12 November 2009
SPEAKER of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa yesterday advised aggrieved citizens to resolve their differences peacefully as opposed to resorting to violence.
Mr Mwanamwambwa said violence and rioting were destructive to the well being of the nation and advised members of Parliament and other well-meaning citizens to resolve their differences amicably.
The speaker said this when Chipili MP Davies Mwila (PF) raised a point of order, arguing whether it was in order for the Mines minister to remain mute in the face of the riotous behaviour by some Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) workers.
Mr Mwanamwambwa said all well-meaning citizens should avoid resorting to riotous behaviour when they were aggrieved.
"There are laws in this country which call for aggrieved persons to resolve their differences peacefully or amicably. It does not help anyone to go on rampage destroying things hoping that somebody will pay attention to their problems.
I want to call on all members of this House and law-abiding citizens to ensure that conflicts are resolved peacefully without destroying properties," Mr Mwanamwambwa said.
Mr Mwanamwambwa directed the acting leader of Government business in the House Kalombo Mwansa to ensure that he asked the relevant ministry to issue a ministerial statement before the end of the week.
And in presenting the report of the committee on Health, Community Development and Social Welfare, committee chairperson Jean Kapata (PF) said most health institutions in rural areas were in a deplorable state.
Ms Kapata said although Zambia had ratified some international protocols on health, the Government had still failed to domesticate them.
For instance, Ms Kapata said, Zambia was far from meeting the Abuja Declaration on health and complained that the Government was merely paying lip service to the protocols.
In seconding the report of the committee, Chikankata MP Munji Habenzu (UPND) complained that so far, the hospitals under construction in Southern Province were still far from completion. Among the institutions are Choma and Namwala hospitals.
Mr Habenzu said for the country to meet the millennium development goal (MDG) on health, it was imperative to complete health institutions within the stipulated time.
Health Deputy Minister Mwendoi Akakandelwa said the Government was working at resolving most complaints in the health sector.
He said even the institutions in Southern Province which Mr Habenzu said were far from completion were receiving attention from the Government.
Mr Akakandelwa was supported by Southern Province Minister Daniel Munkombwe who said that it was important for parliamentarians from the province to work with the Government.
Namwala MP Robbie Chizhyuka (UPND) said he was happy that some efforts were being shown in improving health facilities in Southern Province.
Community Development and Social Services Deputy Minister Friday Malwa said, as of the 2000 national census, there were 256,690 people living with disabilities in Zambia.
Mr Malwa said this when he responded to a question by Kantanshi MP Yamfwa Mukanga (PF) who wanted to know how many people were currently living with disabilities.
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