By Michael Chishala
Zambians are an interesting lot. A bunch of Chinese guys are appointed as police reserves and they erupt with outrage, prompting a reversal of the decision. A cute cop has a photo of her posted online and it goes viral with endless analysis on the length of her skirt. Yet the government is about to waste $30 million on a national airline we don’t need and most people either don’t care or they approve of the move.
What is wrong with us? Is it that our minds are so used to thinking in simple terms that we cannot compute what it means to throw money down a bottomless pit while people still die due to lack of drugs in hospitals? We have so much money to waste that we buy useless fire trucks for $42 million, overpriced ambulances, dredgers that never arrive and we even buy expired drugs!
I am wondering why the many millions that will be wasted on Zambia Airways doesn’t bother enough of us. Many of us are welcoming the move, apparently due to misplaced nostalgia that we once had a national carrier proudly carrying our colours. Is this pride worth $30 million plus all the other many more millions that will be wasted thereafter? So for those of you supporting the revival of Zambia Airways, I want you to please answer these points:
1. Last time I checked, only 7 out of 42 parastatals were profitable. As I write this, Times of Zambia is bankrupt with employees going many months without pay. TAZARA is in a similar situation. Zamtel is also basically bankrupt a mere 5 years after it was illegally nationalized and its professional management thrown out at gunpoint (it needs $300 million to be recapitalized). What makes you think Zambia Airways will be any different? Did it ever make a profit in its previous incarnation?
2. If the Zambian government has found some magic formula to make a viable airline (despite all the evidence of failed national airlines the world over), why haven’t all the other governments in the world that have struggling airlines used the same formula? Why haven’t aspects of this magic formula already been tested and proved in the 35 or so failing Zambian parastatals?
3. The claim that having a national airline accrues benefits to the nation that outweigh the costs of maintaining it is utterly ludicrous and patently absurd with ZERO proof. What are those benefits that are bringing in millions every year? Can we see the numbers? Do you really believe that the decision to fly with a particular airline has anything to do with whether it is a foreign or national airline (especially for a tourist from abroad)?
4. Are people failing to come into Zambia or leave due to lack of a national airline? Have Ethiopian Airways, South African Airways or British Airways failed to service any profitable route? If unprofitable routes have been neglected, why should tax payer money be wasted on them?
5. Isn’t it obvious that a national airline will be abused and misused to the maximum by politicians who shall be flying on credit and cripple the airline’s cash position, making it lose standards and business? Isn’t it obvious that ruling party cadres will get jobs in Zambia Airways and all contracts to supply things like office furniture, stationery, uniforms, vehicles, cleaning services, etc will go to them?
6. Isn’t it even more obvious that as a result of point 5, Zambia Airways will be run inefficiently with too many irrelevant employees and it will keep chewing tax payer money to keep it afloat? Are you happy for your taxes to be wasted like this while your relative in the village has to walk 10km a day to a school without desks and chairs?
7. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has projected that Africa’s airlines are expected to make a combined loss of $100 million in 2018. It seems someone has not read the memo on this. Some people say it is okay to run an airline at a loss for even ten years like Ethiopian Airways did. Firstly, airlines like Ethiopian and Emirates made a profit later after some years due to professional management and government having a hands-off approach which never happens in Zambia. Secondly, there are unique circumstances that enabled those airlines to eventually succeed but the situation in Zambia is very different and more difficult in many ways. For example, the United Arab Emirates government has deep pockets, but Zambia does not.
8. What happens when people begin shunning Zambia Airways if it is usually late, inefficient and has poor standards? Or what if it just flops, for whatever reason? Who will foot the bill for all the empty seats?
9. Is a useless national airline the best use of $30 million? Aren’t there are many other better ways to invest and get a real return within a short time rather than wait for ten years with no guarantees? Why not invest in maize production capacity and sell to Congo DR who will pay cash? How many medium scale value addition factories can be set up with $30 million? Or loans to entrepreneurs? How about pumping the $30 million into a student loan scheme which shall produce skilled manpower?
10. How can it make sense to waste money like this at a time when we are trying to get a loan from the IMF and when the budget is running at a deficit? Do you think IMF will give us $1.3 billion, knowing full well that some of the money will end up subsiding a loss-making national airline? Would you lend money to someone to buy food when you see him go to drink beer every weekend?
11. When Zambia eventually defaults on its debts and Zambia Airways is inevitably forced to close down (again) due to a cash crisis in the Zambian treasury, will supporters of this wasteful venture still insist it was worth it for the country?
