Praise to thee, oh one, strong and free. Praise be to bless him. Bless our great rem and prayer.
Almighty God, who in your infinite wisdom and providential goodness has appointed the offices of leaders and parliaments for the welfare of society and the just government of the people. We beseech you to consider with your abundant favor us, your servants whom you have been pleased to call to the performance of such important responsibilities in this land. Let your blessing descend upon us here in Parliament assembled. And grant that we may as in your presence treat and consider all matters that shall come under our deliberation in soldiers and faithful a manner as to promote your honor and glory and to advance the peace, prosperity and welfare of our country and of those whose interests you have committed to our church. Amen.
Amen.
All the honorable members, can we settle down? May her honor the vice president indicate when the president Mr. Hakainde Hichilema will arrive to address the house.
This is the last one.
Madame, I wish to inform the house that the president, Mr. The president of the Republic of Zambia will arrive at 0945 hours to address the house. Thank you.
Thank you very much. I suspend business until the president arrives. Honorable members are requested to remain in their seats.
All right. Good morning. Business has been suspended until the president arrives here at Parliament buildings. He's scheduled to address...
The change is to supplement government effort when government puts up. President Hakainde Hichilema will on Friday 20th February 2026 address the nation on the progress made on the application of national values and principles. The address will be broadcast live on Parliament's television on DSTV channel 272, GO TV channel 28, Topstar channel 5, Parliament Radio, the National Assembly of Zambia Facebook page and our YouTube channel. Note that access to the seating of the house will be strictly by invitation. Make a date on Friday 20th February 2026 at 0945 hours. Parliament TV bringing Parliament closer to you.
President Hakainde Hichilema on Friday 20th February 2026 address the nation on the progress made on the application of national values and principles. The address will be broadcast live on Parliament's television on DSTV channel 272, GO TV channel 28, Topstar channel 5, Parliament Radio, the National Assembly of Zambia Facebook page, and our YouTube channel. Note that access to the seating of the house will be strictly by invitation. Make a date on Friday 20th February 2026 at 0945 hours.
Parliament President Hakainde Hichilema will on Friday 20th February 2026 address the nation on the progress made on the application of national values and principles. The address will be broadcast live on Parliament's television on DSTV channel 272, GO TV channel 28, Topstar channel 5, Parliament Radio, the National Assembly of Zambia Facebook page and our YouTube channel. Note that access to the seating of the house will be strictly by invitation. Make a date on Friday 20th February 2026 at 0945 hours. Parliament TV, bringing Parliament closer to you.
Thank you very much for still watching Parliament TV. We appreciate your viewership. This is Parliament TV, the station that is dedicated to bringing Parliament closer to you. Indeed, you can follow Parliament TV on DSTV. That's channel 272 and GO TV channel 28 and Top Star on channel 5. Not forgetting the National Assembly of Zambia Facebook page and the National Assembly of Zambia YouTube channel. You can follow deliberations that also always talk about our sister channel which is Parliament Radio. You can always catch us via the website which is www.parliament.gov.
So in case you've just joined us, business has been suspended until the president arrives here at Parliament building. So members of parliament and invited guests have been asked to remain in their seats. So we mentioned earlier on that we did have, you know, a chat with some members of the public. They just gave us, you know, their expectations regarding the president's address. And so let's have a look and we'll be right back.
The church is in the community. The church knows where there's serious poverty levels. The church knows what the economical situations are. So the government comes in with this provision and supply. So we come and advise government to say look this system can work in here. This system cannot work in here. The government can also use the church to channel its distribution of mega resources. So there we work hand in hand. The church becomes a distribution point. The government stands as a supplier to the needy because the church is going to identify where there's major need compared to other places. We are talking about equity and equality. The church is able to identify and the government now comes to work hand in hand with the church because the church knows in which areas there's need without any biasness.
