President Rupiah Banda has disclosed that he is in talks with Ethiopian Airways to consider extending their service to Zambia’s tourism capital Livingstone.
He said the response from the airline was positive as the African carrier was looking into the matter.
Mr. Banda, further, said government would begin to look at possibilities of transforming the Lusaka International Airport into a regional hub to accommodate international transit flights.
Meanwhile, Mr. Banda said discussions with International Monetary Fund, IMF, here, have provided insight on Chinese investment in Africa.
Mr. Banda said the IMF has no problem with Chinese investment in Africa and has since recommended the continent to embrace the investments in view of the current global financial crisis.
He said the IMF spoke highly of Chinese investment in countries such as Angola which has greatly benefited the people.
China’s investment in Africa has grown exponentially in recent years with the total value of trade between China and Africa increasing nearly 40 per cent annually.
On United States of Africa, Mr. Banda said African Union member countries in principle, subscribe to the formation of continental government.
He however, said the differences lie in the pace and procedure of going about the formation of such a government.
And President Banda met with British Minister for Africa, Asia and the United Nations, UN, Lord Malloch Brown ahead of the forthcoming G20 meeting in London, UK
Mr Banda said during the private talks with British Minister, he emphasized the need for increased African representation during the G20 meeting to ensure that Africa’s voice is stronger at such fora.
He proposed that in addition to South Africa, Ethiopia, the African Union Chairperson and another country should be brought on board.
ZANIS/ENDS/SJK/MKM
A Very good sign
Ah well
RB talking and not dosing.Bless him
I don’t know if this is a good move:-?
Fly Ethiopian Air
Fyabupuba fyeee, everyday asking other people to do things for us!
well done RB keep it up!
😕
Nine Chale. This isn’t a good move at all. What we possibly need is a national flag-carrier
Allow your own to die and invite others to replace it. I s that the policy
Mukulomba twapena.
RB Lets not bring Ethopian Airline on a political involvement but let the aviation industry work together amicably.
11. Matworld-Nice guy!
Is you Internet working now? Please write bach through Mail!!
Cheers
#10 It really doesnt make sense to me either. Why not your own national airline.
BRUDER L
Bushe what is happening mudala wandi? are you on wanted list? I was just wondering who this person is.Let me write you right away.
Are we Zambians going to always depend on other countries, where is our independence? 😮
DAVID Banda, the man claiming to be President Rupiah Banda’s nephew who stayed at Ndola’s Park lodge for 28 days and allegedly ran away without settling bills, was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour. Hahahahaha.
A National airline, though a better option, is untenable in the current economic scenario. So a stop-gap measure such as is being pursued is more practical for now.
RB @ work
is this what is meant ny emulating Ethiopia, just like numbala dix am not for the idea.
kayaaaaaaaaa
RB is talking about improving the “International Airport” after the Budget?Is he serious or he is just embarrassed at the state of our airport in comparison with Addis.
If the president is in talks with this airline,what is the relevant ministers job?the action is gud but see thats why we get nowhere in zambia,for donkey years leaders want to do everything,speak to investors,be involved in mine sales,puchasing vehicles,tenders etc,this will no doubt give that airline unfair advantage over others in the region ,whats the real reason!! surely there must be bigger challenges the country faces,like a complete overhaul of the government functionality etc than have an entire leader talking deals…
#22 he must have been shocked to see Bola International Airport. its not something you would expect to see in Ethiopia,with all the stories of hunger,starvation,famine.
#22
Observer,
Ni politicking chabe; these people just want to be presido for personal economic safety. For him, he has achieved this…his young kids who he will not see through High school becaise he will have died by then, have already secured a safety net through the tax payers’s money till they reach university, I suppose, if they have the intelligence
Kwena bakateka wesu li ‘T’ . He can’t even be ashamed sourcing business/services from countries like Ethiopia. Where did we go wrong? Are you telling us all those chaps in the government whom we proclaim to be Economists,Accountants,Lawyers etc CAN’T broker a good deal with reputable airline companies/countries…for us to get a better solution.
The problem is they always want to support deals which will benefit them personally. They are so many good private airlines which can manage to service us at the moment not from ‘PIRATES’
Zambia is worse than Somalia, Ethiopia, Mozambique and Rwanda… It is the worst country at the moment after Zimbabwe
In fact, Zambia is the worst country in the world. Zimbabwe is much better (Nibupuba chabe bwa Bo Mugabe-they still have the infrastructure so good) Wait and see how investors will flock there once Mugabe is out of power.
LT, why do you like labling me anonymous….each time I have nice points to blog? @ 25, 27 and 28….
Iam Casey Khisho…in fact I will be PhD shorty watch out LT!
