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Ghanaian President Mahama to launch Lusaka National Park

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Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama
Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama

GHANA president John Dramani Mahama is expected in the country next month to join hands with republican president Edgar Lungu to commission the Lusaka National Park.

Tourism and Arts minister Jean Kapata said in an interview that the Lusaka National Park which is located in the Lusaka South Multi Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ) will be ready for commissioning next month.
Ms Kapata said the park has already been stocked with 18 different species of animals and that the works on the parade square are almost done.

“We are doing the last touches to the parade square and the chalets where people can go and have a braii, we expect the works to be done by mid next month (May). It is expected that the president of Ghana will come to commission the park,” she said.

The minister said the park once opened will promote local tourism and enable students and locals learn more about the ecosystem.

The Government on July 18 last year in Lusaka launched the local tourism campaign promotion with the aim of attracting local people to take part in tourism.

“Many locals never took part in local tourism because tourism destinations such as Mfuwe national park and Kasaba bay are very far away,” she said.

The park which is located 13 kilometres from the central business district (CBD) will house a braii site; drive ways and a viewing tower that will enable people watch animals that have been caged.

Dora Siliya denies saying the Late President Sata was Xenophobic

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Dora Siliya addressing the Petauke crowd
File:Dora Siliya addressing the Petauke crowd

FORMER Transport minister Dora Siliya has denied criticising the late President Micheal Sata and accusing him of being Xenophobic.

At a media briefing in Lusaka last week, Ms Siliya is being quoted as having said that; “Never before, at least in my adult life, have I seen citizens liberties infringed upon as in the last three years. The Panga carrying xenophobic attackers in South Africa shock us, but I believe they also remind us of the path our country almost took, with Panga carrying cadres on the streets of Lusaka and in various by- elections.”

On Thursday last week the Supreme Court upheld the ruling of the High Court that allowed the former Petauke lawmaker to recontest the seat after it was nullified for electoral malpractice.

The judgement comes almost after two years since the Petauke Central seat was nullified by the Supreme Court in June 2013.

But Ms Siliya is yet to be approached by any political party including the MMD to contest on their ticket.

PF national youth Chairperson Chishimba Kambwili has advised former Petauke Central Member of Parliament Dora Siliya to apologise to the party and late President Michael Sata’s family, for allegedly suggesting that Mr Sata’s fight against corruption can be likened to the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa.

But in a Facebook posting ms Siliya wrote, ”Some reports reaching me claim that at my press briefing I talked about late President Sata being xenophobic. I know there is a culture of not reading in Zambia but those who care to do so will see that under Civil Liberties I stated that the panga carrying xenophobic ATTACKERS in South Africa should also remind us of the path our country ALMOST took, in the last 3 years when we saw PANGA CARRYING CADRES on the streets of Lusaka and in by elections. I never fabricated those scenes as everyone saw them on TV. I went on to call on leaders to be more tolerant to criticism. I rest my case.”

Power outage paralyses University Teaching Hospital

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Blackout1

The University Teaching Hospital was forced to use candles to light some general wards due to the power blackout that left Lusaka and other parts of the country in the dark.UTH Assistant Public Relations Officer Natalie Mashikolo confirmed in an interview that UTH had no power from 19.39 hours to 23.00 hours.

She stated that the medical personnel had to use oxygen cylinders for the patients who needed oxygen and UTH had to use candles to light some general wards as they do not have generators.

She said, however, the hospital’s sensitive areas such as the Neonatal ICU that utilizes incubators for the premature babies and the operating theatres were not affected by the power failure because the hospital has backup generators. She said the institution managed to run relatively smoothly despite the power failure.

Meanwhile, the Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, the country’s major port of entry was also plunged into darkness after the power blackout. The Airport was using standby generators that supplied electricity to other facilities such as the control block, runway, taxiways and navigation aids during the power blackout. Passengers aboard a plane that landed in the midst of the blackout were made to wait inside the plane for a long time while airport staff conducted things manually.

