Communications and Transport Minister Sarah Sayifwanda has castigated National Airports Corporation (NAC) authorities for not developing infrastructure entrusted in them.
Mrs. Sayifwanda says there was over 2,000 hectares of land at the Lusaka International Airport but she was disappointed that NAC is operating on dilapidated infrastructure inherited many years ago.
Mrs. Sayifwanda said this in Lusaka today when she toured the Lusaka International Airport premises.
She said Lusaka International Airport has only one run-way hence the need for the NAC to construct some more to help accommodate increasing planes.
The visibly annoyed Minister said it is the responsibility of parastatal companies to ensure that they develop infrastructure instead of concentrating on making profits on dilapidated environments.
She said there is need to move with time adding that as Minister in charge of Communication, she should be seen to be implementing and not just mere rhetoric.
‘’NAC is still using the buildings left by first republican president Dr. Kenneth Kaunda. We have over 2,000 hectares of land which the Corporation can expand on. I need to see change and the status is unpleasing to me as it stands,’’ she castigated.
She said that in her quest to develop the communications sector, Zambia needs to move with modern trends to suit with the global aviation services.
And National Airports Corporation Lusaka International Airport Manager Friday Mulenga could explain the dilapidated Airport grounds.
But Mr. Mulenga said NAC would pull its socks and improve on its buildings.
It is such a relief to know that there are people in the current government who think like this woman. There is a culture in this govt not to build anything but just use dilapited stuff KK. UNZA, Colleges, Stadiums, Roads, Towns, Airports, public toilets, etc. Madam, good observation, but really your govt is the root of all this. Let your govt start building stuff and the rest will follow. table your views in those cabinet meetings. Ever tried to push a cotton string from its back? It’s hard.
This is true Zambia should start investing in infrastructure.While the economy is positively showing signs of rising there should be a corresponding increase in infrastructures that will facillitate the positive economical growth.The Railway transport and the airline deserve a lot attention and should be given priorities. It is interesting to hear that the steel plant in kafue will create 6000 jobs.This means that kafue will soon be city.I wonder what plans the govt has to upgrade kafue to …
Lack of long term planning & national agenda. Dilapidated Primary schools left by Welensky have been renamed as high schools, craft collges renamed as varsities.Slums next to city centres. Tuntembas on every road.That is typical of Zambia.Lets try Zambian entreprenuership to run NAC. It may be run better than the railways. I still dont understand why ZANACO went to foreigners. When will zambians have a tangible stake in the economy? Learn from RSA,Zim,Bots,Nigeria evenDRC is wiser under J.Kabila
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such a large workforce. Definately with such a work force in one firm and one locality, we expect a lot input from the govt. Housing is top of the list.There is no Hospital and a lot more social institutions in this small disused town.Therefore,if the projection of 6000 jobs being created is true something should be done to invest in infrastrucure in kafue town.
The airport looks like a farm.women power,but it should start at policy level and national planning, NAC cant just go it alone without gov approval. Let us see the changes sooner or later.
Excuse me somebody visibly annoyed over another runway?Is there nothing else to do?
With due respect to NAC management but what is the current usage of this one runway I can bet my last ngwee it is below 15%.
Tourists DO NOT WANT to see Lusaka especially with its filth, they would rather fly as close to the game parks possible.
If we have this money,which we can not obviously use to improve UTH as we do not go there when we fall ill,try Imfuwe or Livingstone.
Give Lusaka a helipad.thank you.
I hope Sarah you are not eyeing the hectares for something FISHY.. DO NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. Keep the airport small and clean,the control tower well equiped, stuff well motivated etc etc.
Do we even know where our tourists are coming from?what would interest them on arrival, of course not another airport building like the one they have just taken off from.
At last someone has the sense to see. There is a saying that goes ” Umwana ashenda, atasha nina ukunaya”. We tried to propose the redevelopment of all three airports many years ago, but our ideas were shot down by the technocrats that are employed by the government to make things happen. We proposed a complete revamp of the commercial operations both landside and airside to foster growth and harness income from both the international airport visitor and the local. But no to growth,yes to inertia
In the first place, why get annoyed as if you had pumped money for building of new infrastructure. Do those guys make money there? Anyway we don’t all those runways after all we don’t even own a single plane except for the presidential jet.
I think people on this blog against the expansion of Lusaka International Airport are short sighted and can’t see what value this will bring to the economy. This is just not about tourism. There are other ways money can be made. First Zambia is centrally located and if our airport was up to scratch, most international flights from Europe, Asia and USA will drop people off into Zambia and then they would connect to other countries. Right now major flight drop people into SA and then…
ctd#11 and then fly back up into other countries. It’s costly for most airlines, but SA is their best choice in the region. And Lusaka weather is always fabulous all year for flight take off and landing. This could create a whole city round such spin off services as aircraft maintenance, refueling, food and talk about the regional flights that would be created to feed into other countries. I don’t think Zambia is really using it’s central location to its advantage, which is of a shame really
A friend of mine told me how ‘shocked’ he was after landing at Lusaka for the first time. This was after I had portrayed the side about Zambia that most Westerners do not know about. First thing he said when he called me was, “It is true what we read about Africa in our media…”.
Would it unfair to suggest that, the Kapwepwe girl has failed to run NACL. Take for instance Lusaka international airport, its an eyesore. The little money they generate which should otherwise be used to bring our airport to acceptable standards, all goes to cover directors salaries + huge benefits, shame!. Kapwepwe’s contract should only be renewed ater looking at her performance and not at her surname. Forget the Kapwepwe name, shes a failure.
