GOVERNMENT should consider suspending the introduction of a national airline because it is such an expensive venture that cannot be sustained with the current economic challenges the country is facing, former Commerce, Trade and Industry minister Felix Mutati has advised.
Mr Mutati said the introduction of a national airline was an expensive undertaking which would not add any value to the economic welfare of the country but would be a drain on the meager national purse.
Mr Mutati who is MMD Runte member of Parliament said very few airlines globally were successful and often ended up as prestige projects.
Contributing on the debate on estimates and expenditure in Parliament yesterday, Mr Mutati said it would be prudent for Government to consider suspending the introduction of a national airline so that the money could be channeled to other pressing economic ventures.
However, Transport and Communications Minister Kapembwa Simbao maintained that the planned establishment of a National Airline to be called “Zambia Airways 2014 Limited” is meant to create jobs, increase foreign exchange and open up the country to more tourists.
Mr. Simbao added that a national airline would help improve connectivity within the country for tourists.
He said countries like Malaysia record over 9-million tourists annually because of good local connectivity while Zambia stands at a paltry 800-thousand tourists.
And former Information and Broadcasting services minister Lt Gen Ronnie Shikapwasha who is a pilot advised that Government should only consider the introduction of a national airline after all consultations had been exhausted.
Other MPs also appealed to Government to put off the introduction of a national airline and channel the money to other ventures such as the Mchinji-Chipata Railway Line.
A ‘free sober advice’ to the PFOO.LS.So they will respond by stating that Mutati is Politicking or Bitter.
Expenditure that does not yield results is what has caused all economical challenges the country is faced with.We have witnessed huge sums of money spent on projects that have not resulted into anything tangible.8000 link zambia project, for what? risks are worth taking if you are inteligent enough to read the environment and being careful enough tap into the benefits.
The “national airline” story is one of those PF ” sweet talk” lies. PF are incapable of undertaking such a complex project that requires one to be a thinker. For now PF should just concentrate on haphazard road projects.
Can these dull people fix our very real problems instead of talking about rubbish like another money losing AIRLINE!
END THE LOAD SHEDDING FIRST!
If they cannot sort out our electric power problems, can they really run something MUCH more complicated like an airline? ???????
THE NATIONAL AIRLINE IS AS IMPORTANT AS ANY INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT. MOREOVER, IT WILL A KNOCK ON EFFECT OR RIPPLE-EFFECT TO CREATE MORE RELATED EVEN UN RELATED BUSINESSES. HOWEVER, IT WILL HAVE A DIRECT POSITIVE IMPACT ON TOURISM. ZAMBIA AIRWAYS WILL (AND WILL BE) BE OPENING ROUTES WHERE THERE’S POTENTIAL FOR TOURISTS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. ZAMBIANS (NO MATTER HOW EDUCATED) ARE NOT DEEP THINKERS AND NO WONDER PETTY ISSUES PREOCCUPY EVEN HIGHLY EDUCATED ZAMBIANS. THINK JUST DEEPER THAN UKUYA MUKUSENDA SALAULA. NO ONE IS GOING TO AIRLIFT TOURISTS FOR ZAMBIA BUT ZAMBIA.
But who said the money will come from govt? There seems to be a lot of people around the world queuing to put money in the Airline project.
I think what is cardinal is coming up with a good model of partnershipb between govt, and would be investors.
I hope you are one of them queuing to put your money in Zambia Airways……. you seem to be the only one seeing the queue
Income from tourist=$20m
tickets $2m
aircraft maint + salaries $40m
Zambia airways deficit $18m (borrowed)
This is true to most airlines thats why in the usa airlines have merged .
free advice indeed, read about Kanya airways.
Felix Mutati asks Government to SHELVE National Airline Project- Not shelf
“If you want to be a Millionaire, start with a billion dollars and launch a new airline.”
Richard Branson
I bet you if said those words it must have been 15 -25 years ago…the industry has changed now..he was in Zambia and wasn’t keen on the idea, he learnt his lessons in Nigeria; there are far more profitable investments in Africa with bigger return than airline.
How many times….Airline should not be tolerated disappointed under any circumstances or economic climate…it’s not priority; just an easy way to steal and waste money like road construction ..ask yourself why they shy away from agriculture? It’s not for lazy people.
Dont worry these clueless P.F, Bozoe’s cannot afford to establish a National airline, as they have already bankrupted our national coffers.
However Zambians should be vigilant, as these P.F, crooks will try to decieve us, insisting they are going ahead with this plan anyway, BUT only because they intend to use this as a guise to siphon, & embezzle more funds, before they are unceremoniously kicked out of office in 2016.
Expenditure that does not yield results is what has caused all economical challenges the country is faced with.We have witnessed huge sums of money spent on projects that have not resulted into anything tangible.8000 link zambia project-for what? Chama -matumbo highway for what?, 16 Bridges across the zambezi river in western province-for what?,Euro bond pumped into Zambia railways ltd- for what?. risks are worth taking if you are inteligent enough to read the environment and being careful enough tap into the benefits.
Just buy Lungu his “National Airline” so he can fly around with all his cronies until they cannot pay for fuel and the creditors seize the Airplane when it is at an international airport.
Mugabe style! Zimbabwe pilots even went on ON STRIKE because there was no money to pay them!
Little Lungu learning from big brother Mugabe!