A WITNESS has testified that despite The Post Newspapers Limited and JCN Holdings signing an undertaking to pay back the K14 billion debt and having documents relating to the same, the duo failed to so.

?And another witness, Development Bank of Zambia (DBZ) managing director Abraham Mwenda testified that The Post Newspapers and JCN Holdings were liable for the obligation they assumed as shareholders.?

DBZ head of credit Hephzibah Nainwiindwa Beyani, 47, of house number 953 Y2K, New Avondale, told the court yesterday that JCN Holdings were in court because they did not honour their obligation to pay back a debt it owed DBZ.?

Ms. Beyani, testifying before High Court Judge Albert Wood in a matter in which DBZ has dragged The Post newspaper, JCN Holding, MNB lawyers Mutembo and Nchima Nchito to court for failing to pay back a K14 billion loan.

?In continued cross-examination, Mr Mutembo Nchito asked Ms Beyani why JCN and The Post newspapers were in court, she responded that the duo was in court because when Zambian Airways ceased operations, DBZ asked them to honour their debt payment to the bank but they disputed the bank’s agreement.

?DBZ is claiming K14 billion and interest at the contractual rate and that in the alternative, an order that Mr Mutembo Nchito executes a guarantee or be deemed to have executed a guarantee under clause 8.6 of the syndication of the loan agreement.

?The bank has also asked the court to issue an order that in the alternative, Mr Nchito should pay back K14 billion under the personal guarantee clause.

?According to the statement of claim, JCN Holdings, The Post Newspapers, Mr Nchito and his brother Nchima were shareholders in Mine Air Services Limited, which used to trade as Zambian Airways.

?Ms. Beyani said her understanding was that the process of acquiring the shares was not completed because the airline was defunct while the process was still going on.?“So the issue is not about shares but the undertaking by the shareholders, namely The Post newspapers and JCN Holdings who had signed an undertaking to pay back the DBZ debt,” she said.?

She said the bank sometimes took a risk of financing and investment and at the same time got collateral as a fallback position in case the project failed, adding that in the case of Zambian Airways, the bank assessed the situation before giving out the money.?

Dr. Mwenda said the payback guarantee was intended to safeguard the interests of the bank and its subsequent exit.

?Mr. Nchito suggested to the witness that what the bank wanted was that if JCN Holdings and The Post Newspapers were held liable as guarantors of the debt, one of the directors of Zambian Airways (Himself) should be compelled by the court to sign a guarantee that they will pay back the debt, Dr Mwenda said it was about paying back the debt.
[ Times of Zambia ]

ADVANCED African Solutions plans to construct grain silos countrywide with a minimum of US$100 million investment earmarked for the project.

In an interview in Lusaka, Advanced African Solutions managing director Keith Smith said the company has submitted a proposal to Government to construct silos in Zambia.

Mr Smith said work is expected to start once the project is approved.

“We are ready to start construction of silos in Zambia as soon as Government approves the project. The project is demand-driven and US$100 million is a minimum, we can invest over a US$1 billion,” he said.

Zambia has for the past two consecutive farming seasons recorded bumper harvests and requires adequate silos for the storage of grain.

Mr Smith said two options are involved in funding the project; either government funds10 percent of the cost or the Advanced African Solutions funds the entire project and later lease the units.

Advanced African Solutions is a United States company with offices in southern Africa. The company is in real estate development and construction management sector. It is involved in projects such as road construction, education, energy, agro-business, health-care, residential, hotel and leisure.

He said the projects are managed on build – operate – train – transfer basis in countries where it operates like South Africa, United States and the Middle East.

Mr Smith also said the firm is discussing with Government on possibility to supply mobile hospitals that comes in tractor-trailers with slide out pods.

The hospital trailer is the patient care facility and is divided internally into the surgical suite for operative procedures, shock resuscitation and the emergency care unit.

Mr Smith said the support trailer has two levels inside containing the equipment, supplies and also provides a lounge, kitchen and sleeping quarters for the staff to rest.

The company also supplies mobile hospitals that provide fast, mobile, climate controlled, state-of-the-art, emergency or primary medical.

Mr Smith said the mobile hospitals have proven to be flexible medical facilities that can provide preventive and acute medicine to urban and rural areas and can be used in any emergencies, disasters or quarantine facilities.

He said the company holds on the project for five years after building and operating the units, as well as training the owners and finally transferring the knowledge to the locals.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

ALL 14 Patriotic Front (PF) members of Parliament (MPs) who attended the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) say they will not re-contest their parliamentary seats on their party’s ticket.

