Government says the national carrier, Zambia Airways, will soon be issued with the Air Operating Certificate (AOC) by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Transport and Communications Minister Hon Mutotwe Kafwaya says most of the challenging steps in relaunching the national carrier have already being delt with.
The Minister said this on Tuesday evening when he featured on a special programme on Radio Ichengelo in Kitwe where he discussed various issues in the ministry as well as on the political front.
“As I sit here, I can tell you with confidence that very soon, Zambia Airways will be issued with the AOC by the Civil Aviation Authority which is under my ministry. It might interest you to note that the most challenging steps have already being handled and where we have reached is to officially launch the company,” he said.
He said COVID-19 has also contributed to the delay to relaunch the national flag carrier saying it has affected a lot of businesses.
“But when we issue out the certificate (AOC), company management will then decide when to start operating. We can’t force them to start operating just because they have been given the certificate. So management has to decide based on the business opportunities available and the passengers who are willing to start traveling amidst the COVID-19 pandemic,” he added.
“It is the desire of the Patriotic Front Government under the able leadership of His Excellency President Dr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu to ensure that this company start operating. Zambia Airways is an agenda of the PF Government and we value it. The company is already there because the registration process was already done. Let me just remind our listeners that this is a partnership between the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) and Ethiopian Airways.”
Hon Kafwaya stated that this is the reason why the government is working on aviation infrastructure in order to provide best services in the aviation industry.
Meanwhile, the Transport and Communications Minister spoke against the abuse of social media saying users of cyber space should be responsible not to abuse the cyber space.
He noted that there are many cases of social media abuse because of politics.
MUTOTWE YOU LIE
Even Yamfwa Mukanga used to say same rubbish this fuul Kafwaya saying.
Believe it or not, PF government has been paying an Ethiopian CEO for non-existing Zambia Airways for last 3 years, they sent 30 Zambian employees for training in Ethiopia. They are all on payroll. What kind of idyots are these PF kanshi?
Faka speedee, Mutotwe!!!
Better to issue them with a professionalism and certificate 1st coz its a cut throat business in air travel.
After all the opposition to this doomed project these f00ls are still adamant?There must be something they are after,this is not about Zambia Airways,this rot must bd thoroughly investigated after September 2021
Sontapo. Truly patriotic government. All previous parties failed to either sustain or revive zambian airways. Under pf we have seen economic progress and infrastructure development. Now we can take to the skies because under pf the sky is the limit. SONTAPO!!!
KZ,STOP DECEIVING YOURSELF.U ARE THE WORST GOVT ZAMBIA EVER HAD.AND BWANA MINISTER WHERE IS THE CASH COMING FROM FROM THE SAME AIRLINE?WHEN,THE ECONOMY IS NOT DOING FINE.SA FAILED AND NOW IT IS BUSY PEDDLING LIES AND IGNORANCE.
MUTONTONTO,U THINK RUNNING AN AIRLINE IS EASY?IT IS EXPENSIVE.
The austerity that Edgar announced doesn’t exist, may be in his own mind. Zambia doesn’t need projects whose direction and future isn’t known. I have no doubt the the relaunch of the PF airline will lead to further loss of resources that can mitigate people’s suffering if properly employed. PF must save us from these costly experiments. Is it so difficult for these people to understand? Well, it’s life in the marrow where it is sweetest. The PF can’t anything wrong with what they’re doing. Even when they fart in public against our traditions their cadres will cheer! Let’s wait and see. Soon we’ll begin to tell them that this is what we meant but by then things would’ve gone from bad to worse
The airline which has been on paper for a long time and nothing tangible yet Ethiopians pilots and trainers are getting rich over nn existing of the airline.
Doesn’t show how inept this PF government officials are?
Almost a decade now the airline is being talked about and not hook nothing to write home about. This is shameful government ever ruled the country.
PF must go!
Airlines around the world are making loses and we are still thing to launch Zambia Airways. You might as well burn the money coz you ain’t going to make a profit in the next 1000 years!
With Covid-19, where will they be flying to?
these fooools never learn
This airline will never take off…period
Very soon DPP will give nolle
Save money and service the debts to China. Airlines always struggle around th world, to make matters worse for a country that always claim to be poor instead of caceptinh the fcats that excess internal corruption leading to stealing of nation’s little wealthy.
Better to prioritize Zambia Railways & Tazara. That would not only increase road safety but make our roads last longer. Jet A1 & other fuels Should never be transported by road over long distances to safeguard lives.
This is excellent!! Our Country can now have a@ national Airline. Our Government is really working tirelessly to revamp things. That’s the beauty of having a President that is vibrant. I must also commend the PF for the road development projects going on, Kudos!!
Now is the best time to acquire cheap aircrafts from airlines going bust due to COVID. What happened to the KKI project? Will it show closer to the elections too? We should enact laws which ban such nonsense of holding on to projects for years and then completing them closer to elections.
A board and support staff that has been getting free salaries for the last two years for a non existent airline. Now even an operating certificate but up to now not even a single plane.
We need our airline as soon as possible, in this world you cannot depend on your neighbor to transport your children to school shopping and other ventures, the reason why it is imperative that each family owns a car to make life easy for the family.
Usually people who own nothing are always on the forefront to speak against an airline if you don’t or can’t travel keep quiet this is not for you.
We who travel have suffered enough for not having our own airline.
Another failed parasital prestige project which will never take off. The country needs to master water security and electricity before anything else.