We have seen a widespread of abuse of social media of late in the name of content creation and so forth. And I think the basis how best we can work together is number one as we are encouraging the president to ensure that the values and principles are mentioned outrightly and we want to state that as the president is going to address the nation. Let him be specific on a number of issues that will bring integrity in terms of social media. We want to recommend the issue of the government in terms of cyber law that have put in place but we feel that is not enough. We need serious awareness to speak to our people to understand the issues of value. So the church our role the government is putting policies in place putting laws in place. What is the role of the church? The church now to make the citizens aware of how we carry ourselves. You might be aware that in society we need to respect elders no matter how they are they need to we need to respect elders whether they are your parents or they are not your parents we need also to respect leadership but we have seen the outbreak that is happening people are insulting in the name of social media so we know the government has put the law but the role of the church now is to bring awareness the role of the church is to bring sensitization the role of the church is to teach our people to say this is not the way of life this the best of our life in line with what the government and what the word of god indicates.
And Pastor Manza has further called for enhanced collaboration between the church and government in the fight against poverty.
Our emphasis is that we have one Zambia we don't have any other country where we belong therefore we want to encourage all the political players as we are coming to 2026 elections let us put our selfish motives aside let us look at Zambia as one country. We are one family. We are all brothers at the end of the day. Therefore, we want peace. We ask for peace. We ask for integrity. We ask for respect for one another. Let us not use vowed language. Let us not use character assassination. Let us campaign based on promises based on things that we're going to do for the country. And we expecting as the president is addressing the country, we're expecting the president to be categorical in terms of values and principles. I have seen in other institutions where they even tabulate the rules what they want to do and we are asking that as the president is addressing the nation. We are asking may you be categorical may you be specific in the areas so that at the end of the day people can pick up issues that at the end of the day shall be implemented and make Zambia a better country. As the nation awaits the president's update on the progress made in the application of national values and principles. Stakeholders remain hopeful that the country will continue to uphold and strengthen these values in pursuit of unity, integrity and sustainable development.
So what I would really love the president to actually speak about is behavioral change where youths actually engage into alcohol activities and drugs. So I'd really love the president to actually speak of as youths engaging into sporting activities for example football net. Yeah.
As the president prepares to go and address issues at the National Assembly, I would like to share my perspective on the issue of early marriages. Early marriages has been a problem to society since a long time ago. But as we have developed, more town and cities have ignored and been revoked. That's still there in the districts in the provinces early marriages is still there especially to girls are more vulnerable because they're the ones who are getting married off so I would like the president to put up measures that that should be revoked because it's affecting their lives their opportunities to have better futures to get jobs to become a meaning to society they don't have that.
My expectations from the president is that he's going to address us on unity and good leadership and the country's future direction. Yes. So what do I mean by saying unity, good leadership for good leadership? Let's talk of corruption. Yes. There are in those areas whereby corruption is undertaken. Therefore we need to fight against corruption. Yes. for so that you know everyone has equal access to work cuz some of the people for them to have access to certain work they need to pay a certain amount but to promote equality to those who are poor who cannot afford to pay you see. Yes. So I hope we talk about good leadership you know avoiding corruptions also unity we need to unite to be united as a nation for things to go in accordance.
I urge my president to actually refer to ways in which we can actually use social media because nowadays social media can be used to actually improve our lives as a country individuals and at large. But you find that our fellow youths are now not using that privilege into a rightful manner but otherwise destroying it. I my fellow countrymen and women student populace to actually take use of this social media use it in the right way so that you can develop as an individual and as a nation at large.
Coming to the aspect of what I expect from the president to address the nation about the moral values and the national values. You know, as Zambia being a democratic country, there is a way certain there's a way us as citizens are expected to live and a good example I can say is how the president conducts himself. So as citizens, we should be able to behave morally to actually imitate him on how he conducts himself socially. Coming to the aspect of suicide especially in Sazong district to be specific, Malima citizens have you know conducted themselves in various aspect of killing themselves suicide. So I actually expect the president to you know to maybe create or make a policy in education sector where the component structure of citizens being told or being you know having topics on how they should be making themselves when they have mental torture so that issues of suicides race can can you know the rates can come down.