Group spokesperson Peter Machungwa said in a statement released in Lusaka yesterday the MPs have resolved not to re-contest their seats on the PF ticket because of the humiliation they have suffered at the hands of the party’s president Michael Sata.

Dr Machungwa said the decision was arrived at after a meeting of the MPs to discuss their political stand and future.

“I would like to inform the nation that all the MPs who attended the NCC will not contest their seats on the PF party ticket,” Dr Machungwa said.

He said now that the country is heading towards the polls, it is important that all politicians state clearly who they support and what they have to offer Zambians.

He said it will not benefit anyone to be ambiguous on which party ticket they will re-contest their seats.

Dr Machungwa said the PF leadership has lost respect for the MPs and subjected them to public ridicule despite their contribution to the opposition party.

“We arrived at this decision because the PF leadership has marginalised us and subjected us to insults and other kinds of abuse,” Dr Machungwa said.

He said the PF leadership has shown utter disrespect for the MPs by continuously dragging them to court in spite of the court decision that they should not be expelled from the party.

Dr Machungwa said it is humiliating for the MPs to be expelled from the PF because of attending the NCC, which was for the public good.

“We were expelled a number of times, but the courts of law ruled that we could not vacate our seats in Parliament just because we participated in the NCC,” DrMachungwa said.

He said individual MPs are still considering which party to join and re-contest their seats on, and will make public statements at the right time.

“Each one of us will make an individual decision and announce very soon as to which party ticket he/she will re-contest their seats on,” Dr Machungwa said.

He said it is not automatic that all the MPs will be adopted by the various political parties in the country as they have to be assessed to establish whether they can win an election.

“The party which each MP chooses will have to prove that it is possible for that MP to win the seat,” Dr Machungwa said.

[Zambia Daily Mail]

The United States Government has announced that it would provide up to US$120 million over a period of four years
under a new trade capacity building initiative, The African Competitiveness and Trade Expansion Initiative (ACTE), to intensify and focus more sharply the work of US Aid for International Development (USAID)’s African Trade hubs.

US Trade Representative and Head of Delegation Ron Kirk said the resources would be provided to improve Africa’s capacity to produce and export competitive, value-added products and to address supply –side constraints that impede African Trade.

Addressing delegates during the official opening of the 10th AGOA Ministerial Forum at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka today, Mr. Kirk noted that even in a very difficult US budget environment, this imitative would put significant resources behind the commitment to expand both US –African and Intra- African Trade.

ZANIS reports that Ambassador Kirk who delivered his speech shortly after President Rupiah Banda officially opened the AGOA Forum noted that investments would help drive economic development in African countries, and enhance trade opportunities among Africans and Americans.

‘’That is why, today, I am pleased to announce that the United States will support a new trade capacity building initiative, The African Competitiveness and Trade Expansion Initiative, or ACTE.

‘’And the hubs produce positive results for African farmers, factory workers, and families. For example, in 2010 alone, the trade hubs facilitated over US$100 million in African goods expors to the world, including $56 million to the United States, and assisted nearly 1, 200 African firms interested in developing or expanding their capacity to export,’’ Ambassador Kirk added

Ambassador Kirk who is also Minister in President Barack Obama’s office stressed the need to recognise that the private sector leaders want to see a high degree of transparency accountability and predictability when making trade and investment decisions hence the move by the US Government to work with African Governments to improve the business
climate in their countries.

Mr Kirk further stated that the United States supports African regional Economic integration, adding that reducing barriers
to intra-Africa trade and investment would improve Africa’s competitiveness, and that it would benefit American exporters as it
will became easier to do business in Africa.

“Many AGOA partners have already enacted far reaching economic and political reforms that have enhanced the business and investment climate, improved governance and addressed barriers such as corruption, lack of capacity and limited infrastructure” he said.

The envoy noted that the US would continue to support countries that took such concrete steps saying when focused on ambitious goals, demand mutual accountability for measurable outcomes, marshal resources in the right ways, bigger things could be done.

He further underscored that the United States was committed to promoting Africa’s economic Growth through Trade, adding that AGOA was a critical pillar in growing the US economic relationship with sub-Saharan nations.

Ambassador Kirk further stressed the Obama administration was also committed to working with congress towards a seamless renewal of AGOA beyond 2015 to provide the predictability needed for US and African businesses, entrepreneurs, buyers and investors.

At the same gathering Ambassador Kirk reaffirmed the US government commitment to work through Public Private Partnerships to address HIV/AIDS crisis noting that millions have access to treatment, HIV incidence rates dropped and people living with the virus live healthier lives.

