Report for the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly

REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS, TRANSPORT, WORKS AND SUPPLY FOR THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTED ON 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2015 Printed by the National Assembly of Zambia REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS, TRANSPORT, WORKS AND SUPPLY FOR THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTED ON 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2015 TABLE OF CONTENTS No Paragraph Page 1.0 Composition of the Committee 1 2.0 Functions of the Committee 1 3.0 Meetings of the Committee 1 4.0 Programme of Work 1 5.0 Procedure adopted by the Committee 2 PART I Consideration of Topical Issues: 6.0 The Role of Information and Communication Technology 2 in National Development 7.0 The State and Management of Canals, Ports and 15 Harbour Infrastructure in Zambia PART II 8.0 Tour of Airtel and Zamtel 19 PART III 9.0 Consideration of the Action-Taken Report on the Report 21 of the Committee for the Fourth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly 10.0 Consideration of the Action-Taken Report on the Report 28 of the Committee for the Third Session of the Eleventh National Assembly 11.0 Consideration of the Action-Taken Report on the Report 34 of the Committee for the Second Session of the Eleventh National Assembly 12.0 Consideration of the Action-Taken Report on the 39 Report of the Committee for the First Session of the Eleventh National Assembly 13.0 Consideration of the Action-Taken Report on the Report 40 of the Committee for the Fifth Session of the Tenth National Assembly 14.0 Consideration of the Action-Taken Report on the Report 41 of the Committee for 2010 (Tour Report) 15.0 Consideration of the Action-Taken Report on the Report 42 of the Committee for 2009 16.0 Conclusion 43 Appendix I – List of Officials 44 (i) REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON COMMUNICATIONS, TRANSPORT, WORKS AND SUPPLY FOR THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE ELEVENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY APPOINTED ON THURSDAY, 24TH SEPTEMBER, 2015 Consisting of: Mr E K Belemu, MP (Chairperson); Mrs A M Chungu, MP; Mr K Konga, MP; Mr M A Malama, MP; Mr R Muntanga, MP; Mr M Chishimba, MP; Mr J Shuma, MP and Mr K Simbao, MP. Following the appointment of Mr K Simbao, MP, as Minister of Transport and Communications, Mr M Kapeya, MP, was appointed to the Committee on Wednesday 14th October, 2015. The Honourable Mr Speaker National Assembly Parliament Buildings LUSAKA Sir Your Committee has the honour to present its Report for the Fifth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly. Functions of the Committee 2.0 The functions of your Committee are: (a) to study, report and make recommendations to the Government through the House on the mandate, management and operations of Government ministries, departments and/or agencies under its portfolio; (b) to carry out detailed scrutiny of certain activities being undertaken by Government ministries, departments and/or agencies under its portfolio and make appropriate recommendations to the House for ultimate consideration by the Government; (c) to make, if considered necessary, recommendations to the Government on the need to review certain policies and/or certain existing legislation; and (d) to consider any Bills that may be referred to it by the House. Meetings of the Committee 3.0 Your Committee held twelve meetings during the year under review. Programme of Work 4.0 At your Committee’s second meeting held on Wednesday, 30th September, 2015, it considered and adopted the programme of work as follows: (a) consideration of the Action-Taken Report on the Committee’s Report for Fourth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly; (b) the Role of Information and Communications Technology in National Development; (c) the State and Management of Canals, Ports and Harbour Infrastructure in Zambia; and (d) consideration of the draft report. 1 Procedure adopted by the Committee 5.0 Your Committee requested detailed memoranda on the topics under consideration from concerned stakeholders and invited them to appear before it in order to give verbal submissions and clarifications on issues arising from their submissions. Your Committee also visited Airtel and Zamtel in order to find out what was obtaining on the ground regarding the role of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in national development. The Report of your Committee is in three parts. Part I deals with topical issues, while part II is on your Committee’s tour to Airtel and Zamtel and part III is on the Action-Taken Report on the Committee’s Report for the Fourth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly. PART I Topical Issues Topic 1: The Role of Information and Communications Technology in National Development Background 6.0 Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) are important in achieving development goals and promoting citizen participation. Zambia is one of a number of countries in the Southern African region that have sought