Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga has disclosed that Government has set 30th June, 2014 as the deadline to finalize the re-introduction of a national airline.
Mr. Mukanga has told QFM News in an interview that by the June deadline; government would have made headways in reintroducing a national flag carrier.
Mr. Mukanga says government will not relax but will continuing working towards the reintroduction of an effective airline that will contribute significantly to the country’s economic growth.
He says government has been consulting renowned airlines to learn experiences on how best to operate the airline once established.
The Transport Minister notes that the absence of a national airline has negatively affected the development of tourism, non-traditional exports and other industries that directly or indirectly rely on tourism.
Recently,Government sent a delegation to the Middle East state of Qatar to consult on how it can help Zambia set up a national airline and become a central hub in passenger and cargo traffic.
Really ? Anyway i`m still not a fan of this national airline re-introduction.I`m still skeptical.Lets wait and see.
Am with you on this one.
Saulosi, you are right for a change. This what will put a final nail in the Kwacha koffin. There is no viable competition for this grandiose madness.
with your struggling currency you want to own an airline? If you were honestly serious about this airline,you should have worked hand in hand with zambezi airlines, but no….UKWA decided to have their license revoked.
Ifya ma airline fyabupuba sana. when will we ever learn. Drop this venture for now,gentlemen!!!
Will that Mukanga make it to 30th June, before he is fired by Sata? Sata napena. Setting dates will land that Mukanga in a tribunal.
we are all familiar with this statement: No Comment.
Ba engineer things dont work like that, you need to secure the financing before you can start setting deadlines
Let’s fly better … let’s fly Zambia!!! Zambia Airways, we are getting better everywhere, getting better all the time.
We are flying better, we are flying … Zambia!!
I miss QZ!!!
Let me rephrase that for ya – you miss the abuse and the enormous losses of QZ.Kweli ama sio kweli ndugu yangu?
@Mumba, so childish or gayish.. so are those slogans for?
What about retrenched QZ employees which are still waiting for theirs terminal benefits?
Get back to reality. …why do you need an airline in the first place. Nostalgia will not sort out our economy. …get serious ba Mumba!!
@BR Mumbai, Sr
@Nostradamus
As a Bemba he is looking for a job with the new airline. Qualified or not it does not matter!!!!!
This my compatriots is unfortunately a disastrous decision! This nation cannot sustain an airline.
Am with u,I will not board it for safety reasons.
Even me am not getting onto that national airline. What with these scary stories of sacrifices on the roads – it will now be sacrifice in the air!! Eeei mayo
Its not a good idea Most airlines are struggling to remain afloat It will instead even drain your little kwacha reserves if you have any
INDECO and now zambia airways. Fili uko tuleya
Imagine with 12% GDP going to civil service expenditure! !
for what..?with those old planes..?stop dreaming..kekekekekekee
Hope it will not happen just ask the Australian gov Qantas may go down
Zambians don’t talk about your failiers here keep quaete speak to your failed mind .zambia is a great nation we need the airline if poorer nations can how about our rich zambia
Ba nshilimubemba … most of these chaps are not part of the smart people of our Zambian Enterprise. They have no memories of QZ, they never flew on it. In fact for most of them, they went abroad on different airlines for the first time in their lives.
When you had the experience of flying QZ from Lusaka to London non-stop and the air hostesses were all beautiful smart girls of the Zambian Enterprise, you could talk to them in Bemba or Nyanja and they obliged, how nostalgic could that feeling be.
When you fly to New York via Monrovia and the Captain in the cockpit is Mulundika on a newly acquired Nkwazi, now nostalgic could that be. When you fly to Bombay via khartoum and when you land, the PA announces the arrival of Zambia Airways, your national flag flies as it docks, how…
@B R Mumba, Sr.
You sir are an IDI0T! Do you have any idea of how much money was wasted and STOLEN through QZ?
And now you expect the Zambian Taxpayer to again pay MORE MONEY into another bottomless hole with a bunch of incompetents like PF in charge?
Lets just take the money outside and BURN IT. That would be a better plan.
With the ammount of pessimism and negativity exhibited here, it’s no wonder we hardly achieve anything no matter how much we set our minds on it. Don’t you know that success begins in your mind? When are you going to start doing things for yourselves?
“Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?” Mtth. 8:26
FYI the Arab states are doing very well in the aviation business. If we collaborated with them and they were to invest in our national airline, that would definately be a brilliant jump-start.
Ba Nine Chale … most of these chaps are not part of the smart people of our Zambian Enterprise. They have no memories of QZ, they never flew on it. In fact for most of them, they went abroad on different airlines for the first time in their lives.
When you had the experience of flying QZ from Lusaka to London non-stop and the air hostesses were all beautiful smart girls of the Zambian Enterprise, you could talk to them in Bemba or Nyanja and they obliged, how nostalgic could that feeling be.
