a question from Chifunabuli MP Ernest Mwansa (PF) who wanted to know measures taken to address the impending maize shortage.
He said that ministry officials had in fact been to most of the affected areas and in some instances people were experiencing hunger because they are not involved in any form of agriculture.
Mr Mulonga said this when responding to a follow up question from Namwala MP Robbie Chizhyuka (UPND) who wanted to know whether apart from subsidising fertiliser, the Government was doing anything to ensure that there was food security.
Despite the imminent maize deficit, he said that in areas where the Government could not afford to buy all the produce, the private sector was free to purchase the harvest.
He said this when responding to a question from Chimbamilonga MP Brian Sikazwe (MMD) who wanted to know whether there were any plans to purchase maize in rural areas where the number of depots was less.
Information and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister, David Phiri said that plans to create a fund for community radio stations similar to the Cable Satellite Technologies (CASAT) television scheme has reached an advanced stage.
He said this when responding to a question from Lukulu East MP Batuke Imenda (ULP) who wanted to know when the ministry would create the fund similar to CASAT, which led to the introduction of television coverage to most districts.
Mr Phiri also said that works on the installation of transmitters to improve the reception for Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (ZNBC) radio in rural areas has been going on smoothly. He said that eight transmitters were procured and four had so far been installed.
He said this when responding to a follow up question from Mpika Central MP Mwansa Kapeya (PF) who wanted to know when ZNBC radio reception would improve in rural areas.
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