I agree with #18 Anonymous; I hope RB’s approach is to pursue this strategy in the meantime bofore he can pursue the idea of a National Airline. The climate, financially, is not right for a national airline but he should pursue a deliberate strategy that will culminate into the end result that most of us want: Zambia Airways.
Full marks on his suggestion that Africa should be represented by more than just South Africa in the G20 summit.
What nonsense is this we fail to save our own airline and we begin to ask for assistance???????
God help Zambia
This is a crazy move.This will kill our local Airline business.
This guy is selling the country big time.
I have flown on Ethopian Airways and i must say the planes are dirty and service is utter rubbish.
When said last time about begging from anyone that time it was Korea. Someone short me on the side. Bane ubuchushi bubi kuti walomba nakuuleimba ati alesheta. Your president should never leave his dignity intergrity at home. If he has any. bonse ebomwakumanya kulomba bakulamitina
time wasters
So he would rather see a foreign airline operate in Zambia than support the local Zambian Airways. This is having priorities screwed up..
They were once and then there was a privately own Ethopian Co called Aero Zamb1a. They both got hounded out
The biggest problem with our country is that a person who has little knowledge on a subject will speak with authority on it.
Please know that Ethiopian Airlines is not a casual operator. It is the oldest Airline on the continent and was training Zambia Airways Pilots, Engineers and cabin crew.
#26 Real Data’s comment that they are Pirates is such a disgrace. Ethiopian Airlines has survived political turmoil in Ethiopia and all the shocks in the aviation industry. They are true proffessionals
WHEN YOU ARE IGNORANT ON A SUBJECT PLEASE SHUT UP. It reflects badly on our silly politics in Zambia.
The question I have is what is the role of the minster of commerce and industry? If the whole “Mighty” Akulu Mphuno could be discussing such issues. Nevertheless, Iam for the idea that we start our own national Airline.
SHREK, PLEASE WHAT WE NEED IS OUR OWN ZAMBIAN AIRWAYS NOT ETHIOPIAN AIRWAYS, WHATS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE.
#27 Anonymous. True story.
This is shocking. Why cant NS first handle the National Airline issue before giving up and calling Ethiopian Airways. We are in trouble guys.
Hi Bloggers
#37 Abena Nkole don’t get emotional, you will threaten us eeh? Don’t magnify Ethopian Airline so much you may not know some data behind their survival. Even if they trained our pilots or drivers we still can stand on our own, we dont need them to come eat our local industry.
The problem with RB is he doesn’t think before he talks. he just :-@ any how.
Or maybe it will be jointly owned like TAZAMA pipeline now in this case it will be ZAM ETHO Aiways. RB good idea – joint venture.
But ka airport kesu kamusebanya, kuti walila.
very embarassing
Zo ona Nyama soya is not serious, calling pirates to come to Zed. How did we get to this point sure [-x
41. Ba Maureen
mulashani?
RB is not thinking of Zambia own airline or maybe their work on problem having with Zambian airways then just talking for what is not now
But Zo-ona pa site apa paliba abamano hey! Guys why don’t we come up with an organisation that can be helping our leaders with the knowledge o how to deal with certain issues affecting our beloved country.I have fallen in love with everyone here becoz of all your sensible contribution.I promise you I will be praying for each one of you so that you can continue enjoying God’s blessings wherever you are.Amano guys kwati mwaponenefye kumulu.
Matworld
LT award winner for :-j:-j:-j
@ #37. NKOLE WA MAPEMBWE,
You’re on the money, infact that’s the problem with our people, they all seem to have ‘expert’ opinions on everything under the sun.
The ‘talking industry’ is the only one thriving industry in Zambia, i wonder why
We’re talking about the 2nd/3rd best airline on the continet after SAA the other being Kenyan Airways, not to mention the most experienced,
so why not learn from them, why not do business with fellow africans?
Mr. president dont talk about Chinese investors, its not the IMF whom they are cheating, its Zedians. They have literaly turned Zed into a dumping ground. They know that Zedians are price concious, so they make malabishi goods and sell them at 5pin. Total nosense, maybe in other country were they have quality control mechanisms. For example in North Africa the Chinese goods, the quality is good.
A little boy in the second republic wanted K50,000 badly and prayed for two weeks but nothing happened.
Then he decided to write God a letter requesting K50,000. When the postal authorities received the letter addressed to God, They decided to send to president ftj.
The President was impressed, touched, and amused that he instructed his secretary to send the little boy K10,000 bill.President ftj thought this would appear to be alot of money to a little boy. The little boy was delighted with the K10,000 and sat down to write a thank you note to God, which read:
Contnd.
“Dear God, Thank you very much for sending the money, however,
I noticed for some reason you had to send it through State house and, as usual that crook deducted k40,000.”
@ # 49. Matworld-Nice guy..
