South Africa’s Minister of Finance Tito Mboweni has apologized to Zambia for any offence caused by his tweet.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Hon. Joseph Malanji and Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia took a moment to discuss and enlighten South Africa’s Mboweni about strides Zambia has recently made in the aviation sector.
According to a statement released to the media by Inutu Mwanza, the First Secretary fro Press and Tourism at the Zambian Embassy in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, Mr Malanji stated that Zambia has made critical investments in national airports in Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone in excess of $1billion.
He said Zambia’s international traffic has also grown tremendously with numerous daily flights from Dubai, South Africa, Addis Ababa and Nairobi.
He also stated that plans are afoot and reached advanced stage to reintroduce a national carrier.
This was done during the sideline meeting at the 12th Extra-Ordinary Summit of the Assembly of Heads if State in Nihamey Niger.
Mboweni made a tweet that caused wide offence.
“I recall the days when this airport was populated by the Zambia Airways fleet. There is none now. Zambia Airways does not exist anymore. Reality check. But I am on Rwanda Air. A small African country doing big things.”
Mbwoeni has since apologised for the tweet.
Really laughable. What is there to apologise for over 50 years of management. I think the two empty suits need to apologise for seeking an endorsement for Zambia three decades of mediocrity
Sadly the two people interceding for Zambia are not really the type that could put our case properly. Tito Mboweni’s predecessors and Mboweni himself know how much money they hv to pump into SAA to keep it afloat. Personally I would never feel offended by wht Mboweni tweeted because I know how poorly managed SAA is. If Mboweni isn’t embarrassed by this, then he’s wrong man in the SA treasury. I once remember this man talking about a single currency for SADC during his time as SA reserve bank governor, something he has not done any coursework on and therefore lacks technical understanding of.
He has nothing to apologise for. He was spot on! The ridiculous presidents have destroyed everything….Chiluba, Banda and Lungu
Malanji is dull and Emmanuel is a cadre
It is true. He is stating a fact as to how things are now. Why apologise?
Only low life UPND sycophants and zealots and enemies of progress led by their Supreme leader HH have been against the re-established of a National Airline in Zambia due to group think mentality caused by acute inferiority complex…The rest of progressive majority Zambians are aware of the ungrateful South Africans…
Where is the apology, and why apologize for the fact? How many times PFools have postponed that Zambia Airways. since Yamfwa Mukanga?
Pfoolishness they even pay a ghost CEO for a Zambia Airways which doesn’t exist.
The picture tells it all that that South African minister is threatening or warning Emmanuel not ever to step foot in South Africa. And Malanje is about to pull off Emmanuel before he is assaulted!!
Picture looks like Emmanuel was about to be beaten by that South African, and Malanji pulling Emmanuel away.
In fact he should have added education to that list and stated that in the 80s a lot of SA were going to UNZA and CBU now its Zambians going to SA….Rwanda is sending satellite for education to space whilst Zambia President is sitting on the gates for CBU.
Ba Tito chipuba.
The Emporer’s new clothes. Tito sees that the Emporer is very naked, while cadres Malanji & Emmanuel Mwamba claim to love the Emporer’s clothes which “can’t seen by stup1d people”.
We have lagged behind in terms of development. Lets emulate Rwanda, not zimbabwe.
Ba Tito nabo kwati te ba economist mwandi! Who says if the airport is populated by Zambia Airways planes the Zambian airline was doing well? He can just look at O R Tambo and see how it is right now Elyo populated by SAA planes. SAA has never made a profit from 1994. Elyo why should our government be bothering about explaining the situation to Tito? Is he the IMF boss? He is just a minister of a neighbouring country that doesn’t lend us any money
There’s nothing here to apologize for. Truth hurts. These clowns in leadership know that he’s telling the truth. Who doesn’t know that Rwanda is doing greater things than Zambia? Just compare the tourism sectors of Zambia and Rwanda. Of course more people want to visit Rwanda than Zambia. Rwanda, with their hard working president, is more popular than Zambia. IT’S THE PLAIN TRUTH. Lazy, corrupt Lungu has no vision, and don’t think people outside Zambia don’t know that. All you lazy corrupt leaders are interested in is stealing taxpayer’s money. You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You lazy clowns. Now change your culture of corruption and get serious with developing the country. Even our neighboring countries, Tanzania and Botswana, are doing far greater things than us…
I personally don’t see any reason to apologize, call a spade a spade. The foolishness of our ministers or government is trying to silence everyone that is positively criticizing them. Insoni ubuntu, for how long will you defend mediocrity and non-performing? Yet you continue getting full salaries and corrupt deals. Bachimbwi imwe.