All right, there you have it. Expectations from members of the public regarding their presidential address. Earlier on we did see you know pastor Jackson Manza of the revival ministries just you know outlining the role that the church does play in upholding morals and principles within you know society. So in case you've just tuned in business has been suspended until the president of the republic of Zambia arrives here at parliament buildings. Remember he's scheduled to address the house and the nation on the progress made in the application of national values and principles.
Okay. Yes indeed. And of course we did continue speaking to people and one of our staff one of our colleagues did indeed get in touch with bloggers of Zambia and that was Emasico Maketto. He did speak to programs officer Mr. O'Neal Bofwani and he is the programs officer at blogger Zambian and he does expect that the president to provide guidance on digital governance, ethics and access to information. So that was what Maketto was talking about with Mr. and this is the programs officer bloggers Zambia. Take a listen to that.
In terms of the presidential address on the implementation of the national values and principles we found I think some things very interesting from his previous address. There were issues that had to do with most of our work which if you look at what our mandate are we have four main themes of work and we have issues of digital rights there we have issues of press freedom we have issues of civic technology but as well as media and information literacy which are all very important when we're talking about digital governance. So for us of course there are those six values but you find that all six values actually touch on issues that have to do with digitization and digital platforms but also the rights of citizens. So in the previous address the president had touched on issues of social media and the uses of the internet in the country specifically touching it should have been on morals and ethics and a comment was made in his speech towards how us as citizens need to then reflect these national values and principles which are enshrined in our constitution which are our duties and responsibilities as we interact with the internet but also as we use these platforms. He did also outline and say that government was in the process of reviewing some key policy through the ministry of science through the ministry of technology and science and I think we are following those developments keenly. So for us our expectation is that he will touch those but it being the election year we also hope that he'll be able to give some sort of guidance but also reassurance to the citizens so that even as these issues are being spoken about or discussed because these are platforms where citizens are now having discussions around issues of governance but then also issues of the election. So we hope to hear how government plans just to ensure that that space also remains very free and open. We did have some experience challenges. So when we look at the national values and principles and the use of social media, these national values and principles are for yourself and myself but then every citizen of the country to follow and to actually abide by because they describe what sort of a citizen we should be and our duties. So we expect that even as we are interacting on these platforms we follow our issues on morality and ethics whether we are just citizens or we are professionals or not we expect that there will be some form of morality and ethics as described in the constitution but also issues of patriotism. I think that is one of the other values but there are also there's also the value of good governance which is very important when it comes to the digital space, the issues of access to information for citizens to have especially it's an election year. So it's important for citizens to have accurate information but then also have government institutions share this information accurately and in time so that citizens are able to get the truth from them and not using these alternative platforms on these social media platforms that we have that may not be producing accurate information.
Thank you very much for still watching Parliament TV and that is Bloggers of Zambia indeed just talking with Maketto Emasu and maybe this time around as we're still waiting for the president to make his way to the National Assembly of Zambia and of course later on at 0945 to address the house and indeed the nation. We just take a look at some of the issues that he touched on principles values and principles when he addressed the house last year.
Claudette.
Absolutely so the constitution under you know article 8 outlines the national values and principles as follows. That's morality and ethics. So we expect the president to touch on these particular you know principles and values patriotism and national unity democracy and constitutionalism human dignity equity social justice equality and non-discrimination good governance and integrity and lastly sustainable development. So like Amuta did mention we just go through you know last year's you know speech in case you missed his address last year or just to recap and refresh our minds regarding you know what the president you know talked about last year we'll do that just now as we wait for his arrival here at national assembly.