12. What will happen to local airlines like Proflight Air Services, Royal Air Charters and Mahogany Air? Will government bump them off the market by law and kill them off, leading to job losses? Will people be forced to fly on a sub-standard Zambia Airways airline that has no competition?
I challenge the airline supporters to clearly show what value Zambia Airways will add to the nation and put some numbers to their valuation, comparing with the cost of running the airline. Bear in mind that there are already international airlines operating in Zambia which are already adding whatever value you want to claim for Zambia Airways.
The Author is a Zambian blogger, entrepreneur and ICT Specialist in web and database technologies. He is a University of Manchester graduate in Engineering. Email: michael [at] zambia [dot] co [dot] zm
Very thorough analysis. Can you please send these questions to the technocrats at the Ministry so that they can answer the questions point by point. I perceive anger and frustration in the author, which I share x 100! But being the people that we are, I forsee this post getting very few views and responses compared to the Chinese reserves police. Such is the attitude that makes us celebrate the tarring of our compounds at millions of kwacha and yet very little is spent on sanitation services, with the resultant cases of cholera!
Something is not adding up. What exactly is the $30 million for? The cost of one plane is over $50 million….********
The author makes very valid points on the idea of bringing back Zambia airways for a sector that is highly volatile. He could having even made more points against bringing back Zambia airways by looking at the way and manner the defunct Zambia airways was terribly mismanaged. Spouses and relatives of employees of Zambia Airways would get free tickets to go shopping in London, New York and other capitals of the world QZ used to fly to. Some of these people ended up being stranded in London when the airline wound up business and never returned home. The same was the case with politicians and their relatives. It will certainly be a sheer waste of money without a proper management for the airline in place.
In addition, to think bringing back Zambia Airways will boost tourism is not a good reason. How will this happen when for instance South African tour operators package and sell Zambian tourist attractions as their own in South Africa itself and the money does not come to Zambia? More certainly needs to be done by the Zambian government for the new Zambia Airways to be able to boost tourism.
BA CHISHALA NESHINA LYENU (EVEN YOUR NAME) HAS SAID ALL ABOUT YOU. YOU ARE A PIECE OF RUBBISH OF YOUR OWN RUBBISH-DUMP. YOU ARE ONE OF THE ZAMBIANS (AND THEY ARE MANY) WHO ARE JUST THICK IN THEIR HEADS. YOU CAN’T SEE BEYOND ANYTHING. IN THE FIRST PLACE IT WAS VERY WRONG TO LIQUIDATE QZ (ZAMBIA AIRWAYS). HOWEVER, THAT IS NOW WATER UNDER THE BRIDGE. NOW, THEIS IS THE RIGHT TIME FOR THE RE-ESTABLISHMENT OF QZ. ZAMBIA DOES NOT NEED YOUR COPY AND PASTE ACADEMIC ANALYSIS. WHO DO YOU THINK THE GOVERNMENT IS BUILDING THOSE MODERN AIRPORTS FOR? BECAUSE I AM BUSY RIGHT NOWI CAN’T GO ANY FURTHER. HOWEVER, THE TIMING FOR QZ COULDN’T HAVE BEEN ANY BETTER. BIG UPS TO THE GRZ.
Let Zambia have airline. Even the:
Broke in kaloba get married
Drunkards get married
Ugly like some in PF get married
List more, all is bad for business, but
It’s all about PRESTIGE.
That’s your men Brian Mushimba and his boss Edgar Chagwa Lungu. These guys don’t listen to constructive criticism. They will label you old school when you give them a an alternative view.
That’s the same arrogance chishimba Kambwili exhibited when he was Minister of information.
Michael is right. Whether GRZ wants to ride on the wings of Ethiopian airlines or not, the idea lacks merit. There are many other viable alternatives with better returns.
It’s amazing that we try to connect tourism to zambian airline. Simple analysis is that South Africa is currently using our Victoria falls to make money. They attract tourists, provide road adventure from SA to Zambia, accommodate them in SA hotels in Zambia, then lead a tour in Zambia and take them back to SA without leaving forex. Under our nose??? And we expect to believe these PFers’ argument for an airline? Shame on us!!
@ Michael Chishala.
You have raised valid points and concur with you on some issues. My differing with you is the decision to relaunch the national airline is the worst. I do not think that is correct. What is wrong is the way the airline is being relaunched. As a country, we need a viable national carrier so that we diversify and because other airlines in the southern region are strangling. My concerned is the way our government has gone about this and trying to think strategies of 1964 will work again.
Continued……..