Ati “Zambia has made critical investments in national airports in Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone in excess of $1billion”, what jokers. Instead of saying “Zambia has borrowed heavily to investment in national airports in Lusaka, Ndola and Livingstone in excess of $1 billion which its now hoping the IMF can pay on its behalf”? This man had no reason to apologize!!!!!!
Investment of 1 billion dollars which is a third, poor quality, overpriced and inflated…surely whats there to be proud of!!
Nothing wrong with the observation Mr. Mboweni made. Just get on with it and stop being too sensitive over non issues!
Lol.
What a fake world we are living in. We are now required to apologise for stating facts
Foreigners ad Ambassadors are stating the facts ..just last week the US Ambassador was stating that Politicians should do less campaigning and more work…guess what Lazy Lungu was doing on his working holiday he was in Kabwe and Kaputa with the whole PF entourage campaigning.
Nothing wrong at all with the observation made by Mr. Mboweni. Just get on with it and stop being too sensitive!
Tito Mboweni Tweeted the bare facts about Zambia Airways demise and the current visionless leadership. Ati daily flights from Nairobi is his weak defence ,hahaha .
Daily flights to Nairobi where that daily flight has to detour to Harare just to refuel as Zambian fuel is too expensive.
That statement is not offensive at all. He was simply stating that Zambia Airways was once the envy of Africa and the world over. When people make such statements it means they are disappointed to see how low you have become after holding you in high esteem. Zambia Airways standards will never be replicated because the commitment was from the highest office of the land. KK had so much trust in that airline and for good reasons as Zambia was once considered a terrorist state for championing freedom for the likes of Tito Mboweni and others.
I am very sad today, tears almost rolled down my eyes reading your comment. When i was young, to me Zambia was the greastest country you could live in. Memories of Chelston, Avondale. Those where my play grounds. I knew a lot of Zambia Airways Families, Pilots, Cabin crew, engineers….
Mr.Tito Mboweni there was really nothing to apologize for. You said only the truth. The ones who were offended are hypocrites.Mr Mboweni is actually telling us Zambians to wake up from slumber
No need for an apology Hon.Mboweni.You said only the truth
Mboweni was stating a fact. What is there to apologise for? A National Airline should not be a priority on our national development agenda in any case. CBU has been closed for 3Months and Civil Servants salaries are constantly delayed due to the prevailing national financial crises. What good is a National
Airline under such distressing financial morass?
He should have spoken for himself on tweeter and other platforms. He just apologized to you in private and you are happy. Why not demand a public apology? Otherwise, he was right and apology was not necessary
The truth hurts batini!
Absolutely NO NEED for any apologies. You were spot on!
Where is the apology from Tito? Can’t see it.
Where is the apology from Tito? Can’t see it!
It’s typical of Zambians….we don’t want facts. Do we have an Airline?? Yes or No
What is there to apologize about? Call a spade a spade, calling on someone who is positively criticizing you to apologize is just another level of stupidity. You accept mediocrity and nonperforming amongest yourselves and call it working for the nation. What an insult to the electorate that entrusted you to oversee the utilization of our resources.
Only low life UPND sycophants and zealots and enemies of progress led by their Supreme leader HH have been against the re-established of a National Airline in Zambia due to group think mentality caused by acute inferiority complex…The rest of progressive majority Zambians are aware of the ungrateful South Africans…
The truth hurts why should you apologise, this lifeless Zambian government should feel ashamed, a country whose President can’t even have a press conference to give hope to the citizens.
Testing mwebantu
Today i realize that the truth hurts
Spot on Mr Mboweni. Call a spade a spade! No need to apologise for speaking the truth.