When you fly to New York via Monrovia and the Captain in the cockpit is Mulundika on a newly acquired Nkwazi, now nostalgic could that be. When you fly to Bombay via khartoum and when you land, the PA announces the arrival of Zambia Airways, your national flag flies as it docks, how nostalgic!!
Be realitic and stop dreaming One of Africas major airlines SAA has failed to make a profit in year its operates on goverment handouts
Can our government, afford it?
@ Nine Chale, way to go. Most of our people are not patriotic. Don’t worry about them. Airline are flying into Zambia at a profit. Equally, Zambia can fly out at a profit.
We should not get happy at seeing other airlines doing better than us.
I look forwad to seeing these same people make comments after the inception of the new airline.
Reminds of some Individuals in Zambia, in Man-U football and other foreign teams shirts and sometimes, even talking the loudest about ‘who(s)’ when in fact, could do better firstly, by supporting local teams and Chipolopolo in Zambia our country. No one will develop Zambia but by Zambians.
Some zambians can not achieve anything , too lazy to think too afraid to start anything such people what they think of is to fail they even fear to rear chickens . When you are such remain poor in your life you even fear to get a loan to start business, great countires you cheer have borrowed a lot the chief borrower is america
Tell them. Big, strong men with degrees and PhDs, yet when it comes to implementing their know-how and doing something for their national development, they are cowards. Most of them will end up frustrated and excessive drinkers having achieved nothing in life while a 78-year-old woman marketeer in Kamwala without education has more will-power and ability in enterpreneurship and business management. She will get up early every morning to travel wide to get her merchandise which she will sell on the market to feed a family of 15 or more. She has neither been to school nor college but she managed to send her children, brothers, sisters etc. to school.
Just laughable indeed….2 years it was an appalling idea when the economy was healthy. …whats it a good idea now when everything is a an messy.
Just laughable indeed….2 years ago it was an appalling idea when the economy was healthy. …what makes it a good idea now when everything is a mess.
You’ve got a small market of fliers,Lusaka is not an airline hub ,the most priciest fuel in the region and everything you manage becomes a financial disaster.Can we Zambians please wake up from this bad dream into reality?
This airline will self destruct,trust me.
Zambian has prospered so much through these few years I was in zambian in 1984 , I was one of the few zambians who owned a care. Vw , the rest of the people were iether runing to work or working in 1996 I had. Toyota corona I was one the few who could drive , things went bad in 2000 people lost jobs and died of frustration, but things have indeed turned around nearly all zambians are driving and the roads are congested
Zambia or Zambian?
NONSENSE what national airline
First its was an underground train system
Now its a national airline, what a bunch of dreamers you twats. Piece of advise, go to nursery schools and tell the children the will be a national airline and see how they will laugh at you guys these kids are smarter than you. What happened to 90 days. Just continue watering state house lawns using fire engines
A national airline would be great but the government running it..Kaya. Maybe have it owned by the government but ran by private entities who report to parliament.
Most of these chaps are not part of the smart people of our Zambian Enterprise. They have no memories of QZ, they never flew on it. In fact for most of them flew abroad for the first time on different airlines. They never flew better!
When you had the experience of flying QZ from Lusaka to London non-stop and the air hostesses were all beautiful smart girls of the Zambian Enterprise, you could talk to them in Bemba or Nyanja and they obliged, how nostalgic could that feeling be.
When you fly to New York via Monrovia and the Captain in the cockpit is Mulundika on a newly acquired Nkwazi, now nostalgic could that be. When you fly to Bombay via khartoum and when you land, the PA announces the arrival of Zambia Airways, your national flag flies as it docks, how nostalgic!!
Ba Mumba Sr You are talking about the nostalgia you felt when you used QZ comment on the abuse of QZ by the party and its government then. While you are at it comment on the abuse of the airline by its workers. Have our attitudes towards national property changed enough to gaurantee the smooth and profitable running of the new air line?
President sata shall give the management of national airline to Dr. Mahtani and Mr. M’membe. It can be done.
We do not want MORE MONEY WASTED on a National Airline!
WE WANT A CONSTITUTION! When are these PATHETIC F00LS going to listen?
They want to put deadlines on an airline that will cost money that we have not got, but cannot put a deadline on the CONSTITUTION that WE HAVE ALREADY PAID FOR !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I fully support the government in this undertaking.
They say,’ the greatest failure in life is the failure of not trying’.
These guys r dare devils.
Even new airports are being constructed. Way back, it was a dream. Lets move forward my brother.
On this one i am with GRZ than with the arm chair and computor critics who can’t dream and achieve anything. No wonder Zambia is poor with this kind of thinking.
“The Transport Minister notes that the absence of a national airline has negatively affected the development of tourism, non-traditional exports and other industries that directly or indirectly rely on tourism.”
Sure, ba Minister? There are lots of ways to get to Zambia. Do you know what else “negatively affects” the development of tourism? Hmmmmm…… let me think….. oh….. maybe STRIP MINING A NATIONAL PARK? Hello!