He reminded African nations that the policies made today would determine the scope of future opportunities. The US envoy noted that the challenges for both Americans and Africans was to work together to get it right so that all the peoples could
compete globally.

ZANIS

Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) General Secretary Roy Mwaba has advised all contesting political parties in the forth coming tripartite elections to hold convetions to elect specific candidates ahead of the polls.

Mr. Mwaba said it is of prime importance that all contesting political parties to their individual convetions to demonstate their good governance ahead of the polls.

He said that political party and their leaders who do not hold convetions are a threat to Zambias’ young democracy . He expressed his fears that once in power without holding conventions , there is a high possibility of them becoming dictators.
The ZCTU Gen. Secretary said this in Nakonde yesterday when he addressed civil servants at Brooks Gardens drawn from various departments and ministries in the district.

“People who do not hold convetions become dictators when they are voted into office and they go to State House. This is the reason why we in ZCTU are demanding that all political parties taking part in the forthcoming tripartite elections should first hold convetions to elect leaders of the individual political parties,” said Mr. Mwaba.

The ZCTU Secretary General said it is a requirement even in other countries such as the United Kingdom and America to hold primary elections for all aspiring presidential candidates in order to promote transparacy and democracy in political parties.

Mr. Mwaba further said that all presidential candidates should clearly tell the people of Zambia what agenda they have for them hence why they should be voted for.

” There is need to arrange for a live debate where all the presidential aspirants can be accorded a chance to tell the Zambian people the agenda they have for this country, ” he said.

The ZCTU General Secretary also cautioned Zambians to ensure that they vote for people with integrity, who are morally upright and are Gods’ fearing leaders.

He also urged all the workers in the country to ensure that they take part in voting for national leaders on the polls day and should vote wisely.

Mr. Mwaba has also called for respect for all political players in the run up to the tripartite elections.

He was of the view that political campaigns should be issue based campaigns rather than character assassination saying politics of insults and mudslinging as the case is now, will not improve the living standards of ordinary Zambians.

The workers meeting in Nakonde was also attending by the district commissioner Billy Siwlimba, council secretary Francis Nkhoma and ZCTU district chairperson Nondo Kasanda among others.

ZANIS

Copperbelt University Union (CBUU) General Secretary Academic Union Elaston Njovu has today announced the end of one week go slow.

And the University management has commended the students at CBU for exhibiting exemplary behavior and maturity during the period of the go slow.

Mr. Njovu said this follows consultations with the Ministry of Education and his union.

He said the three unions have to this effect called -off the go-slow with immediate effect as the two parties agreed to proceed with negotiations.

This was disclosed in a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday.

The three unions in question are CBU Workers Union (CBUWU) , CBU Academic Union (CBUAU) and CBU Senior Administrative staff Union (CBUSASU). The trio have agreed to resolve the unrest at the institution.

Mr. Njovu said that the unions decided to respond and react to the consultative meeting adding that the meeting was very fruitful.

Mr. Njovu further said that the collective bargain is in process and he hoped that the negotiation will be carried out in a peaceful manner.

And Vice Chancellor Professor Mutale Musonda commended the students at CBU for exhibiting exemplary behavior during the period of the go slow.

Professor Musonda expressed gratitude to the labour movement for the support they have given in the consultative meetings that had taken place.

Speaking earlier Education Permanent Secretary Andrew Phiri said that the dates for the collective bargain will be agreed by both management and unions in order to resolve the unrest.

Last week Copperbelt University workers downed tools demanding for better conditions of service as they also rejected a five percent salary increment.

[ ZANIS ]

One hundred and seventy-two foreign nationals have been arrested for drug trafficking over the past one year with Somali recording the highest number.

Deputy Home Affairs Minister Richard Taima says the foreign nationals were arrested between January 2010 and March this year.

Mr. Taima who is also Solwezi East MMD Member of Parliament says of the one hundred and seventy two foreign nationals arrested for drug trafficking, ninety have been convicted.

He, however, says no research has been carried out to establish Zambia’s rating in drug trafficking at international level.

Mr. Taima was responding to Chilubi Patriotic Front (PF)Member of Parliament (MP) Obius Chisala who wanted to know how many foreign nationals had been arrested for drug trafficking from January 2010 to March 2011.

Mr. Chisala also wanted to know the nationalities of the drug traffickers and how many have been convicted for drug trafficking.

This was during the question for oral answer session in Parliament Wednesday afternoon.
[ ZNBC ]