Yesterday, a nationwide power outage hit Zambia for close to four hours, following a national blackout after power went out across the country with the exception of Southern and Western Provinces, that continued receiving power from Victoria Falls Power Station. The power outage is said to have been caused by a system failure at the Kafue Gorge Power Station, following a fault at Luano Power Station that resulted in a protective mechanism that switched off generation machines at Kafue Gorge and others.

Jay Rox to release “Joanna”

jay rox

Jay Rox, launches his first single off his forthcoming album, Outside the Rox, on May 4.
The song titled “Joana” will be released with an accompanying video that has been shot by media house, Fortress.
Jay Rox shared in a Weekend Mail interview that Joana is the story of a girl whose parents are financially challenged.
Joana eventually turns to her boyfriend for help but after he is unable to help her, she then suggests that he begins a relationship with an older woman in his neighbourhood who is finally stable.
“It’s the first single I’m putting out off my album,” Jay Rox shared, adding that it is a dancehall track that will be fun to hear.

He shared recently that the reason he is calling his second album Outside the Rox is because it is not the usual Jay Rox that his fans have become accustomed to hearing.
“With this project, everything is in a way mind-blowing and different. Even the love songs are the type that you will listen to after a year and still be able to pick up something different,” he shared.

jay rox 2

(DailyMail)

BY KAPA187

Jacob Zuma asks Africa: Why are their citizens not in their countries and are in South Africa?

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jacob-zuma

Pretoria – Other African nations were responsible for the influx of foreign nationals to South Africa and their criticism of the government over the recent wave of deadly xenophobic unrest was misplaced, President Jacob Zuma said on Monday.

“Our brother countries contribute to this. Why are their citizens not in their countries? It is not useful to criticise South Africa as if we mushroom these foreign nationals and then ill-treat them. Some (immigrants) said if you raise your voice in country X you disappear,” Zuma told a Freedom Day rally at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.

“Everybody criticises South Africa as if we have manufactured the problem. Even if people who are xenophobic are a minority, but what prompts these refugees to be in South Africa? It’s a matter we cannot shy away from discussing.”

[pullquote]It is not useful to criticise South Africa as if we mushroom these foreign nationals and then ill-treat them.[/pullquote]
His remarks follow Nigeria’s decision to recall its top diplomats from South Africa.

Zuma reiterated his condemnation of the attacks that has claimed at least seven lives and said the hardship many South Africans endure was no excuse for turning on fellow Africans. He added government had noted locals’ complaints about their living conditions, including unhappiness with the rising number of immigrants in South Africa.

“We have noted the complaints raised by South Africans and these will be attended to. These complaints include that the number of illegal and undocumented migrants is increasing.”

He said locals complained that immigrants were taking their jobs as some employers now prefer foreigners whom they pay lower wages.

“They are also complaints that foreign nationals benefit from free government services and that they run businesses illegally. There is also an accusation that undocumented foreign nationals commit crime in the country,” said Zuma to applause from his audience.

“None of these justify attacks on foreign nationals and the looting of their shops. We condemn the violence strongly. It is important to emphasise that not all foreign nationals are in the country illegally.”

Zuma noted that reports that Emmanuel Sithole, the Mozambican national who was brutally beaten and stabbed to death in Alexandra, had entered the country illegally. However, he said many immigrants legally entered South Africa and were significantly contributing to the vast economy.

“It is also not true that all foreign nationals are involved in criminal activities. There are some who are involved, but not all of them.”

He said an inter-ministerial committee was examining all the complaints raised during the xenophobic attacks and also to ensure that immigrants observe their host naton’s laws.

“Government has already announced measures to improve security at the border posts including deploying the army in seven provinces recently to patrol border posts. We cannot leave our borders open and hope that either angels and ancestors are guarding our borders. They will never.”

He said soldiers would be deployed as immigration officers to improve the home affairs department’s capacity to man the ports of entry.