Excellent contribution. Govt thinks we are stupid and can be fooled by such simplistic utterances anymore. These ministers must learn that there are consequences to their previous decisions.
Spot on! !
Hmm,this is just a dream naimwe
Nchito’s Zambian Airways will be the new Zambian Airlines.
Hello pipo,
I dnt care wat negative comments you hav
Posted. I strongly believe in my govt.
I am from training as cabincrew n very keen
To work with the national airlines, am confident
It will come. Zambia is a Christian nation.
Wer is yo faith…. I pity you! 0963479620.
Edith!!!!!
So you are also a ch.ipuba like the minister ai?
Wi se fye nkupe! Airline ni none starter. Ta ya ke me.
Stop dreaming PF. I hope zambians take you to court on this one once you’re kicked out of office for plunder of national wealth. Why not concentrate on reviving Zambia Railways instead at least its more viable and can sustain its operations.
Yes, Zambia Railways would be a gem if developed and modernised. More Zambians, the majority would benefit as well as the economy. Zambia Airways is for prestige while ZR if for socio-economic development. Imagine if you modernised the railway line from Mulobezi to Chililabombwe, how much this would contribute to the economy. I recall the Railway Car, the Kafue and the Zambezi trains, there were good toilets, sleeping cars (coaches), dining cars and bars, airconditioning etc —- and the speed and cleanliness and smartness of the conductors. I just wanted to be one while at school until I went to UNZA and realised I could be their boss day. That was in the 1970s. Yes, one can miss that…not QZ for the exclusive few and highly subsidised by the tax payer.
Yes, I remember my first flight on the Nkwzi to London in 1986. The way those beauties smiled in your face, you would have thought they were in love with you. Wonderful….until on one flight to Amsterdam via Rome —- QZ dumped us at Roma airport without providing an alternative flight or hotel. We were just dumped. We spend a night on the hard chairs in the departure lounge with polizei making sure you did not get out to seek hotel accommodation if you did not have a visa. The manager based in Rome, a Mr Mwale, was so arrogant. The following day we had to make our own arrangements. Yet our tickets had been endorsed “Involuntarily Re-routed” by QZ staff in Lusaka after the Nkwazi failed to turn up and we had to be packed on a noisy old creaky Boeing 707 owned by Mid East Air.
I do not understand the narrow thinking of government officials. To them for an asset to be called Zambian it has to be owned by the State. The MMD killed Zambian Airways while PF has not supported Zambezi and Proflight which are already operating. You could have expanded these in partnership with their current owners and moved on. They would no object to hosting the Zambian flag and jingos you used to hear in the Nkwazi. Why would they object to having our beautiful flag painted on the aircraft when even the smallest shop in Zambia has to have a photo of the president as if he is a shareholder. I would be happier to have the flag than the face of a person who is not my partner in business. To me it is a very expensive venture worse than reintroducing Indeco.
I fully support the govt on this one. It just needs to be properly managed. No free tickets for staff and families to go and do personal business abroad. This is one of the things that pulled Zambia Airways down.
The bwato has failed on water now it wants to try in the air. Hahahaha….. kaya.
Mphendula, no need to insult me. Whether
You think am also a chipuba or not, I won’t
Mind you. I respect your point of view about
The airline, I will not insult you because of my good manners.
Respect my point of view.
One Zambia, one nation. You my brother
In Christ. Edith!!!
Let’s Go!! Those who don’t want to fly on their own national airline once formed are free to do so, it is a free country!!! Others don’t even know QZ’s old ad song … “Let’s fly better … let’s fly Zambia!!! Zambia Airways, we are getting better everywhere, getting better all the time.
We are flying better, we are flying … Zambia!!”
And they would like me to respond to their insecurities and insults. I am sorry you grew up mu comboni with no luxuries in life as a child. Don’t insult me for your early childhood misfortunes.
I empathize, but it was not my fault you had it hard as a kid. So whether you like it or not we are going to have my Zambia back, and in my old Zambia … Zambia Airways was very much part of my life, thanks a trillion.
A national airline is not such a pie in the sky, it’s just some aircraft. The problem is market and profit and justifying landing rights. Zambia will never be a hub, a place becomes a hub due to things like demand and supply. Not because someone decides to “make it a hub”
The justification for operating a national airline should not solely be based on nostalgia and patriotism ( as Nine Chale and Mumba allude to ) In fact, Mumba’s support for the same is based on the yester years fantasises on those Zambian girls he was trying to impress on the flights. History is replete with the reasons Zambia Airways failed. Do we seriously think with the current regime, a national airline would succeed in Zambia? What about maintenance – and satisfying aviation authorities over safety issues? Especially that we can’t even regulate proper driving on our roads. Let PF kaponyas form an airline run by kaponyas for kaponyas – don’t make it national.