By SYLVESTER MWALE –

The Fourth Session of the Eleventh National Assembly will today resume sitting after two months of recess where a number of bills are expected to be tabled.
The House is expected to discuss various issues with the Referendum Amendment Bill expected to take centre stage ahead of next year’s general elections.
The Bill to enact the non-contentious issues in the Draft Constitution is also expected to be presented before the current sitting.
Parliament is further expected to approve changes to the 2015 National Budget following Government’s revision of the mining tax regime.
Acting Chief Government Spokesperson Ngosa Simbyakula said Cabinet had approved the Mines and Minerals Development Bill 2015 for introduction in Parliament during the sitting.
Similarly, Mines and Energy Minister Christopher Yaluma is expected to present the Income Tax (Amendment) Bill 2015 that seeks to implement the proposed changes to the mining tax regime.
This follows Cabinet approval of the adjusted corporate and royalty taxes after an outcry from the mining sector that the rates proposed in the 2015 National Budget were too high.
Justice Esau Chulu is expected to be ratified as the new Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson while Chawama MP Lawrence Sichalwe will make his first appearance in Parliament.
Similarly, Masaiti MP Michael Katambo and his Senga Hill counterpart Kapembwa Simbao who recently won parliamentary by-elections after switching allegiance from the opposition MMD will return to Parliament.
However, Parliament will be without the ruling party’s Bangweulu MP Chifita Matafwali who died in India last month.