Zambian leadership should have a vision and stop being second class in Africa. I find it Irrational to bring Ethiopian airline as their partner yet, that country and their national airline have their own agenda and business strategy. Ethiopian are already partners with Air Malawi with nothing much to talk about. It’s a shame that we are always caught up with things that do not make sense as a nation. Zambia can do better and can own the best Airline if we get serious about it. Brian Mushimba has failed just like the IG.
We are not exposed, we are ignorant, illiterate, too trusting (gullible), allergic to serious analysis and books.
We like easy and simple things like beer to lull our lazy minds. We believe those in charge understand these things better and have our interest at heart. We are too comfortable. Zambians would rather dance, sing useless songs, watch fake movies than read books or engage in mind boggling research. Our collective psychology is chiselema and mungulu. That’s why we go into the voting boith without any message about how we can face this highly sophisticated world, based on a song of DUNUNA REVERSE.
Ba Chishala
Be positive about things. U cant say “waste decision” why?
Learn to look at things also from a positive way.
Why waiste time looking at positives that are simply out weighed and over ran by negatives ???
You PF koswe rats only want another avenue to steal money…..
U just jealous that other people are going to be employed not u. Continue bathing those white old people in Europe. Thats your job. Shame!
He has outlined at least 12 Negatives, am interested in seeing even Six positives apart from Prestige. Who says that if you build an airport it is a must to own a plane? You make cool cash from whoever uses your facilities infact QZ will have to pay the Airport Corporation, landing and parking fees.
One ambassador once shared a story that Zambia Airways would have up to 95% unpaid passengers on trips to London. These were uncles, nieces, friends, relatives, in-laws, girlfriends, fiancées, grandmothers, grandfathers, cousins, great-grandchildren, etc. to the politicians and Zambia airways employees.
I don’t see the discipline that will produce a different picture from the previous one. Think of UBZ. You are number two on the queue and the bus is full. Full of no one but unpaid passengers.
PF is another UNIP. All the people advocating for rebirth of Zambia Airways are perhaps the grandchildren referred to above, who never had enough of the previous wastage. They want a second round.
The Author is using only one side of the brain.There are more benefits when you apply both sides of the brain.Opimions are great but you should remember that all what you see is not real.
please answer some of his questions so we hear the benefits youre talking about
What are those benefits? Please share with us
Well said George, the author is so frigid in his analysis, too fixed on contras that he leaves no space for any pros. He is overlooking the fact that the circumstances that led to the closure of Zambia Airways at that time are no longer relevant today, and if they were, then it can’t be hard to tackle them because experience is the best way of improvement.
The desire to excel supercedes the fear to fail. Success is summarized in 3 words: NEVER GIVE UP!
@Nine Chali – what were those circumstances that led to the closure of Zambia Airways? Jog our memory for us…
@ 4.4 Jay, we’ve been down that road before, there you go:
https://www.lusakatimes.com/2012/12/17/zambia-country-national-airline/
Nine Chale – I remember that article from 2012 back then it was about PF attracting an investor then finding an investor to partner with that didn’t work now its them investing…if they had used all that time and focus towards agriculture will would be the bread basket of Africa.
state the benefits,he has stated the negatives you state the positives,just 2 or 3 dont generalize…
I personally can not be in politics because I would end up spending time beating up people like Chishala.
Why would you beat him up? Is it because you have nothing to counter his points and the only thing you have is fist like that door bouncer Bowman.
This govt of iddioots has never stated its position on implementing the Yamoussoukro Decision to free up African skies. This what they should be lobbying for not this nonsense of national airline. The African Union and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) for years has been urging countries to open their skies to market competition – there is too much government intrusions, red tape, high taxes and political meddling. Do you know that last year Ethiopian Airways, Kenya Airways and South African Airways, three top airlines on the continent, sold two-thirds of the estimated 9.2 million seats purchased for travel within sub-Saharan…
sold two-thirds of the estimated 9.2 million seats purchased for travel within sub-Saharan Africa. The remaining one-third was spread among more than a dozen smaller carriers such as Nigeria-based Arik Air, Air Mauritius, and RwandAir.
And PF wants to create an airline in this market …really laughable…when they can even make more money selling maize to DRC, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
Ndanje Khakis you must really big a thick fellow. Using fists instead of grey matter makes a monkey more intelligent than you.
@DJ17
Congratulations! You`re a true Zambian. Very dull, foolish, docile, ignorant etc, etc running towards disaster when every one is running away from it. How wise!!!
Politicians love people like you. After all, how can they amass their wealth if not for people like you smiling while they steal from you.Bravo!