Hon Mboweni stated facts. Zambia is a shadow of itself. I remember too flying to and from Joburg on Zambia Airways Nkhwazi DC 10 from 1989-1992. The plane was gateway for South Africans flying to London and New York. It used to come back full eroute to the either of the two destinations. Put simply, Lusaka was a hub not this malabishi we now have.
He wasn’t supposed to apologies for tweeting facts.
The SA minister of finance is SPOT ON!!!Moreover,all HH’s supporters should be the last ones to open their stinking mouths on this issue because HH and FTJ Chiluba privatized Govnt companies which UNIP left in the 1990s.The PF Govnt has tried so hard to bring back some of those companies such as Kawambwa tea and now ZAMBIA AIRWAYS,sadly,HH and all his blind followers are against this splendid idea!!Zambia was run down by MMD.roads and buildings were like in Somalia.Thank God for giving us PF Govnt who are seriously giving Zambia a new face, DESPITE GREAT OPPOSITION FROM CROWNS SUCH AS KAMBWILI,KALABA AND HH who all sing a fake chorus “corruption corruption” when all they want are VOTES!!!
The SA finance minister is SPOT ON!!!But all HH’s blind followers should be the last ones to open their rotten mouths on this issue because FTJ Chiluba and Kainde privatized these companies which Dr.KK’s UNIP Govnt left.The PF Govnt has tried so hard to bring up some of those firms such as Kawambwa tea,revamping Zambia Railways,etc.Currently,this Govnt wants to re-start Zambia airways,but as always the anti-development vulntures camped in opposition are against this splendid idea.Truth be told,PF has given Zambia a new face (new roads,nice buildings,etc) despite great opposition from state house dreamers such as HH,Kambwili and Kalaba who sing a fake chorus “corruption corruption” when all they want are VOTES from us!!!
its a good thing to have your own Airline as it opens up so many potential areas of growth but mapping your view and strategy on how you want to profit from the investments fundamentals in the airline industry is every very important in our chosen strategy as either a low cost carrier or full service carrier or the hybrid of the two understanding the risks and rewards in those routes impacting the Airline sector
With Zambia Airways in the skies, loss of business for South African Airways is not likely to be extreme. The situation will normalize quickly. Thereafter, the volume of business will grow on both sides. Even South African investors are free to buy shares in Zambia Airways at the stock exchange.
We have to admit our politicians have messed up in Zambia and continue to mess up. There is no vision.
There is none economic sector that we can point out that we are good at and others can learn from us. We try to be good in everything without resources to support it. Chipante pante at its best. How can you develop?
Tito Mboweni was absolutely right. The South African ANC members who lived in Zambia remember very well how the late Zambia Airways reigned supreme in African Skies. When it went under many linked businesses closed shop or suffered greatly, several travel and tour agencies closed, several cargo agents closed, International Catering Services which used to provide in-flight meals shut down, the Zambia Export Growers Association who had dedicated space on Zambia Airways Flights for exports equally suffered greatly. Where is the national pride of having new airports and expansions only to host foreign airlines? A big chunk of the tourist traffic Zambia bound have their holiday packages prepaid outside Zambia, they stay in lodges owned by foreign operators, treated to food and drinks made from…
Tito did not apologize. We are being lied to. Look again at the pictures, who looks like apologizing? Tito finger is pointing at the small boy, like, isn’t it a fact? The Zambian guy who is on the left in the photo is like, please Sir, do not raise your voice. We will come and collect our two planes we parked at Johannesburg Airport.
Kikikikiki , indeed he looks quite puzzled.
Nothing wrong with having a national airline. But its not just about having a national airline. Is it a priority for Zambia at the moment? We have been left behind since the ‘demise’ of Zambia Airways. Where are the passengers going to come from? SAA and Kenya airways are struggling. But the biggest issue is to do with the running of the airl;ine itself. I for one can categorically state that I would never entrust this regime with such a venture. Ever.
@Njimbu …What has HH got to do with the collapse of Zambia Airways? This continued ranting of yours about privatisation and HH doesn’t wash. Be more objective and analytical.
