during the launch of Zamtel Connected Car at Southern Sun Hotel in
Lusaka
Minister of Transport and Communication Brian Mushimba has said that ZAMTEL, a state-owned enterprise, is vibrant and on the upswing.
Speaking yesterday when he unveiled the new Zamtel board of directors, the minister commended ZAMTEL management for turning around the fortunes of the company.
The Minister said that in May this year, the company’s opening balance was K30 million but the amount increased to K55.8 million, making its first profit of K2.3 million.
Mr Mushimba said in July, Zamtel posted a profit of K14.5 million.
“Zamtel is vibrant and on the upswing. So as a board, Government expects that you will grow the company and make it a flag of communication,” he said.
Mr Mushimba said Government has invested over US$300 millio in communication infrastructure after realising the important role information communications (ICT) plays in the development of any country.
“We want to position Zambia as a regional hub in ICT considering the strategic location of the country, and ZAMTEL is the vehicle we want to use to achieve that,” Mr Mushimba said.
He said ZAMTEL should be Government’s preferred network, but it is not the case.
“Design business solutions for Government. Why is Government using other networks? Position yourself and create value. ZAMTEL must take the lead, you must be the ‘ferari’ in the industry. As a minimum standard, every government employee should be on ZAMTEL network,” he said.
Mr Mushimba said the board members have signed performance contracts to ensure that they put in their best.
And ZAMTEL board chairperson Justin Chola promised to turn the company into an “undisputable telecom entity”.
Mr Chola, the chief executive officer of Bayport Financial Services and the man behind the concept of Twangale Park, said he will ensure that Zambians become proud of Zamtel by making it the most preferred network.
Other members of the board are Danny Luswili (vice chairperson), Misheck Lungu (permanent secretary in the parent ministry), Bob Musenga, Claire Limbwabwa, Francis Musonda and Sydney Mupeta (Zamtel acting chief executive officer).
Very diabolical.
A question for Nkhoma Special Branch DG. Do you really believe this tribalism being cementird openly is healthy to Zambian if not an existential thread to national cohesion and peace? How come 90% of the Diplomatic corp, GRZ departments, parastatals and their boards are all dominated if not all filled with Bembas only? You are one of the very few Easterners in office with southerners, westerners, NWesterners and Central all left out as outcasts to public institutions leadership. Tired and ashamed. What is Chagwa doing? Can the Bishop Mpundu do another edition as done on Mwanawasa family tree report?
Bla bla bla,,,,, now they making money in loses
@4Zambians, I had the same question. I was expecting better from this minister. He unlike most PF ministers is educated and exposed
UPND TRIBALISTS READ EVERYTHING THROUGH THEIR TRIBALISTIC LENSES. SHAME ON YOU.
THAT IS WHY YOU WILL NEVER EVER RULE IN ZAMBIA.
Connected Car??? Hmmm interesting yet they have the worst network coverage in Zambia. very useless.
I see all Parastatal companies executive portfolios and their board are headed by Bembas. Look at CEOs and Board members. Even in foreign mission all we see are Bembas infestation while other Zambians are just trainers at the Diplomatic institute. Is it that only Bembas voted in PF or other Zambians have no qualified brains. President Lungu need to watch his ministers they are pushing the country in real problems. Is President Lungu sanctioning this toxic scheme? I doubt because even Easterners are left out in this Sangwapo.
You must be tonga yourself to post such crap. Visit all govt offices today and you’ll notice that your tribesmen are working negatively to govt developmental agenda because according to them they are still waiting for the upnd petition to be heard. Why should they even be part of the team that is working hard to develop the nation. The earlier you and your tribesmen realised that life is not just about politics the better fir you.
The truth cannot be masked it can talk for itself
TOW MILLION AS PROFIT FOR A TECHNOLOGY COMPANY IS LOOSE CHANGE FOR A SCHOOL-GOING CHILD. ZAMTEL MUST INNOVATE TO BE RECOGNISED AS WELL RUN VIABLE COMPANY WORTH THE PUBLIC SPENNDING. ZAMTEL MUST AT LEAST DESIGN AND CONSTRUCT A PEOPLES’ MOBILE PHONE OR AT LEAST A LAND PHONE TO START WITH. ALL TELECOMS COMPANIES I KNOW HAVE DESIGNED THEIR OWN PHONES BOTH MOBILE AND LAND. HUAWEI OF CHINA STARTED AS A COMPLETELY HOPELESS PHONE. ONE CAN NEVER SAY THAT ANYMORE. THAT PHONE UNFORTUNATELY HAS BEEN TESTED AND PERFECTED ON THE AFRICAN CONTINENT WHILE AFRICANS WATCH AND TEST THEIR FRIEND’S PHONE. HUAWEI IS A SMART PHONE COMPETING WITH SAM SUNG APPLE. WHERE IS OUR ZAMBIAN PHONE, LAMIA?