Zuma said South Africa was preparing a formal report for the Southern Africa Development Community, the African Union and the United Nations on the migration trends into South Africa and the resultant effects.

He added that representatives of immigrant communities had recently told officials of the deprivation which prompted them to come to South Africa.

“Some of them warned us that there is, with almost certainty, another wave of refugees coming, given the developments in their own countries. They answered the question why they jumped all the countries to come to South Africa.

“They take the trouble to jump all the countries and come to South Africa. They explained why. That will be contained in my report,” said Zuma.

When the crowd called for the president to divulge the stated reason, he responded: “I don’t think we need to appear as being critical to other governments. They all said wherever they are, they know South Africa is a safer country.”

He said the AU must discuss the influx of immigrants into South Africa because fellow African states were contributing to the problem, and all countries had a responsibility to handle their own citizens “with care”.

“We are very happy because we hear there are some murmurs that this matter must be discussed in the AU. We are happy to be given an opportunity to deal with the matter in South Africa and other countries that leads to this situation,” said Zuma.

He said there is a lot of anger in South Africa coupled with a propensity to use violence.

“This results from years of apartheid dehumanisation. We need to do more to promote healing and tolerance amongst all our people. Linked to this is the need to continue efforts to fight racism which continues to be a challenge in our country.”

A diplomatic row is deepening between Nigeria and South Africa after the former recalled it’s acting high commissioner from Pretoria.

At least seven people were killed in xenophobic attacks experienced in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal. Hundreds of Africans have been repatriated to their countries while thousands more are believed to be returning independently to neighbouring countries.

Zuma hosted a five-hour meeting with representatives of immigrant organisations at his Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on Friday.

Source :ANA

ZESCO blames near countrywide power black out to system failure

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ZESCO 1

State power utility ZESCO says the power blackout that engulfed Zambia last night was caused by a system failure at Kafue Gorge and Kariba North Bank Power Stations.

The power blackout occurred around 19:40 Hours with only two of the country’s ten provinces having power.

ZESCO National Spokesperson Henry Kapata confirmed that the system failure occurred at 19:30 and disturbed equipment at Kafue Gorge and Kariba North Bank Power Station.

Mr Kapata revealed that only Western and Southern Provinces had power supply as they are serviced by the Victoria Falls Power Stations.

‘We lost supply to Luapula, Northern, Central, and Copperbelt and off course Lusaka, all generators at Kariba and Kafue went off as a result of the disturbance. Investigations are going on to determine the cause of this multiple lost of system equipment and load,’ r Kapata said.

Mr Kapata added that restoration of supply to affected areas such as Kafue, Lusaka, Chongwe, Kabwe and some parts of Kitwe started at about 01:20 Hours while restoration to the rest of the areas is currently going on.

Tanzania’s METL Group to Invest In Zambia

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One of Tanzania’s biggest manufacturing and trading firm, Mohammed Enterprises Tanzania Ltd plans to invest $250 million to expand its business in Zambia, Mozambique, Rwanda, Burundi, Madagascar and Ethiopia.

“We want to expand our presence in Africa to capitalize on a growing middle class demand. The focus for investment would be in manufacturing, particularly cotton,” company’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohammed Dewji said.

“Our vision is that by 2020/21, we want to be a $5 billion revenue company,” he said. Revenue was expected to reach $1.9 billion in 2014/15.

Regarding plans to invest $250 million over two years, Dewji said: “Half of this … will be our equity and the other half will be raised through banks.”

The company operates in 11 African nations, mostly in East Africa, including Kenya and Uganda, as well central and southern states such as the Democratic Republic of Congo and Mozambique.

Established in the 1970s, the firm has more than 30 factories making consumer products ranging from bicycles and detergents to edible oil and beverages.

Other investments cover the agriculture, infrastructure, energy and mobile phone sectors. METL employs 24,000 mostly in Tanzania.

Dewji said he expected this to rise to more than 100,000 in five years.

