Government has disclosed that Zambia’s aviation sector was projected to grow at the rate of 13 percent per annum before the outbreak of COVID-19, signifying it’s potential to contribute towards the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the creation of employment in the country.
Transport and Communications Minister Hon Mutotwe Kafwaya said that the Patriotic Front Government has been working to position the country strategically so as to optimize the benefits from the projected growth in the aviation sector.
The Transport and Communications Minister said this when he handed over the Air Operators Certificates to the Zambia Airways 2014 Limited as the company prepares to relaunch.
Hon Kafwaya has since described this step as a game-changer.
“Let me start by informing you that the Patriotic Front Government under the able leadership of His Excellency President Dr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, places huge emphasis on growing Zambia’s economy hence investing in the transport sector as it had been identified as a key area that will contribute towards national development. The establishment of the national airline and investments being made by the government in the transport sector are in line with the focus on the Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP); and the national transport policy which aims at transforming Zambia into a transport and logistics hub in the Southern African region,” he said.
“Before COVID-19, Zambia’s aviation sector was projected to grow at the rate of 13 percent per annum, signifying the sector’s potential to contribute towards the country’s GDP and creation of employment in the country.”
Hon Kafwaya said the national airline will therefore play a catalyticall role in the growth of the tourism, horticulture, trade and manufacturing sectors as it will facilitate the creation of a convenient delivery schedule for the business and tourism.
He added that this will also open up nontraditional routes therefore offer business opportunities to untapped areas adding that this will enhance revenue collection to untapped areas.
And Zambia Airways Chief Executive Officer Bruk Endeshaw said this certificate is a key element to proceed with its operations as the company prepares to relaunch.
He stated that after the processes are concluded, they will be talking on when to start flying.
The assessment and timing of Zambian Airways business concept was not done in good faith. Why would Zambia care about Zambia Airways at the moment if it cannot make a profit, but loss? This is one of the root cause why Zambia is poor. Failure to listen to its citizens is the reason why Zambia Airway will not be making profits. Copy Cat is adding more debt which is not justifiable . Building Kafue lower Hydro is good. The money which has been used to start Zambia Airways could have been used to build another Generating Station. Zambia has potential to export power if investments are made.
When all airlines in the world are in trouble
And who will getting on those unserviced planes? Anyway, Less mukulu
Hitting the skies to where now?
@Eagle’s Eye, to where? To heaven mate ! Zambia is a Christian nation, the PF government is preparing for mass evacuation of PF members to some unknown place in the sky. I cannot see any other purpose of the airline.
Things are getting worse in Zambia
Zambia being ruled by visionless Zombies
Zambia being ruled by visionless Zombies…..
Anothe corona BID
Look at these shameless foooools instead of cutting losses now they still insist with this silly airline even when they are broke. Dont blame covid-19 for your failures the industry has got much tougher than ever before you failed to launch 2 years ago.
Njala fulu fulu mu ma komboni and somebody is talking about Zambia Airways
History in the making. As a patriot this makes me extremely proud to be zambian. Remember the eagle is our national bird. That in itself says we are going places. As for evil diasporans above what are you complaining about when you can’t even afford to fly and have not visited your relatives in zambia since the 90s. Most of you have not legalized your stays there and so can’t fly out out of fear of not being let back in by your colonialists
Teacher: give me names of flightless birds
Peter: ostrich
Chuma: emu
Suzyo: Penguin
Chola: Zambian air…..
Class: eeeeeh, hahaha…..
I will stick with Emirates regardless of how cheap the tickets maybe.
The Airline will be used for the 2021 Elections. The planes will be used to ferry cadres and Ballot boxes. After the Elections, it will be another story – losses, losses and more operational challenges! ECL and his chaotic gang don’t know what they are doing! They are operating at the lowest level of the Evolution tree. You can’t be using base animal instincts to run an economy. You must have clarity about the model you are using! These are failed KK models you want to bring back.
Zambia has been paying that Ethiopian for last 3years, for doing nothing. That is robbery. That guy should be in jail together with idyots who employed him.
And that is privitazation my friend, it hurts.
The Airline will be used for the 2021 Elections. The planes will be used to ferry cadres and Ballot boxes. After the Elections, it will be another story – losses, losses and more operational challenges! ECL and his chaotic gang don’t know what they are doing! They are operating at the lowest level of the Evolution tree. You can’t be using base animal instincts to run an economy. You must have clarity about the model you are using! These are failed KK models you want to bring back!!!
Bloggers ignore the comment above from an impersonator. His fingers will soon cripple if he does not desist from such malice. Everyone here knows I have always supported this wonderful project of our very own national airline.
At this time sure?……when almost all the Airlines are grounded! Visionless leadership
Just whats wrong with the PF bandits government.. .????? These guys are serious jokers….hit the sky…..going where?……established airlines are making big loses and cutting down….anyway….no vision….we expect such ideas
Nostra – its that corrupt moron Brian who signed contracts who can blame EA free money
The only reason for this intrasigency is obviously opportunity to loot.At this time when the nation is broke,the airline industry is in recession, only looting can explain this irrationality
This is a stupid move. Big Airline companies are in trouble. How is a small New airline company with no track record going to survive? Nothing makes sense with the PF. Who is going to be flying on this airline.?