Delusional guy Mushimba .I’m gonna puke on Zamtel cuz this same day dreamer said Zambia will soon have a world class airline.
Why is it that anything someone in government says is met with such strong opposition?
Because anything said by any Government official in the last 6 years has been either wishful thinking, tainted by deceit or lies.
Can you go down memory line starting from 2 million jobs and ending with non-interference in DPP work?
Read the whole article and come back to me!!
Terrible mudala are you feeling OK ayi? Am worried.
Muleikalafya bane every time this company has to be recapitalized. The Libya company was capable of running this institution not ba government. Even the so called national airline will end up being a white elephant.
The IMF meets end of this month why do think all thses announcements by ministers.. after all these years and just before IMF decides majic profit appears. Zambia is going to be the hub , for every industry just listen to what each minjster publicly announce… telll pipo enough times they will believe it
Another Dull man indeed…when does the financial year begin for him to calculate profit, what off the dollars the govt has invested?
Its sickening for someone to expose their ignorance in public like this
Wow the board looks interesting great things are happening at Zamtel.
All I can say is that this article sucks. Figures not adding up. Grammatical errors. Is this one of the false media publications we’ve be warned about. ? Bloggers not all crap that appears here is the truth. There are scammers busy fubricating lies similar to the truth just for to insult. Think before you comment. Do you expect mushimba a highly educated engineer to say such crap.
Why, the crap which appears in znbz, times of Zambia, Nation and Daily Liars has resemblance of truth?
Only when Zamtel is supported by the majority of us shall it eventually pick up and as a result lower the cost of service generally. The board of directors should also do their part to resurrect this sleeping giant. Bring the Salaries to date. Find out why, how other companies which to some extent depend on your input are able to do better in the same market. Some of those that spend time on phones are the politicians and if they can be lured to use Zamtel facilities would go a long way to improve the coffers of our beloved Zamtel.
I wonder how many of those board members are MCCs in PF!!
Never has zambia ever seen such tribal divisions and tribalisim as when PF took power and now advanced and cemented by lungu.
Worse still, on top of the corruption , moral bankruptcy and mismangment lungu brings a budding dictatorship.. ..
@$AllZambian, Ask your people from SP, WP and NW to join PF and they will be considered for Govt positions, You appoint people who you can trust and are capable of doing the job.
Do you mean people who will not blow the whistle when you are stealing!!
Zamtel is the only company whose scratch cards are difficult to scratch, the only ones with the longest recharge figures, the only one whose network frequently loses internet signal, so what upswing are we talking about?
Thats the type of service you will get when you start boarding Russian jets…when you have a crash Russian Army will be there before proper Investigators arrive on the scene.
I have been to their outlets looking for 3G or 4G Dongos & i was told the whole country has no stock and no one even knows when they will have stock. Zambia is just another big glorified village and the service levels in this country are very appalling. Every time i come here for business, i really feel like am in another planet or have gone backwards 20 years or so. The current clueless regime is not helping and everything is getting worse.
Zamani Boza
And you call yourself a businessman with such an opportunity right at your doorstep…really laughable…an entrepreuer see opportunity in every problem.
@Jay Jay:
I appreciate most of your submissions, but this one is just off the mark. Why attack Zamani on his mere valid observation? Does he have to pursue every gap or opportunity he sees? An observation is a big step forward and we need to complement each other on the way forward. I think Jay Jay you at times overreact and this detracts from your otherwise good intellect. Stay focused! Don’t be bitter and acrimonious with everyone.
So ZAMTEL had over $300mn pumped in and has made k2mn profit……In order to be the ICT hub you have to improve efficiency ie legislation, infrastructure, capital, expertise etc.
Let’s wait for the financial report. The minister is lying and sugar coating stuff
HH Oval head ……embarrassed, you cant keep defending the indefensible
Please ZAMTEL invest in fiber optic cables, partner with ZESCO and reclaim subscribers from those thieving companies who are reaping where they did not sow! You are just too slow to make moves!