Maybe you are one of them, eagerly waiting for your cut from the 30 mill. As you eat with them, remember those poor relatives of yours that go to UTH and die in that filthy place. Or those bululu`s of yours still waiting for inputs from a government that is clueless about agriculture. The list is endless but for now Eat well, because one day you shall be made to account.
U start a business to chase a particular market. Which market is there to chase?. How many people can fly in Zambia. Even buses are struggling to have enough passengers to South Africa, Namibia and Botswana. Malawi is worse. No one will fly overseas if one can’t afford K10 to Chelstone. Which routes have been identified. Even SAA is struggling. We are not prepared to end up like Zambia Railways again. Where are the trains?. Where is Clive Chirwa.
These idiioots in PF have started a business in the most riskiest sector to create employment and they are consulting unemployed retired former Zambia Airway Pilots as there technocrats…its really sad not even laughable.
*…their technocrats
Anyone who writes this doesn’t deserve a response. Who says, in their right state of mind, that having a national airline is bad? Smh
Hamutale – there only reason you can not give a response is that you have ABSOLUTELY NONE…all you can do is shake your dumb head.
To start with $30 1million is a joke to start an airline…….me thinks the PF koswe rats are looking for an avenue to steal since road contracts are drying…..
I am here pulling my hair out how a minister can stand there and say we have $30 million to invest in airline, when the minster at one point in the day drove his car through kneel deep water that have flooded roads due to poor drainage as is always the case. We have all this water going to waste every year…in some countries this water would be harvested to dams strategically located in the outskirts of the city beside community co-operative farms where fresh produce is grown.
Most of the points in this article raised by the author I have covered on LT in great detail from the time when Old man Sata was president. I have said time and time again that the airline sector is a dog eat dog sector; there absolutely no need to risky taxpayer’s money in such a high risk sector – the likes of Kenya Airways would have been closed shop if it did not partner with KLM which in turn has partnered with Air France. South African Airlines is a loss making entity which has been a burden on the RSA Treasury. Some people point to Rwanda Air as a shining example of a successful govt owned airline but this airline has never published a single end of financial year statement. These are the airlines this new airline will be competing with on the highly competitive regional routes,…
And I have not even added the likes of big players like Emirates and Etihad Airways to that mix who have deep pockets with fuel to burn and have almost a flat management org. structure to cut costs.
Jay Jay,… Your forget to mention the successful airline.. Ethiopian Airline ! Do you have any beef on this airline, too. Please share your wisdom and let us know how it fits your analysis. Rwanda airways publish its yearly financial statement. Every international airlines do have annual financial audit report, without which creditors, shareholder and other stakeholder make any business decision or planning. It may not have come to your desk, yet. But it is available.
With 30 million $ would be better investing in a textile manufacturing project…..why are we importing ZAF , ZNS , army , police uniforms , school uniforms and work safety cloths when we grow cotton and have hundreds of thousands of unemployed Scholl leavers ?????
I am scratching my head……the only explanation I can think of is corruption and campain donations by those who hold the import permits to supply the above…….maybe people in the know can help explain how a ready market mentioned above can not be supplied by a GRZ funded textile project ????
Nobody has picked up that it is for DOMESTIC not internationa that further limits the ability to create revenue.
What will $30 million from zambia and $30 million from ethiopia achieve, how many planrs can you lease, how many planes can ypu buy, then airlines buy their fuel at least 3 months in advance, wages bill per month how much,terminal fees, landing fees, Stretching $60 million a lomg way. The minister then said if in the domestic routes work put thdn they will go international, . We have to pay for IATA accreditation, maintenance. The list is endless. Pipo aren’t negative pipo are realistic and aware of previous performance of the pf regime
Could you please give us a link where this Business plan is laid out online?
Time to vote into power another bunch of pretenders.
Sad part is – All contenders seem to have long fingers already.
So, cry my beloved country! We are all caught up between a rock and hard place.
Ba author, you could have spent your time better by pointing out some notable dos and donts for GRZ in this volatile business. But to just hopelessly say going in is a waste of resources is also exhibiting dangerous levels of a defeatist mind. We can do with even a little bit of optimism here
That bus left years ago …how long have will been telling Lazy Lungu and his empty tins that this is not ideal investment???
Ba Chishala, here are my arguments to some of your points:
1. Trade: A national flag carrier is of great value to the nation in terms of fostering trade. Countries are more likely to trade with a country that has a direct air link than one that has none.