to include ICTs in their national development plans. According to the Sixth National Development Plan 2013 to 2016, ICTs comprise the convergence between the traditionally separate businesses of broadcasting, telecommunications, computing and the Internet into one platform. Research has shown that investment in broadband ICTs has a multiplier effect in terms of job creation such that one direct job creates between 1.4 and 3.6 indirect and induced jobs. This is because broadband brings high opportunities for self- employment and content development such as production of local films and it enhances ICT applications. During the last decade, the ICT sector continued to implement key programmes aimed at inducing growth in the sector. Mobile network subscription across all the three mobile service providers grew to 10.9 million in 2015, compared to 2.6 million in 2007. This corresponds to an improvement in mobile phone service penetration relative to the population from 22.5 percent in 2007, to 70.3 percent in 2015. In light of the above, your Committee resolved to undertake a study on the role of ICTs in National Development in Zambia. The objectives were: (a) to ascertain the policy objectives of the National ICT Policy; (b) to assess the effectiveness of the information and communications technology policy on the accessibility of ICT services; (c) to find out the benefits that have been derived through the use of ICTs; (d) to find out what initiatives the Government has put in place, if any, to increase the accessibility of ICTs in communities; (e) to assess the challenges, if any, faced by ICT consumers, ICT service providers and the regulatory authority; and (f) to make recommendations to the Executive on the way forward. 2 The following stakeholders made both written and oral submissions on the subject: (a) Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU); (b) Bankers Association of Zambia; (c) Airtel Zambia; (d) Mtn Zambia; (e) Zamtel; (f) Ministry of Health; (g) Ministry of Finance; (h) Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA); (i) Consumer Unit Trust (CUTS); (j) CEC Liquid Telecom; (k) Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR); (l) Ministry of General Education; (m) Transparency International Zambia (TIZ); (n) Mr Andrew Kashita - Member of the public; and (o) Ministry of Transport, Works, Supply and Communication. Consolidated Summary of Submissions Policy Objectives of the National ICT Policy Your Committee learnt that the sector was currently guided by the National ICT Policy of 2006, that defined priority areas of growth to ensure that ICT continuously contributed to being an enabler for Zambia’s socio-economic growth. Since its adoption and launch in 2007, the Policy had significantly contributed to the enhancement and growth of the ICT sector in Zambia. The key objectives of the ICT Policy included: (a) increasing market size through integration and cross border trade with ICTs playing an integral part of the social and economic development of member states; (b) creating competition among market payers in the ICT sector in member states; (c) conveying of regulatory authorities in telecommunications and broadcasting; (d) implementing dependable and technology–neutral legal and regulatory frameworks; (e) independence of market players especially the regulatory functions; and (f) private sector participation in the development of ICT products and services. To this effect, the legal and regulatory framework was developed in implementing this policy as set out below. (a) Information and Communication Technology Act No. 15 of 2009 The Act provides for the economic and technical regulation of information and communication technology; facilitates access to ICTs; protects the rights and interests of service providers and consumers; and regulates and manages radio spectrum. The ICT Act also renamed the Communications Authority of Zambia (CAZ) as the Zambia Information and Communications Technology Authority (ZICTA). (b) Electronic Communications and Transaction Act No. 21 of 2009 The Act provides for the development of a safe, secure and effective environment for the consumer, business sector and the Government to conduct and use electronic communications; promotes legal certainty and confidence, and encourages investment and innovation in the 3 electronic communications industry; facilitates the creation of secure communication systems and networks; and allows the legal interception of electronic communications and admissibility of intercepted communications. (c) Postal Services Act No. 22 of 2009 The Act provides for the regulation of the postal and courier services by ZICTA. Previously, the Ministry of Communications and Transport regulated the postal services sector directly. Effectiveness of the Information and Communications and Technology Policy on the Accessibility of ICT Services Your Committee was informed that from the guiding principles of the Policy, it was designed to guide and mainstream the use of ICTs in all sectors of the economy. The Policy was meant to be an ICT for development (ICT4D) that fits into the socio-economic development agenda.

Load more