We are in trouble….
PF must Go.
All energies and money should have been used to fully revive ZR…….
Dual tracks should have been in place and an extension to DRC boarder with dry docks and Morden signalling systems to force more trucking transport to use rail
If you can shed more light on this it might not seem such a bad idea
Are there plans the airline will be more commercial purposes ie goods in and out China trade etc since we are a landlocked nation… or are these things you have not considered… We do transport most of our Goods via several other nations. Problem at the moment we have such a corrupt or lets say group of people economic with the truth one would think even if its for that purpose what are they planning to bringing in the country for there benefit.
Also sometimes in times of crisis it could be the best time to set up as long as its managed and set up ethically so nothing wrong its just the people charged with responsibilities we totally mistrust.
17 idlots from diaspora have down voted my comments. The truth hurts
Son of a beech- Kaizar Zulunyoko!!
It is not your comment they have voted down it is the disrespectful manner that you have decided to air your views that has got the thumps down.
HIT THE SKIES TO WHERE? TO MULOBEZI?
NO NO NO NO NO!!
PLEASE NO
AIRLINES EVERY WHERE ARE TOXIC BECAUSE OF COVID 19
Disconnected from reality. First you have to get out from under the heavy rock, then you will see the sky cannot be hit with anything like your national airline.
The timing of the re-launch of Zambia (QZ in short) if it is true it will be this year or at least next early next year, couldn’t have come at a better time. I am saying this because, as any airline in the world, we could have been in serious economic problems just like any airline in the world. We could have been forced maybe even to scrap the idea as borrowing for a re-launch within a re-launch would have been untainable.
However, this timing is spot-on. This is because every airline in the world (BIG and small) has been affected by COVID-19 and they are all like just relaunching their operations. This kinda puts QZ on the same footing (not entirely, though). In this case there’s high probability of emerging as one of the best airlines in the world. Mind you Zambia Airways used be…
. Mind you Zambia Airways used be one of the best airlines (maybe in the world). However, for sure QZ used to beat SAA during South Africa’s apartheid regime. They were nowhere near Zambia Airways in terms of service, aircraft maintence and many other accolades.
However, as in all profit-making airline businesses, the choice of routes are very important. Zambia gets most of the tourists from the USA, France and Germany.
CHIKUBABE
Don’t blame KK for the ills we are in today. KK left a very healthy Zambia Airways. The company had more ASSETS than LIABILITIES. It had highly trained Zambian manpower, pilots, air hostess, cabin crew etc etc. The DEVIL knows why MMD Government liquidated the company instead of realigning and or reorganizing the operations. Chikubabe just shut up you know very little about KKs achievements for this country. Don’t argue “cos” you were not there. How old are you?
…With this in mind, these routes should first be established. We scantily have tourists from the UK. However, a good number of Zambians live in the UK- this route should be established too. Not for the reason of Zambia having been a colony of the UK.
Locally, Zambia should be looking at tourist destinations and provincial capital towns/cities. On top of the already well established tourist destinations, (I wouldn’t bother to mention them), the Bangweulu Wetlands Region is swiftly transitioning into a world class tourist destination. The Wetlands Region offers the immediate Samfya Sand Beaches, Ifunge Peninsula ( a stretch of 12km of pure-white sand and probably up to a kilometre or so in width, all the islands on the Bangweulu including Chilubi are sandy. Plus you have the…
…. Plus you have the Bangweulu wet grass and wood lands- West Lunga is a woodland areas once populated with more than 250,000 elephants- if not once the most elephant populous area in the world.
Conclusively, this is the right time for re-launch of QZ as it will seriously contribute to the economic fast-track growth of Zambia. The UK are looking for new suppliers of farm produce and DR Congo needs to be fed too.
@Kaizar-If you have not realized you are the only fool supporting the PF on this platform.
You are stuck….
Go away and cry, you don’t belong here.
World over the airline industry was paralyzed and they are just stating again.For me this is the perfect time to start the airline.All we need is to support this gvt initiative. An airline is a catalyst for the growth of the Tourism sector . A national carrier markets the country it represents.
Zambian airways about to hit the sky when the entire zambia is about to crash……visionless pathetic fools in control…
Dweny I am aware that this is the hideout for the cowardly f00lish diasporans such as you who use it to insult our leadership. So I am here to shake things up and give people the truth. Your indoctrination will remain there in diaspora where it belongs. If you don’t like it. What are you doing to do little boy eh? Small boy. Kabudo
The above reasons, given by those supporting or against should be taken into account whether proceeding to start jump Zambian Airways. The ball is in the court of the government that does not listen to its citizens. MMD government lost because it could not listen to the wisdom and professionals with sound mind.