A gentleman will always say sorry when one realizes they have blundered. Yes, facts are that the Zambian Airways had disappeared from the scene but what is more important is what we are doing about it. Mistakes are a sign that someone had done something about it and hope we have learnt our lesson. This is an industry very expensive to run and can drain the coffers if not well thought through. Do not get discouraged by the PHD commentators. I have made mistakes in my life and corrected the same. If you do not make mistakes, it just means you are not trying or doing anything new. But please NO insults and name calling!
Mboweni is a hyprocrite. I thought he is hell bent on destrying South African Airways and he is on record of saying Shut it down. So why is he surprised that Zambia took the path he wants to take for SAA
Nothing to apologise for.He said the mere truth.Zambia Airways had a good number of airplanes but today there’s zero.Today if I am at Intercity and I say that there’s not a single UBZ bus,just why should I apologise.An intention to bring back Zambia Airways doesn’t mean the airline is in operation.No.
Zambia really has illiterates in diplomatic missions. Tito for once was glorifying Zambia for the Wings of Africa and someone thinks he was insulting Zambia? This is not even news. The UK ambassador to the US leaked emails saying how dysfunctional the Trump admin is and how weak the president is. That deserves an apology even if it is true. The ambassador should not do what he did. Tito says it as it is, always, and this was actually a compliment.
Tito Mboweni’s SAA has bn financial traits, never made a profit in years, that is why he is flying RuandaA?.
I doubt Rwanda Air has ever recorded a profit as end of year financials are a secret.
“I recall the days when this airport was populated by the Zambia Airways fleet. There is none now. Zambia Airways does not exist anymore. Reality check. But I am on Rwanda Air. A small African country doing big things.”
The South African minister spoke the truth. Who was upset? Zambians should strive to make his point a non go by actually making the new airline succeed.
What qualifications do Malanji and Mwamba hold to be allowed to comment on such matters which seem far beyond their understanding? For a cadre, any criticism OF HIS ACT OR THAT OF HIS COLLEAGUE OR BOSS is wrong! Even when the emperor is moving around naked, they (CADRES)would not dare to advise him to dress because they have to tell him what his tailor has told him: THAT HE IS DRESSED.
Should not have apologized for being factual.
a tweet that caused wide offence???
Where? To whom? Stop dreaming ba LT
He meant what he said, but as a politician, he has to come back to politics – Detente!
No need to apologise we the zambians who fly regularly are always at pains to explain how Zambia can fail to have its own air line.
It is indeed a shame to be subjected to this disrespectful situation we face on daily basis, why only Zambia the great Zambia.
No own airline really what is wrong with our people.
The South African minister is just speaking for the majority of us who suffer the shame.
Niti kacocotelo kayona kwa pilu, apuu, mane kimwana suului Japan kayuwe kwa malete! These Katangese baboons have destroyed the country and they can’t even admit it!
Niti kacocotelo kayona kwa pilu, apuu, mane kimwana suului Japan kayuwe kwa malete! These Katangese baboons have destroyed the country and they can’t even admit it ????????????
APOLOGIZE FOR WHAT?THAT WAS A FACT AND TITO MBOWENI IS ON POINT!FORGET IT TO HAVE A NATIONAL AIRLINE. IT IS SO EXPENSIVE AND NOT EASY TO RUN.IT IS NOT LIKE YOU ARE STARTING A NTEMBA.PF HAS FAILED EVEN TO RUN PARASTATAL COMPANIES. ALL OF THEM ARE INSOLVENT. IF YOU ARE TO BRING SERIOUS AUDITORS YOU CAN SEE. ALL THESE GUYS IN GOVT ARE DAY DREAMING.KWALIMPWA.YOU FORM AN AIRLINE WHEN YOU HAVE ALOT DEBTS THE PHARISES ARE CONTRACTING. EURO BOND, CHINESE ETC. THESE BIG AIRLINES HAVE ALOT OF CHALLENGES SUCH THAT THE GOVT MOVES IN.ZAMBIA AS A COUNTRY WE ARE A LAUGHING STACK. HUMBLE LEADER KIKIKI
APOLOGY ACCEPTED MORE ESPECIALLY AFTER BEATING EGYPT IN THEIR BACK YARD, S[EAK MORE TRUTH WHEN YOU BEAT SUPER EAGLES MAILO