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HOME Affairs Minister Ngosa Simbyakula has said Government will root out all forms of corruption at police road blocks throughout the country.
Dr Simbyakula told Parliament yesterday that Government was committed to sealing all loopholes that allowed for corruption to take place at road blocks.
He was answering a question from opposition Members of Parliament (MPs) who wanted to know what Government was doing to seal loopholes among traffic police officers.
Dr Simbyakula said Government was sensitising members of the public and getting rid of all police officers found engaging in corruption at road blocks.
Parliament also heard that Government had ordered modern non-lethal equipment for the Zambia Police Service to use when dispersing crowds during riots and demonstrations.
Home Affairs Deputy Minister Alfreda Kansembe informed the House that it had never been Government’s intention for police to use excessive force unless a situation threatened human life.
Responding to a question from United Party for National Development (UPND) Mwinilunga MP, Stephen Katuka, Ms Kansembe said Government began the procurement process of the non-lethal equipment, which include rubber bullets, last year and was almost concluding the transaction.
Another Home Affairs Deputy Minister, Stephen Kampyongo told the House that Government had raised a total of K42,134,261.61 from fines for traffic offences from October 1, 2011 to October 1, 2013 countrywide.
Mr Kampyongo said the money had been deposited in Government account control 99, under the Ministry of Finance.
Agriculture Deputy Minister, Greyford Monde informed the House that Nitrogen Chemicals of Zambia (NCZ) had completed the rehabilitation of the ammonium nitrate plant at a cost of K25 million, and that production of fertiliser at the company was in progress.
Mr Monde was responding to a question from Mr Katuka who wanted to know how much money Government had used to recapitalise NCZ.
PF Kaputa MP, Maxus Ng’onga sought to know whether NCZ would be able to meet the demand of fertiliser while MMD Liuwa MP, Situmbeko Musokotwane wanted to find out if the NCZ fertiliser would be cheaper.
Mr Monde admitted that the company would not meet the demand but that the fertiliser would be cheaper.
Youth and Sport Minister Chishimba Kambwili told the House that K23,188,869.90 was disbursed under the Youth Empowerment Programme between 2012 and 2013.
UPND Mazabuka Central MP, Gary Nkombo expressed concern over Government’s continued silence on the lifting of the ban on movements of pigs and pork products.
UPND Monze Central MP, Jack Mwiimbu raised a point of order on the depreciation of the Kwacha and wondered whether Government would sustain the national Budget.
This prompted Speaker of the National Assembly, Patrick Matibini to advise him and Mr Nkombo to put their concerns as questions for oral answers.