Okay. And just before he started giving out his address he did want to emphasize on the importance of these national values and principles. He did say that these are very important essential in guiding our behavior not only as citizens but also as a whole country. So he said it was essential in guiding our behavior building our character and indeed promoting social cohesion. So that is what he did was the importance of these national values and principles. And so under morality and ethics the president did say that to promote a morally upright and ethical nation social issues needed to be addressed. Among them alcohol, substance abuse, child marriage, teenage pregnancy, gender based violence and cyber crimes and bullying. These are the issues that we actually talked about just as we started this live broadcast. Issues of you know gender based violence. Remember families are nations country director did touch on you know some of these issues and called for stiffer punishment for you know would be offenders of defilement for instance and so the president last year did say that to tackle alcohol and substance abuse especially by you know the young people government working with various stakeholders actually did sensitize 4 million citizens you know countrywide and so regarding that sensitization we yet to hear what the president is going to say regarding the progress that has been made with the sensitization that you know was done of nearly 4 million citizens regarding you know alcohol abuse. Another thing that he talked about when his was when he expressed his concern with a new form of violence and this he says was cyber crimes and bullying a new form of violence and I'm sure I think probably many people have you know complained about such advice. Another thing also he talked about was scammers. scammers saying that this is an escalation of sophistication when it comes to you know scamming especially mobile money services. I'm sure many of us have been victims. So I applauded what...
Messages. I've had a lot of messages that have been sent to me. You've won this kind of money and I'm like I never entered you know any competition. So how do I get to you know but some people actually fall prey to such you know vices and it's very unfortunate. So yeah that's very unfortunate. So on our screens we have those pictures there in the chamber and we've seen that the members of parliament are indeed still in the chamber as directed by Madame Speaker and waiting patiently for 0945 when he's going to address the nation and of course through the house. So the service chiefs should of course be in the parliament premises today and we'll be giving you more details on many of the arrivals that will come. The president has arrived at parliament grounds which is a good thing for us because we know the president is guest number one for today. A very important day in the parliamentary calendar.
Absolutely. and the president there he's going to be received by the speaker of the national assembly that's Dr. Nelly Muti and before the president actually enters the chamber to address the nation and you know the house he's going to go to the speaker's you know chamber as per tradition every time we have a visitor high-profile you know visitor they actually you know go to the speaker's chamber exchange a few words and there's going to be signing in the you know the visitor's book and when that process is done we do expect the president to come through to the chamber for the long awaited address. So, members of parliament sharing one or two words as they wait for the arrival of the president who is already here at Parliament buildings. And in case you've just joined us, business has been suspended until the address, you know, starts at about 9:45 hours. And so members of parliament and invited guests have been asked to remain in their seats. Of course, members of parliament are taking memorable, you know, pictures.
Yes. Taking memorable pictures. You know, it's not an ordinary day. Of course, we do know every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, they do come here, but that's for just ordinary business in the house. But today is special because the president will be a part of this gathering. And of and it only happens twice a year when he officially opens parliament and today when he has to make an address you know just giving the progress made in the application of national values and principles.
And so there you have it that's the president being led by the sergeant at arms and they are making their way to the speaker's you know chamber and thereafter we will see the president enter the chamber for the address. And so like we mentioned earlier, we were just going through the speech the presidential speech that was delivered last year and we were looking at some values and principles that outlined in the constitution. We looked at morality and ethics and under that cases of gender-based violence in the country men high. President did state and that he did say that this actually affects lives and dreams are shattered of you know very young you know people and therefore government is implementing the national gender policy and strengthening enforcement of the anti-genderbased violence act to reduce incidences of the vice and government has continued to support victims of GBV through provision of counseling service legal aid and safe spaces And these are some of the issues that were brought out from some members of the public, you know, that we talked about. We keep on talking about, you know, these issues year in and year out. And I'm sure this need for steifer punishment to deter, you know, people from, you know, engaging in such a horrible vice.