#9 GLUCO, Yesterday I was in a conference all day long. That was good news for legacy of PLM. Over LIA there is need to bring it to modern standards to attract mor FI & Trade. Lusaka International Airport is entrance & exit door to the outside world. The first impression ones get on arrivial at LIA give she or he a picture of what is to be expected of him/her. So new investment, renovation and upgrading are essential to our facilities including LIA. Imagine if all roads lead to Lusaka
Lusaka may appear central on the map.
It is just not an economical HUB.It costs more to fly direct into lusaka than for instant J/burg from anywhere.Surely whose planes will use the extra runway?when even regional flights are usually an extention of longhaul flights.
if its to kick start the economy or whatever we are barking up the wrong tree.
If jesus said he is coming to my house,I definately will clean /tidy up not build another house especially when I cannot afford to.
Iam sure the money will come from China,our survior.
Why was this Lady called Sayifwanda so upset? How much money did her ministry pump into the NAC to develop the infrastrucre at the 2000 hectres? Let her come into the open and tell the Zambian travellers that so much was pumped into the development of the Airport by Dr Chuchu’s govt through her ministry, and so far nothing has happened. When she does that, every Jack and Jim will rise in her support, and will justify her anger at NAC.
Cont’d. Madam, if you didn’t have anything to talk about, leave the Poor young Manager at NAC alone. At least he is doing his job under difficult conditions set by your ministry. We don’t need more infrastructure, what we need is a National Airline with its own planes, not leased ones. Stop being manipulative to hard workers at NAC>
The Minister was angry at not having another runway, I think this was unnessary.Improving security,effectiveness, cleaness, better equipement for passengers to use when boarding aircrafts, etc, these are within the means of NAC. Infrastructure revamping is the responsibility of the government.Madam Minister,the attitude of visiting places with an agenda to ‘blast’ employees is long gone. Chiluba did that and it is a “Kaponya” way of doing things.Use your brain properly when you talk. Politician
Gentlemen, Obvious NAC does even have a strategy.For the Min to go and see for heself she does see anything coming from NAC.And yes they make money, all flights, cargo pay them an arm.These guys should be progressive, the Min is right 100%.And #3 go look at zanaco onwership, such comments can cause xenophobic reactions.Zanaco will list the remaining govt shares for you to own part of it, just be on the look out.Our Lusaka airport should move on with times.
Can the MD for National Airports Coporation explain what she has been doing? I am not saying she has been sleeping but people if you just pass through at Jomo Kinyata International Airport in Kenya, you just wonder if we have any forward planning as a Country…
#7 Big bro N.J dont be a so negative. What makes you think she would do to the land that belongs to NAC?
#9 Gluco. if you dont think that the airport needs improvement then you should visit other countries. Look at park station, a bus and train station in joberg its better than our airport terminal.I believe NAC makes money through departure fees, plane and car parking, cargo handling etc.
WILL REALLY NEED NEW STRUCTURES IN ZAMBIA.
As much as the minister had a point on the standards of our international airport, she also missed a point by not remembering that such a project is capital intensive and requires her ministry financial contribution for it to work. Take for instance OR Tambo airport in JHB has been improved with the contribution of The ministry and the Airport company.Mrs Minister put it in your next year’sbudget then take NAC to task if theydont keep their end of the bargain
Bwana Minister, you missed the point. It is your ministry which should give the NAC the Objectives. If among the objectives and Vision is to have a ultra modern Airport and make Lusaka a Hub of air travel..it is your govt which should articulate this with a budget allocation or attract investment on build operate and Transfer or any other investment platfoarm available. Why not list at LUSE and allow Zambians to invest in their Airport and be part owners
#22 bawazemuzambian I did not mean to be negative,with the UNZA LAND issue fresh in mind you can excuse me for thinking out loud.
My argument is, does the country have economical justification to have a second runway? and for now I think no we do not.
Can somebody in NAC help.
BI Bro N.J, What is required is to stimulate growth by deliberately creating the infrastructure. How does it count when you hear that, 95% of passengers who come from Overseas have to first fly over Zambia and then flyback by Zed Airways, SAA, Comair and even charter planes.
With improved Airport facility which includes the runaway, We can become a hub of Airtravel in the region to countries like malawi, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Congo and even South Africa. look at Senegal..
Those buldings and all infrastructure at Lusaka International Airport have out lived there lifespan. It really a shame when Chuchu and his govt talk about our enconomy improving but what we see on the ground is pathetic. Bad roads, poor communication facilities, the rail system is virtually dead, building in the town are an eyesore. Just try to see Lusaka using google maps, its really a sad story.
HK #27 I regulary need to fly from europe, and I find flying home via SA cheaper by up to £300.Other than February and March getting into Lusaka is costly mainly due to lack of competition.
If it can be proved that improving the airport infrastructure will be of economic benefit I will change my current position that of the airport not being used to its capacity to warrant expansion.
We are not just serious, Look Zambia is centrally located, we are in a good position for air transport, If we were serious we could be a distribution point for flights like Kenya. Because we are central. We are actually key to the regional tansport. But there is no national agenda for this!! Even if we tell NAC to do that they cannot if the Govt has not put it as priority. Come 2010, many countries who will camp in the region could help bring in money in the country, but all this will just pass