2. Brand: in business, NOTHING is more important than this. US$30 million is just an ounce of what private corporations and trans-nationals spend to create, maintain and defend their brands. Ours is already in existence!
3. Tourism: a national flag carrier is of great value to the tourism industry of any nation and critical to it’s success – why do you thnk Kenya, South Africa and other tourism giants are still holding on to their national airlines despite the hardships?
4. Political will: with the right focus on efficiency…
You talk about “Political will” focusing on efficiency …really laughable…you tell us of any govt own company in Zambia under PF that is efficient and prudent? As for Tourism SAL and Kenya Airlines do not boost tourism numbers you simply go to Sky scanner or Kayak website and attempt to book a flight you will find that the cheapest flight to Nairobi will not be on KAL or cheap flight to RSA will not be on SAL…you are talking absolute nonsense.
I can’t agree more. The airline also serves as projection of the country’s political and diplomatic relation. Besides, Every thing is related to each other. The aviation industry is like a central place where all businesses meet. In this modern world, which business doesn’t need aviation service? None! Even farming has needs aviation service. Check how much Ethiopian airlines earns a year transporting flowers, fruits and other vegetables.
Hiwot Tesfaye – so there is a void in the sector …are there no airlines landing at KKIA? Really laughable how people try to convince themselves …anyway these are the wasted years!!
@Nina Chale let me address your points –
Trade – Zambia exports 1 commodity which accounts for 70% of FX. Trade works if we have a product to supply, and diversified economy.
Brand – That’s important, but companies do not spend money on that aspect without looking at the business as a whole. From a macro-point, current market, risks associated and a return on that investment.
Tourism- You cant currently book a package with an agency for Zambia directly as this is done through SA/Bots/Zim! Therefore we haven’t even done that yet, so how does the carrier improve this?
Political will – We have a debt burden that keeps rising, and that hasn’t been addressed, so why now borrow additional funds, for a volatile , market. Kenya and South Africa have populations over 50mn, Kenya has…
One Blogger by the name of Ken on the previous article stated that when a national airline is created it will have spillover effects where other sectors like Banking, Tourism, Hotel etc will thrive in Zambia
My response to @Ken – why are those sectors not thriving now ..is it because there is no national airline? I have been on Kenya Airlines flights to Lusaka and Nairobi in low peek season where the aircraft has been half full on both routes…now you tell me where you are suddenly going to find bums to sit on those seats on your national airline in that period? Are you going to offer ministers, govt officials and cadres free tickets? Who will pay for all that? You think KAL will just watch you grab their customers?
… and profitability, there is no doubt that the airline can be successfully managed. Think about Zambia Airways as our national soccer team – you don’t want to disown them just because they dissapointed you and failed to make it to the World Cup. Give them another chance to make the nation shine on the world stage!
“Dass diese Furcht zu irren schon der Irrtum selbst ist…”
“This fear of error is already the error itself…”
Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
From your post I can tell you have never run a business or know anything about running one, only make-believe works with you lot. You would rather risk taxpayers funds and put 5 bullets in the chamber then play the lethal game of chance called Russian roulette with their heads
I am least bothered about your thoughts about me. I am more concerned about the disadvantages of not having a national carrier and the arguments in favour thereof.
Michael Chisala is wrong .The relauch of Zambia Airways is not a business decision but rather a political decision.
They will keep this National Airline afloat for 24 months till 2020 so they can go around the country boosting shamelessly that they have creating an airline yet the company is just a flea sucking taxpayers money…we wont ever know as they will not produce any statements or any audits.
Very poorly articulated and weak argument…. Each of the topic are written by a person who doesn’t seem to have any knowledge about aviation industry and the benefits it has for any nation, poor or rich. Written out of political anger directed at unrelated issues…. For a country as Zambia, 30 mln dollar to revive the aviation industry mean not much. The writer seems to have no knowledge on how much money Zambian spend for foreign airlines because the country has no competing national carrier. The foreign Carriers can call any price, and Zambians have to pay for that, because they don’t have another options, and all the foreign currency goes to the carriers’ country. It may be over 100 mln a year. I call upon the writer to calm down and read more material about aviation and…
Hiwot Tesfaye – And you are well versed in the Aviation sector? What makes you think your airline will sell tickets cheaper than competition? Will the national airline receive cheap subsidized fuel from GRZ…do you know that KKIA flights to and from Nairobi at some point deliberately fly to Harare to refuel. Do you know why? Jet fuel in Zambia is expensive.