Yeah. You know, something that really strikes me is if someone is you know, going through GBV, then they decide to keep quiet. Why are you keeping quiet? Today you go through GBV. you keep quiet. Next time it happens, you still keep quiet. So, it was in that line actually that the president said urged everyone to report cases of GBV. And another thing Claudette that he talked about earlier on I was talking about scammers but the president did say that the government was actually creating a safer online environment by strengthening legislation which you rightly talked about and the government that the government would not actually relent in its efforts to restore sanity in the digital space as it was for the good for the good stability of the country. So another moral I mean another value and principle is patriotism and national unity. What did you talk about last year? Yeah. on patriotism and national interest. He did actually say that you know they play a pivotal role in shaping and nurturing a strong nation and he did indicate actually that the key factors in fostering national development which helps in achieving our collective aspirations as a people.
One thing that really pops out when I when I listen to or when I hear national unity is something that he talked about the national symbols and these national symbols that the president actually talked about included the national flag. As a patriotic Zambian, are we proud enough you know to just lift the national flag just you know just display the Zambian colors? Another symbol was the national anthem. National anthem. How do we sing it? How do you sing it as you know as a citizen? So those are just some of the symbols. The national flag, the national anthem, the national motto and the public seal and you know Claudette one Zambia, one nation. I remember the president added something else that was it one people.
One people should be one people. Yeah.
Yeah. So it was one Zambia, one nation, one people.
Okay. and under human dignity, equity, social justice, equality and non-discrimination. President did say that government is remains actually committed to upholding human dignity, equity, social justice and non-discrimination. And these principles according to the president, he did say that they are fundamental in fostering peace, unity and social economic development in the country. And so if you have seen across the country a number of schools have been you know constructed just to ensure equity to enable you know give a chance to each and every person at least to attend school to you know get an education. Health facilities are being constructed. Maternity annex. Police posts and feeder roads are also being rehabilitated and market shelters. Talk of you know crossing points, deep tanks, water points and sanitation facilities. the financial development that is being in you know action just to ensure that people have a share of you know good shelter good sanitation you know for instance and that falls under human dignity equity social justice equality and non-discrimination.
Still on that Claudette I think last year the president actually did you know talk about say that the free education policy is bearing fruit and this was actually seen when there was a lady a 42 year old lady from Suezi if I remember her name I think Dorothy Kamisha she was from Suezi and had gone back to school in grade nine that is you know that that is a good thing education is an equalizer and so the president was actually did proudly indicate that the free education policy was bearing fruit.
Absolutely so on good governance and integrity the president did say that citizens are increasingly expecting immediate access to services and citizens are also expecting transparency and direct engagement with the government and so government did launch the citizen support service portal and the portal is fostering real-time engagement between you know citizens and the government and there's been an increase in electronic services available on the government service bus from 300 in 2023 to 321 in 2024 and the increase has made you know access to improving efficiency in delivering you know public service.
And then another thing that the president talks about was sustainable development saying that the government's pursuit of economic prosperity sustained development was indeed an important imperative and that this was even more critical in the wake of the devastating impact of climate change. saying that climate change has threatened the national food food energy, water security as well as biodiversity and that climate change has disrupted the development efforts and highly contributed to the increased cost of living.
So, those are some of the things that the president talked about and I hope that you know that you'll still be with us to get to listen to more things that he is going to talk about this year. But in case you've just tuned in to Parliament TV, we appreciate your viewership. Thank you very much for choosing the station that is indeed dedicated to bringing Parliament closer to you. So my colleague Claudette and I are just giving you a summary of some of the things that the president talked about last year when he delivered his speech of course just informing the house and the nation on the progress made and application of national values and principles.