Chinese firm to construct Railway line from Chipata to Mpika , and Nseluka to Mpulungu

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THE CHINA Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) intends to embark on the construction of the railway from Chipata to Mpika station and from Nseluka to Mpulungu at a total sum of US$ 2.7 billion.
This means that Eastern line would cost of US$ 1,992,028,500 while the Northern line would gobble US$ 668,115,000 at a US$ 3 million per kilometre for the two lines.

The total length for the two lines is 760.04 kilometres.

In 2011, the Chinese company signed the feasibility agreement with the Zambian Government on the construction of the Chipata to Tazara at Mpika via Petauke and Nseluka to the port of Mpulungu railway lines in Eastern and Northern Provinces.

CCECC vice president Zhao Zhongning when he paid a courtesy call on assistant secretary Beenzu Chikuba disclosed in Chipata yesterday that this would be done after the company had successfully completed the feasibility studies on the construction of the railway line.

Mr Zhao said the construction of Eastern line would be done concurrent saying it would be constructed within five years.

He explained that the company would embark on the construction of the railway lines for Eastern and Northern lines beginning next year.

He said the Memorandum of Understandings (MoU) between the Government of Zambia and his company are expected to be signed this week with Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Rowland Msiska for the construction of the railway line.
He said the construction of the railway from Mpika to Chipata would cover 569.151 kilometres while the liner from Nseluka to Mpulungu extends a total of 190.89 kilometres.

Mr Zhao said his company was currently enjoying the cordial relationship with the Zambia and Tanzania because of the already existing railway line.

He said the construction of the railway line would assist in the integration and promotion of economic developments in Eastern and Northern Zambia.

The vice president said Zambia’s main sea route channel for import and export of goods to East African community and SADC would be entirely dependent on the railway line.

He also disclosed that the company was planning to construct the railway designed with electronic in order to easy the movements of goods and services in the country.

And Mr Chikuba said the Government was pleased with the company for starting to construct the two rail lines.
She said the Government was looking forward to working the CCECC in the construction of important links such as the railway line in the country.

The Eastern line, the railway line starts from Mpika station advances through the mountainous regions at the west foot of the Muchinga escapements passes the Chipelembe, Musalemo and Chikonde regions to Chipata town while the Northern line traverses from Nseluka and passes through Ngolo, Kaunguluka, Katebula to the port of Mpulungu.

Chipata District commences feasibility study for a 2030 water system investment

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FEASIBILITY studies for 2030 water system investments demand in Chipata District has commenced.

Gauff Engineering of Lusaka has since been given the contract to carryout the feasibility studies.

The contractor is expected to come up with a document with designs for water system in Chipata.

Eastern Water and Sewerage Company Lytone Kanowa said the designs would be used to source for funds from Government through National Urban Water and Sanitation basket from the Ministry of Local Government and Housing.

Mr Kanowa said the feasibility were expected to be completed by June 2015 as the study has already commenced.

He said the provision of clean and safe drinking water does not come without a cost.

Mr Kanowa said it is for this reason that company would continue soliciting funds in order to improve the services.

The managing director said the utility company was focusing on the improvement of production through acquiring a new pump for Lutembwe Dam One and expansion of Lutembwe Dam Two at the cost of K9 million.

He said the procurement of the new pump was under way through emergency works for Chipata.

He said Plem Construction Company from Malawi had been given the responsibility of acquiring the pump.

Mr Kanowa said the expansion of dam two was at tender stage which would adding that the selected contractor would move on site.

The Managing Director said this was being done in order to ensure that there was enough water in the system so that more people access the commodity.

He has also appealed to customers to pay their water bills. He said that currently the company was being owed K8 million by both individual customers and Government departments.

He said the company has since engaged the Permanent Secretary’s office to see the best way of recovering the debt from Government departments.

President Edgar Lungu to hold bilateral talks with Robert Mugabe

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President Edgar Lungu with Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe during his Inauguration Ceremony at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka on January 24,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA
President Edgar Lungu with Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe during his Inauguration Ceremony at Heroes Stadium in Lusaka on January 24,2015 -Picture by THOMAS NSAMA

President Edgar Lungu is today expected to hold bilateral talks with his counterparts of Zimbabwe and Namibia, Robert Mugabe and Hage Geingob respectively in Harare.

