Zambia: Speaker tells Konga to explain Total deal

Mr Mwanamwambwa made the ruling yesterday after Chipili MP Davies Mwila (PF) rose on a point of order asking if it was in order for Mr Konga not to explain to the House and Zambians that Total had pulled out of Indeni.

Quoting yesterdays edition of the Times of Zambia which referred to Totals withdrawal from the refinery company, Mr Mwila said the minister should tell the House the details of the development.

In his ruling, the speaker said that although Mr Konga last week issued a statement on the shortage of petrol, he did not talk about the ongoing negotiations between the Government and Total on the possibility of Government taking over the 50 per cent shares.

The honourable minister should in the week come to the House and explain fully on what is happening concerning the transaction, Mr Mwanamwambwa said.

And contributing to debate on the 2010 Budget, Chifunabuli MP Ernest Mwansa (PF) said that the increased funding to the education sector was a step in the right direction.

Mr Mwansa said that even funding directly to districts through the Ministry of Health was a good achievement because district health officials were better placed to know the disease burden in their areas.

He said that the Government should urgently extend the optic fibre to Luapula Province, and Communications and Transport Minister Geoffrey Lungwangwa rose on a point of order saying the facility would be taken to all provinces in the country.

Sinazongwe MP Raphael Muyanda (UPND) said that the Budget had focused more on payment of salaries and did not cater for job creation. He added that Government should advertise all jobs in the public service and parastatal companies.

Meanwhile, newly elected Kasama Central MP Geoffrey Mwamba entered the House escorted by some cadres some of whom were ushered into the strangers gallery while others were asked to stay outside.

Times of Zambia