A Foreign carrier can not call any price it does not work like that…really laughable …have you ever booked a flight before in your life? Do you know what Expedia is? You think airline sector is like operating a bus from InterCity in Lusaka.
$30mn is a drop in the ocean for an airline. However that can’t be at the top of the agenda when debt is $7bn +, and running an airline will incur sunk costs. We don’t spend what we want as the pricing is set by the market, and depending on when you fly to Zambia and what airline you pick you would pay £495-£1,200. Now with a national carrier, how are they supposed to compete, they cant just offer cheaper flights, if their running costs are high. These will have to be passed to consumers. Current carriers have established brands consumers know. So they switch to Zambia Airways for patriotism? We are already paying for fees at Heathrow Airport without an Airline, so tell me how these people are going to be prudent….with this new airline
…and aviation industry is wider than Airline business. These days baba, when you are travelling and booking for an air ticket online or with a travel agent, the choice an airline is secondary and don’t see that changing when QZ is introduced. Compare ZAMTEL, AIRTEL and MTN, we choose mobile networks based on what they are offering not because it is Zambian.
Jay Jay… Yes, I am well versed in Aviation business as I am aviation professional and also frequent traveler. You seem to bring all unrelated and some related issue together to support your argument, apparently your perspective is only failure side. There is no wisdom in dismissing an initiative, as any lazy person can do it. But the wisdom is finding ways to support something for a positive end. If you are Zambian, there is no other Nobel goal than supporting your country’s effort in mastering the aviation industry and be proud member of the aviation club. That is the future. There are much more to do than a simple misplaced anger.
Its foolishness to stand on a hill denouncing something you have no solution to. Your analysis is fine to your understanding but lacks the merits of why Zambia Airways management should sit at look at your analysis. So how best would you go about it them to ensure it succeeds? Its a Zambian company which we all Zambians with reasoning minds must support. How do we support? first of all we know its not cheap to run an airline, we can proposing to them how the company can motivate Zambians to use their services, how they meet the market standards, how they can compete on the market. If one says it cant work so what? what benefit is to the country, better take a risk than sit back folding arms. We as a country we must begin looking at how we can develop our own companies, our own businesses,…
before any business venture, one need to make a calculated risk and the easiest top of the head decision tool is cost benefit analysis, has this been done and can someone share with us that analysis. This must come before one can decide how that we can make it work well.
What do you mean no solution to? Its not something that we need, and assuming we needed it, certainly not now when agriculture, education and health are in a complete mess. Total disaster
Fred Nkhuwa…. Thank you ! I share your idea. The problem is, “No Sayers” are poisoning all positive developments. They have this simplistic and narrow narratives, like… All politician and public officials are thieves and bad, they don’t think any better to Zambia, except for themselves. Of course, there may be some, but generalization is not rational.
@MrChishala, I twittered the article from IATA to Hon Mushimba’s account and are still awaiting a response. I totally agree with you. it’s a very bad decision that can not be entertained. Its a waste of precious resources that can best be used elsewhere.
You are wasting you time…contracts have already been signed; the likes of Kaizer and those young PF cadre millionaires have already registered companies to supply products!!
you guys talking about boosting tourism have no clue what you’re talking about. the tour packages don’t give any consideration to the airline. and for individuals everyone is bargain shopping. I don’t live in Zambia, every single time I am going home I go on different sites and shop around for quickest route (least connection times),air fares. that’s true for my friends who are native here when they are travelling as individuals to Africa for vacation. no one cares about a national airline. safety and reputation play a smaller role, that speaks to Ethiopia’s sustained success. Ethiopian airways is run and managed by Ethiopians, all aspects of running an airline, from ground crew to top management to engineers, everyone is Ethiopian and that’s one contributing factor to their success…
Boss tabenda. Tell them, some don’t even know how to book for an airline ticket themselves. They travel on these sponsored trips where they don’t even know anything about how travel agents or tour operators work.
There is no sober and objective analysis can justify re -establishment of National airline.The only justification is the best most successful industry in Zambia which is corruption.I wrote so many researched articles against the project which have been ignored and no point saying more.This project is destined to fail and ET may benefit and suppliers
I feel your pain Kalima Nkonde we are shouting at a brick wall…its pointless with these heartless corrupt empty tins like Lazy lungu!!
Bring it on GRZ,a relaunched Zambia Airways will mean great flights. And i mean flights of fancy not of business coz a case for this wild venture is just not there.
Provincial capital city flights are necessary for territorial integrity and connectivity. The regional capital city will also follow, like Johannesburg and Harare. It was madness to accept inbound flights and then reject reciprocity. This is technocratic enterprise. It is win-win project. The country has learnt its lessons. We have a great partner in Ethiopian Airlines.