Foreign Affairs Minister Harry Kalaba told Zambian journalists in Harare today that President Lungu will arrive at 14:30 hours in Harare for the Southern African Development Community (SADC) extra-ordinary heads of state and government summit which will be held on April 29, 2015.

Mr. Kalaba said soon after arriving in Harare, President Lungu will meet President Mugabe at State House for a one-on-one discussion.

He said the two Presidents will exchange issues of mutual interest.

Mr. Kalaba said President Lungu will thereafter meet President Geingob of Namibia for bilateral talks.

He said President Lungu will on Wednesday, April 29, 2015 join other heads of state and government in the extra-ordinary heads of state and government summit on industrialisation.

The President will wind up his three-day stay in Zimbabwe on April 30, 2015 by officially opening the 56th Zimbabwe international trade fair in Bulawayo where about 5,000 business visitors and an estimated 70,000 spectators will be in attendance.

President Lungu will return to Lusaka on the same day after opening the international trade fair in Bulawayo.

President Lungu’s advance team comprises Mr. Kalaba, Commerce, Trade and Industry Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe, Lusaka Province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta and Deputy Minister of Finance Christopher Mvunga.

Others are Permanent secretary for Commerce Siazongo Siakalenge and Zambia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Ndiyoyi Mutiti and some senior government officials from relevant ministries.

Mweru-Luapula Fishery in Luapula Province major employer – Chikaba

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GOVERNMENT says the Mweru-Luapula Fishery in Luapula Province directly employees 30, 000 fishers and support about 250, 000 people in fish trading on the Zambian side alone.

Nchelenge District Commissioner (DC) Royd Chakaba said the Mweru-Luapula Fishery is socially and economically significant to the country’s economy.

Mr. Chakaba said the area has been a steady source of revenue, employment and fish protein to the Zambian people.

The DC was speaking yesterday when the Parliamentary Committee on Agriculture led by Solwezi East MMD MP Villie Lombanya paid a courtesy on him at his office.

He said the water basin which is shared between Zambia and the Democratic Republic (DR) Congo at 58 and 42 per cent respectively requires sustained coordination of the stakeholders to protect its economic value and ensure a steady supply of fish.

He called for government backed consensus in decision making and the creation of mutual incentives that will result into compliance with the management regulations of the fishery.

Mr. Chakaba bemoaned the use of mosquito nets and other destructive methods of fishing on the Mweru-Luapula Fishery which he said have adverse impact on the fish population and future production.
He urged for the removal of the illegal settlers at the Mifimbo fish breeding area arguing that they are disturbing the spawning cycle of the migrating fish that trek there during the breeding period.

The DC has since appealed to the government to expedite the approval of the Fisheries Management Plan (FMP) that defines that relationship between the stakeholders and the fisheries authorities.

The area which stretches from Mambilima falls in Mwense District to Lunchinda in Chienge Mweru-Luapula basin that includes the open Lake, flood plains, marshes and the Luapula River is home to about 100 fish species.

Population increase ‘ pressurises’ fishing industry

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THE Parliamentary Committee on agriculture says the population growth has continued putting pressure on the country’s natural fishery.

The committee chairperson Villie Lombanya says the population of fishers at independence was reasonably small but has since multiplied exerting pressure on the natural fisheries throughout the country.

Speaking in Nchelenge yesterday during a public hearing held at the council, Mr. Lombanya said as a result the fish stocks in the natural water bodies including the Mweru-Luapula Fishery have drastically dwindled.

Mr. Lombanya said fish is the livelihood of the people of Luapula Province but because of population growth, poor fishing methods and the violation of the annual fish ban the stocks are eluding at a fast rate.