All right. So in case you've just tuned in, the president is already here at Parliament buildings. That's him in the speaker's chamber exchanging one or two words and thereafter he's going to sign in the visitors book and then make his way into the chamber. So he's expected to start addressing the nation and the house at 9:45 hours and so business has been suspended until the president enters the chamber and gets to address the house and the nation at about 9:45. And so the constitution under article 8 outlines the national values and principles as morality and ethics, patriotism and national unity, democracy and constitutionalism, human dignity, equity, social justice, equality, non-discrimination, good governance and integrity and sustainable development. So the president has just signed in the visitors book. We wish we could all see what he has actually you know written in that book. But yeah, we can only leave that to our imagination.
Yeah. So yeah, that's what has happened so far and maybe just you know we've talked about what happened what he said on the floor of the house last year but in concluding the president did actually say that the journey is far from complete and the progress the government has made is part of the foundation upon which it must build a better Zambia and this foundation upon which peace, unity and prosperity must forever be anchored and that the journey requires determination, passion, courage with focus and with focus. He did say we definitely are going to get there. So peace, unity and prosperity must forever be anchored and that with focus the country will get there. So that is just in summary what the president did say last year when he addressed the house and indeed the nation on the progress made the application of national values and principles. And so in a few minutes from now we do expect the president to come through to the chamber of course accompanied by the speaker and being led by the sergeant at arms and so business has been temporarily been suspended until the address. various you know stakeholders invited guest that is members of the diplomatic core members of some you know political parties some non-government organizations are here to listen to the presidential address I know a number of people have their you know expectations regarding the you know the address and immediately after the address we'll get to get reactions from some invited guests and some members of parliament just to hear what they have to say regarding the address by the president to hear if the their expectations are going to be actually addressed during this particular address. So you can always join us after the address just to get reactions from some members of parliament and of course some invited guests. So in a few minutes from now we expect the president of the republic of Zambia Mr. Hakainde Hichilema to address the nation and the house on the progress made in the application of national values and principles.
Okay. So on our screen there we see MPs patiently waiting for 0945 hours when his excellency the president of the republic of Zambia makes his entrance into the chamber to of course deliver the speech that many of us I'm sure are waiting to listen to. just to listen to the contents of that speech. So as Kodeta did indicate this is one of the very important days in the national calendar and of course apart from this day when the president comes here another day is when this president officially opens parliament at 9:45 we expect him to address the house and indeed the nation. If you've just tuned in to Parliament TV, we're saying welcome. This is the place to be. This is the place to be. Watch Parliamentary Deliberations as we bring Parliament closer to you. We always say you can follow us on Parliament TV on DSTV channel 272. Not forgetting on GO TV channel 28 on top star. You can catch us on channel 05. We also have social media platforms.
Yes, indeed. We have a Facebook page, National Assembly of Zambia Facebook page and the YouTube channel. So, it's a National Assembly of Zambia, the YouTube channel. But as we always say, we you know, as the National Assembly of Zambia, we also have you know the radio. So, you can also follow the radio and follow deliberations via our website www.parliament.gov.zm and of course many many many places in the country where you can follow the deliberations on Parliament Radio. Remember we are here to bring Parliament closer to you. So in last year's address the president concluded his speech he did say that a Zambia free from discrimination, gender based violence, teenage pregnancy, corruption and cyber crimes and bullying is attainable. A prosperous Zambia anchored on our national values and principles is achievable. And so indeed we can actually you know achieve and attain all these if we get to unite and you know work together. So we are yet to hear what the president has to say regarding the progress made in you know issues such as you know gender based violence issues of you know teenage pregnancy. there are certain provinces that you know red high in in terms of numbers of you know girls that you know get pregnant. So we to hear what is being done to stop this vice among many other issues. And so there you have it the sergeant at arms leading the president of the republic of Zambia and speaker of the national assembly into the chamber as the address is about to begin.
Honorable members of parliament, Mr. President and Madame Speaker.
We may take our seats.
All the honorable members, honorable members, the house would like to welcome to the assembly the president of Zambia, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema. We are honored, Mr. President, to have you in our midst. May I now invite you, Mr. president to deliver your address. Mr. President.