Why not come up with our own social policy forum, were we can start our own threads or initiate discussions on whatever relevant topics come to mind,
not that there’s anything wrong with this site here, but we are only reacting to what an editor decides to paste, if you know what i mean,
shoot me an email at… kushnubian(at)gmail(dot)kom…. we can brainstorm
Simply join hands with Virgin for Virgin Zambia with a 40% stake owned by government, let the airline employ Zambian pilots and stewards. Virgin Zambia with national colours. That is what has improved Nigeria.
number 38 Akulu Mphuno can be so true bout you aswell. Think b 4 u point to others
The Lusakan Gigolo
You are right my dear.Let me shoot you one right now.
@ # 24. jendie,
True Bole International is fab, despite the all the hunger hype of Ethiopia in the media,
not to mention the Ethiopian sisters, almost each one is pretty
it’s the 5th busiest airport on the continent, really the more i visit other coutries the more i pity my own,
the i get irritated with the pettyness i see from the people that matter back home,
even Harare international airport with current economic mess , is light years from our own,
one wonders whether these leaders are not embarrased to recieve other heads of state at Lusaka Int Airport,
Sad
The Lusakan Gigolo
Dropped you one.
@ # 59. Matworld-Nice guy…
Just got it. Ta
Kenya Airways would have been better
Nairobi—Livingstone——->Lusaka————Nairobi…. More tourists coming off Nairobi Hub
@ # 55.Shidada, Kwa Windhoek….,
That’s what saved Kenya Airways, their partnership with KLM,
infact they were in worse off than Zambian Airways, riddled with corruption,nepotism and mismanagement,
but Moi stood his ground against the IMF onslaught, he was sanctioned, threatened etc
today they are among the top on the continent,
Virgin recently clashed with Nigerian govt though with regards to local flights into Nigerian cities as opposed to international flights,
that threatened their partnership don’t know how it was resolved
Typical of Zedian leaders.I do not understand how this guys think of Zedian enterprises.RB find it easy to buy maize from Boers in RSA at $400 per tonne than in Zambia where he was buying the same quatity and quality at $120.Promoting and creating employement in RSA instead of his own country.He is willing to talk to Ethopian Airways for this foreign ailine good incentives to operating here as he cannot have time to talk to Zambian Airways to see how he can keep the local airline from collapsing and offer incentives so that ZA iable to overcome its operational problems and thus salvage threatened job losses for country men and women but he prefers to creat business for others.
@ # 61. HK,
Competition is welcome, look at the monopoly enjoyed by BA on lusaka- london,
or the curtail enjoyed by SAA and BA on the Johannesburg-L/stone route,
take a look at their fares, them 2 are recouping their international losses using this route, almost free of charge
in short am for govt opening up these routes to many carriers especially if we’ve non of our own airlines to protect
You guys what do you want the President do with a banch of self proclaimed graduates mismanaging the operations of companies?Keep on bailing them out?Is that what call development?Zambian airways was making alot of money,but do you ask yourselves where turnovers were going?If you are a relatives of one the Zambian airways “share holders” just make up your mind and find a life.We shall, not again never allow thugs to run crooked businesses in the name of empowerment on the expense suffering Zambians.Why are these other airlines still standing?
Koshani nfiti uyu ati katele, muzayamba ku mbululuka chabe bwino.
Shame!.Why not bring back Zambian Airways?.Are you not proud of your own People?
Amuna Onzuna
By no chance imwe, ndiye solution iyo? Zambian aiways ana feluka basi
@ # 65. wanyanya …
Would it not have been more prudent for govt, to convert the debt owed to it by Zambian Airways into equity,
in effect having a stake/becoming a shareholder in proportion to the debt owed to it( i.e part nationalisation)
that way govt could have had a say/influence in the running of the airline and probably increase it’s ownership slowly with time
yes there was mismanagement but there were better ways of handling the issue,
in short govt missed a cheaper(probably cheapest) opportunity to re-launch Zambia Airways through the back door albeitly
Am glad that Nkole @ 37 has corrected the ignorant picture painted by ‘Real Data’ at 26.
Ethiopian Airlines has in the past been voted the best airline on the continent ahead of even South African Airways. Our own city of Lusaka is still light years from being compared with Addis Ababa let alone their international airport.
From my humble knowledge, there are no pirates in Ethiopia. Perhaps you were thinking of Somalia.
Let’s be serious on this forum. We look forward to quality debate not the hot air @ No. 26.
I am NO 68. Wake me up ‘nga chatwala’. ‘Malabishi’ all over for the past few weeks. Keep your noise down children. o->
@ # 70. Chief …
True,
They say in terms of education, nothing beats travel/exposure….
it’s simply the best form of education, no wonder white people are always hoping around on holidays,
it’s not only for pleasure but to broaden their minds
Gaddafi is too power hungry.watch him carefully.
