The Ministry of Sport, Youth and Child Development told Parliament today that Government has set aside a sum of K30billion for the upgrading of the Independence stadium.
Minister Gabriel Namulambe said the move is aimed at improving the stadium from its current status to internationally accepted standards.
And in response to a question from Mapatizya United Party for National Development
(UPND) Member of Parliament (MP) Ackson Sejani who wanted to know when construction
of the three promised ultra modern stadia would commence, Mr. Namulambe said
Government is still looking for funds to commence the construction as soon as
possible.
Mr. Namulambe however, said the Chinese government has offered to construct one stadium in Ndola.
He said construction of the other two in Lusaka and Livingstone would commence soon after Government has sourced the funds.
And Kanchibiya Patriotic Front MP Kanyanyamina Albert in his contribution to the debate on the 2007 national budget said, there is need for MPs to put the interest of the electorate and that of the nation first.
Mr. Kanyanyamina said the Constituency Development Fund and Constituency Youth Development Fund (CYDF) is too meagre to ignite significant development in various constituencies.
He said more money should be allocated to priority sectors for meaningful development to be attained.
H e added that the Budget should provide relief to workers saying the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) threshold should be elevated further to exempt people who earn below K1, 000, 000.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the National Assembly Amusaa Mwanamwambwa has advised the Executive to thoroughly prepare their debates.
Guiding the House after Mbabala UPND MP Hachipuka Emmanuel raised a point of order on Tourism Deputy Minister Michael Kaiungu for failing to debate clearly, Mr.Mwanamwamba said Ministers and their Deputies should have properly written downdebates.
Mr. Mwanamwambwa said anything said what the executive says in the house is taken as the official government position on a particular issue needing follow up and implementation.
He said members of the executive are allowed to have written debates and should therefore endeavour to prepare debates before hand.