“Of Africa’s big three carriers, only Ethiopian Airlines posted a profit last year. Kenya Airways and South African Airways suffered losses. Collectively, African airlines posted losses of around $700 million in 2015 and $800 million in 2016, and aviation experts at IATA and the African Airlines Association (AFRAA) say this trend may continue.” – Africa Renewal online
Why do you want an Airline then? Do you just want a leased aircraft painted with Zambian flag on its tail? Who is going to afford Provincial Capital flights apart from ministers & civil servants? Proflight already skies to major towns like Solwezi, Mfuwe, Ndola you want to kill it off…think think think
Just a supposition, PF government categorically refuses to read establish a National Airline giving the same reasons given by the author here. …Spaka Like Lilo was going to say the opposite of what he’s saying now.
2018: Zambia Airways launched by President Edgar Lungu. Local suppliers will be given opportunities to participate in national development and have pride in their own airline. Wiyu wiyu wiyu!
July 2018: ‘This Zambia Airways is a waste of money! Kaizer Zulu flies his girlfriends in the cockpit!’ – Kambwili
July 2018: ‘Kambwili must shut up, afterlo when he gets on a plane his weight makes it fly slower’ – Lusambo.
2019: Zambian Airways in record passenger numbers for 2018 – ZNBC
2020: Minister of Transport dissolves Zambia Airways board. Appoints Kapwepwe as Board Chairperson
March 2021: ‘We won’t let Edgar and his thieves fly out of this country on Zambia Airways. They’re corrupt!’ – HH
April 2021: ‘HH stole the country’s money. Sela tubombeko!’ -…
Assuming we needed an airline, is it a priority for now. You PF chaps, check the meaning of the word priority. Once you check the meaning of the word, lets chat, Until you check, we cant discuss
A very dull analysis by another online scholar. How do you fail with out trying? Whatever airlines we have out there in Zambia will have to share the market. This will make them even better because now they can compete with each other and the new Zambia Airways. We need to do away with this attitude of “WE CAN”T DO IT or IT WON”T WORK”
A very dull analysis by this China Zaza. How do you waste resources trying something that you don’t need. Its not even that it wont work, its just that we don’t need it when agriculture, health and education are in a total mess. Which country do you live in kanshi?
Its because its taxpayers money you numpty, you dont take chances with such funds….how dull daft can people be….if you want to invest in viable projects invest in Agriculture, Invest in Cashew Nut Processing Plant in Lusaka to compete with Ghana and India do you know how much a small bag of salted cashew nuts costs in UK? £2.00. Invest in Plastic bottle and Paper recycling plants – end products are highly valued in China plus you also create employment and keep streets clean as people will be collecting plastic bottles to sell to you.
WAKE UP FROM YOUR DOCILITY !!
This is just another White Elephant by Lungu & PF Chipante pante govt. It makes sense to use the $30 million to subside Agriculture ,Health or Education than to subside a loss making Airline.Koswe Mumpoto and his fellow Rats see another chance to loot money from the Fiscus.
100% agree with the author. Also, the fact that relatively unproven Russian jets with a questionable safety record have been acquired make it worse. I’ll stay away from this one.
Sad persimism from an educated man. The article lacks optimism. The article is streotypical and the author pontificated too much. The purpose of education is to offer solutions other than flashing degrees.
You are misled into thinking that education is giving solutions even when some numpty is hellbent on wanting to do something silly…what solution do you want? You want make-believe stories? A pot of Gold at the end of the rainbow? What don’t you understand about is it a “priority project”? The only solution here is to leave that $30million alone…if you want to increase air traffic to KKIA reduce the tax on Jet A1 Fuel….stop this nonsense we already have GRZ challenger with a flag flying around with the Lazy empty tin with Kaizer drinking Moet.
WAKE UP FROM YOUR FOLLY!!!
The answer to number 3 is that the benefit will be our national leaders getting a free ride on those planes!
I didnt want to be the first to comment on Chishalas write up , however to me he sounds a negative person who is just speaking from his narrow mind .
Indeed some of the points he outlined are worth considering , however that can not derail the good programme. Airline business is good even advertising on an aeroplane in itself is good business.
To start with the business you do from your pocket dont attract much attention and you cannot go far, but when you open it to the public to see you will sell and attract more customers , those customers will help you to even expand you areas of enterprise .