He bemoaned the rampant and indiscriminate use of mosquito nets and other destructive methods to catch fish on the Mweru-Luapula Fishery and urged the stakeholders in the fishing industry to stop the vice.
Mr. Lombanya observed that Luapula Province has produced very educated people including some parliamentarians because of income derived from the fish industry.

He was accompanied by Lufunsa MMD MP Kenneth Chipungu, Mambilima PF MP Mighty Mumba, Lufwanyama PF MP Annie Chungu, Livingstone Central PF MP Lawrence Evans, Kalabo Central UPND MP Miyutu Chinga and Mpongwe PF MP Gabriel Namulambe.

Earlier Mr. Lombanya under CAP 12 of the Laws of Zambia had conferred immunity to the people that gathered to allow for free participation in order to generate more contributions from the stakeholders.

He said the government would want to learn the role of the stakeholders and understand fully the challenges that they face in order to revamp the fishing industry in the country.

He said the government envisions a lucrative fishing industry that thrives through aquaculture and cage fish farming as opposed to the traditional fishing from the natural fisheries.

Napsa Stars sack Hector Chilombo

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Napsa Stars have fired Hector Chilombo.

Chilombo has been fired together with his assistant Evans Sakala.

This follows a spate of defeats that has seen napsa lose four of their last four games in which they have picked up one point, conceded nine goals and failed to find the target along the way.

Chilombo has been replaced by Godfrey Hamakwenda who will be assisted by ex-Zambia striker Harry Milanzi.

Chilombo joined Napsa from Forest Rangers in January 2014 and led them to a fifth place finish.

He leaves Napsa second from bottom with 4 points after suffering a humiliating 4-0 away defeat to leaders Zanaco last Saturday.

That defeat was Napsa’s third straight loss and they trace their only win to March 14 when they beat National Assembly 3-1 in a Week 1 fixture.

Chilombo is the fourth FAZ Super Division coach to lose his job after just six games.

Forest Rangers fired Dabid Chilufya after three games while Nkana sacked assistants Zeddy Saileti and Gift Kampamba but spared their boss Beston Chambeshi after four matches played.

No Government department to allowed to advertise in any public media on credit-Kambwili

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Chishimba Kambwili
Chishimba Kambwili

Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, Chishimba Kambwili says no government department should be allowed to advertise in any public media on credit.

Mr. Kambwili who is also Chief Government Spokesperson says it has come to his attention that ZNBC, Daily Mail and Times of Zambia are owed a lot of money by government departments through adverts secured on credit.

He says his ministry has written to the Ministry of Finance to recover all monies owed to public media houses by government departments before releasing their funding allocations.

Mr. Kambwili has since warned Marketing Managers in Public Media to adhere to the Ministerial directive.

He said this in an interview with ZNBC news in Lusaka.

Meanwhile, Mr. Kambwili said phase one of the digital migration is progressing well and that Zambia will meet the June 17, deadline.

The Retrial of DBZ Vs Post-Newspaper and JCN Holdings to commence tomorrow

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dbz

The Lusaka High Court is on Tuesday April 28,2015 expected to preside on the retrial of the matter where the Post-Newspaper and JCN Holdings have been ordered to pay 14 billion Kwacha debt to Development Bank of Zambia-DBZ.

The matter will be heard before Judge Justin Chashi.

The Supreme Court had on December 17 sent back the matter to the High Court on December 17, 2013 for retrial.

Supreme Court Judge Munyinda Wanki passed the verdict.

This was after Post Newspapers ,JCN Holdings and suspended Director of Public Prosecution Mutembo Nchito in his capacity as former Zambian Airways Director, appealed to the Supreme Court against the Lusaka High Court’s judgment that ordered them to pay 14 billion Kwacha debt to DBZ.

The matter was initially handled by Supreme Court Judge Albert Wood when he served as Lusaka High Court Judge.

It was later allocated to Lusaka High Court Nigel Mutuna who made the verdict for Post-Newspaper and JCN Holdings, to pay 14 billion Kwacha debt to -DBZ.