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{
    "id": 250075,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/250075/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 250,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Prof. Kibwana",
    "speaker_title": "The Minister for Environment and Natural Resources",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 277,
        "legal_name": "Kibwana Kivutha",
        "slug": "kibwana-kivutha"
    },
    "content": " Mr. Deputy Speaker, Sir, I wanted to be clear on that particular matter. We should confine ourselves to the Bill at hand and not twin it with other matters. I respect the views of the hon. Member and he is in order to make such a clarification. When you look at the Supplementary Appropriation Bill, you will see that there are very important matters that will require urgent attention. This law will provide a budget for two months. The issue of drug abuse needs to be tackled through some money from the Office of the President. This is one area that needs urgent attention. Indeed, it is necessary to create an autonomous body to deal with the issue of drug abuse. The need for some money to fight drug abuse is something we should recognise. In agriculture, money is required for monitoring and management of food security. There are areas in this country where this is a very urgent matter. We have asked the Ministry of Agriculture to initiate urgent measures to make sure that food security is addressed carefully. We should get adequate food for our people, so that we do not have to depend on relief food. Also, some of the money required by the Ministry of Agriculture is for pest control. In many areas now, there is a big problem of army worm invasion. The Ministry of Agriculture has told us that it is not able to help us before it gets some more money. In the Ministry of Health, there is an urgent need for more nurses. Many hon. Members have complained about shortage of health personnel, especially nurses. Some of this money will be used to employ more nurses, so that we can get more health personnel in our health facilities. We are looking forward to having a primary health facility in every sub-location. Such health facilities should be well staffed and equipped with medicines, so that our people are catered for. You will find that there are many roads which need to be repaired. In my constituency there are bridges, which were washed away by floods water. The bridge linking my constituency to that of hon. Kalembe, at Kiangini, has been washed away by floods. Some of this money is needed to rehabilitate roads and bridges. It will also solve the flood problem in Coast Province. It is unusual to have floods in the Coast Province. Ordinarily, we do not get floods in the Coast Province. 958 PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES May 4, 2006 In my Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, we expect that this money will come in handy to support and expand exploitation of minerals. Minerals can become one of the pillars of our economy. Indeed, yesterday the Russian Federation signed an agreement with us to help in mineral development. This is an important area for them and us. We are planning to visit Russia to see how they exploit mineral potential in their country. So, this money is coming at an opportune moment; to facilitate this joint venture between our sister countries. In the education sector, we realise that all the hon. Members are waiting for money for bursaries for their students. It is clear that this money is needed urgently. I also want to say that the Item \"other expenses\" is itemised under each Ministry. It is not just an expense item somebody dreams up. When you are preparing a Bill like this one, you cannot include all expenses by name because that is not how laws are drafted. So, to insinuate that this is money which is hidden somewhere is not correct."
}