Zambia becomes part of the world when it carries its flag around the world as of now there is no zambia to the outside world , they dont know zambia but they see people who say they…
Ba Chishala ni rubbish pit ne cha chine! If he has nothing to write or think about let him continue heaping the rubbish pit! My careers master at secondary school once told me that “there are a lot of fools with degrees and diplomas in the world”, Chishala is one of them!
It is really difficult to even comment when most of the contributions are coming from people /kaponya’s who once they get their so called qualification on line become experts and knowledgeable on matters they have no clue. shame
Please reverse this decision, just like you reversed the recruitment if Chinese Police
Congrats to GRZ. We need a Flag carrier for dignity and Job creation. Even cadres are still Zambians who need Jobs. Please go and kongola more planes if you can Hon. Brian mushimba.
Twakula kongola no naifwe ama Ticket like our friends beyond our borders.
Well articulated and wisely advised, I think we focused so much on the image that come with it than on the profit part of it, if seeing UBZ AND ZCBC reincarnating.
The question is how can an ordinary citizen stop this? We all know this is a bad idea but how can we use the existing laws to stop it?
There are two sides to every story, but what if one is lying? The author of this article seems to be pushing a certain agenda to satisfy his political ego in his one sided attempt to hoodwink readers into thinking a National Airline in Zambia cannot work. Just because it did not work yesterday, we then all resign and convince ourselves that it can never be done? This is a very shallow way of looking at things.
Before moon landing, there were several botched attempts by Nasa… they kept on pushing until we had Neil Armstrong as the first person to walk on the moon.
Do we need a national flag carrier? YES
Can it work? YES .. so Mr, please go back and understand the facts in your zest to shoot down something you have done very little research on.
Your article is premature with wrong…
Your article is premature with wrong information and unreasonable beliefs, laced with an opinionated mindset of the political party you support.
There are people flying to and from zambia on these airlines that are landing at our airports. The question is; How do you propose moving those passengers to QZ at a profit and attracting those that are not flying to fly?
That is the only way that the airline will survive and be profitable.
another gimmick to launder money and take out on private planes carte blanche…why even do another local airline doesn’t ethiopian fly into Zambia ? This must be the wheeler dealers of Lusaka we know who they are corruption at it’s peak when the winds change all this will come to surface ….all the bosses friends.
here comes another disaster airline …enjoy enjoy
Build it and they will come. We should not fear to develop as a country we have enough resource to oil the Zambian economy and get back on track.
Ba PF Apo mwaishila mubuteko namubomba ichipapusho, twalilileni ukubombesha. The wealthy of any nation is measured by the levels of investment. We have seen unprecedented levels of investments into schools, hospitals, roads, airports, bridges, housing stocks, agriculture, name it the list is endless.
The above in turn have improved the well-being of Zambians in general and most foreigners coming in the country are appreciative at the levels of improvement. There is literally traffic jams in all cities such that councils have done away with parallel parking to vertical because there more vehicles in people’s hands now.
At the time of liquidating Zambia Airways am told the company Balance Sheet was positive but the Income and Expenditure (Profit and Loss) account was in negative…
Economists and Accountants worth the salt would not have liquidated the company but rather requested for operation structure adjustment. In other words realigning its operating costs and it would have been flying the Zambia Flag up to today. The decision was more of political and appeasing IMF AND WORLD bank at the time
Zambia Airways was running as a going concern and had a healthy balance sheet
People like Michael Chisala are just showing their ignorance. He is one such fella who thinks anything Zambian is inferior. The $ 30m investment in Zambia Airways might look like a drain but people must look at the positive of the rip off effect and benefits. For example, wherever CAPITALISM and or MARKET FORCES has shown its ugly head. Three major disadvantages out of its sizeable advantages…
comes out strong (CORRUPTION, GREED AND UNEMPLOYMENTS) yet the world has embraced Capitalism in the name of Democracy.
For argument sake IF $ 30m was allocated to MOH (Ministry of Health), still other ministries would cry foul and demand a fair shake of the cake and in any case MOH problems will not be solved completely. Ba PF mulibaume. KEEP DOING ONE THING AT THE TIME. BRING BACK ZAMBIA AIRWAYS
Zambia Airways can never be profitable because it will not be managed but used by politicians and their friends……thats why it failed in the first place…….
Uzeress point of view and immature. Zambia needs an airliner. It was a gross mistake to liquidate Zambia Airways.
Demons see “corruption” in everything! What a tribal grouping! They fail to see theft in Panama Paradise but every positive development that we have see, unprecedented in our country makes the UPND tribal gathering afraid. Zambians will never elect you! NEVER!