“Mr. Banda, further, said government would begin to look at possibilities of transforming the Lusaka International Airport into a regional hub to accommodate international transit flights.”
Sense, otherwise LIA is a shame in its current format.
#69,do want to inflict more pain to our ailing government?With this global downturn at hand you think that solution would work?Look at the figures in dollars this defunct company has left unsettled and get back to me.I will be waiting.
Some of these cheap talks of transforming this to that and that to this, hub to rubish sjould not go un challenged. If you really want to do it, why not just start on it. There is a lot of work to do than dreaming of a transformation when we cant even operate an airline. Who do you want to impress. I have seen wiredest presidents like Bob but these guys are sensible and dont talk cheap.
If Zambia is going to operate like a small shop, then dont even think developing one day??.
@ # 75. wanyanya…
I must i vaguely have a figure of about $30 million dollars owed to govt,
am not aware of the other debts,
but then i don’t have any accurate information about this company’s books,
so please feel free to share, i was merely advancing an alternative
Lusaka airport is just small but better than Addis. Hey guys that addis airport is very unussual. the arrangement is bad there and even ugly. Our is OK, it just needs to be done nicely but not what RB is thinking. Hub of what??. We have failed to maintain an airline and so what kind of hub is that which which you will manage well??. It is like dreaming of passing an exam without passing anyone of the exam papers?? Wired
#77,Read this my bro. On Thursday January 8, the Zambia National Airports Corporation Limited (NACL) handed to Muntembo Nchinto, CEO of Zambian Airways court summons to settle a bill of US$200 million; on saturday, January 10, Zambian Airways suspended all operations leaving scores of passengers for local and international routes stranded
Chipuba sana uyu RB always begging why can’t he empower his subjects of let alone revive one.Depressing decisions all the time.
To fly to TZ via SA now you need not les than $500 one way?? Alale elyo lywanya!!!!
I miss Zambian Airways truly.
There is no need of promoting tourism without a national airline since 6o% of the tourism package goes to the airline
Oh and about making it a hub how many run ways does lusaka have,how much is the price of jet fuel in zambia.It is a fact that airlines do not refuel in lusaka
RB: I can give you authority to fly to Livingstone
Ethiopian Airline: Are you sure? We have the capacity.
RB: Nizadyamo zingati?
RB is embarrassing the country. GROW UP and manage your own affairs, Bafiposa mabwe. Ministers, MPS stop being rubber stumps. Invest in your own airline and for once achieve something you can call your own. Most governments own and run airlines, What is wrong with Zambia. STOP BEING SUCH A BIG JOKE or you are not worthy the soil you step on. All of you decision makersthere, this is for you.
Zambian Airways can be saved. And what does our beloved President do, fly to the Horn of Africa and invite another country’s Flagship to partake of our skies. Let me be governor here first, pray we get duel citizenship so as I can lead our nation to mental freedom. We need God and an accidental Great person voted into office. God bless Zambia and All of Us.
What do expect. You elected an oldman whose has just whet his appetite for power. He is not satisfied with being head of state but also wants to be his party’s president, is that a priority? His appointments are not scrutinised. Bailing out Zambian airways would have given the government a stake and a say in the business.
Zambia has just lost out. Southern African will be playing host to most world cup participats. They will need places to stay, airline to travel to and fro South Africa. Dont’t these globetroting politicians have thinking advisers or think tanks.
DAVID Banda, the man claiming to be President Rupiah Banda’s nephew who stayed at Ndola’s Park lodge for 28 days and allegedly ran away without settling bills, was yesterday sentenced to three years imprisonment with hard labour.
:-@ :-@ :-@ thats Zedians. There is a market for you set up your airlines, dont blame Banda. its pathetic really – REALLY!
:))
Aaah here we go again. Anythin foreign is good. Anything Local is Bad. reminds me of george owens Book “Four Legs Good, two legs better” in Animal farm!!! Why cant we mashall our expertise and resources to come up with our pride, our airline? Planes I’m sure are cheaper now with the Global recession, this is time to buy them. The major problem is getting back our quota of landing space and time at foreign airports. R.B I have given you the Idea.
Granted Ethiopia airline is one of the best 5 in Africa, with the likes of SAA, Kenya Airways. But shouldn’t our govt leader be moved to do something for the local industry? Always reaping were you didn’t sow. They have seen he importance of an airline in serving other industries, well i hope so, why not support and encourage our own so we can get to compete with the best. But as always our leaders ‘d rather the foreigner did well in our backyard than the local private company. Shame.
Imwe ba 37 don’t let your personal experiance with th Pirates croud your judgement. All what we need is a better solution for the country. We want the best deal. The Ethiopian political scenario is very unstable,why risk do business with such a country. Some lunatic will come in and close that airline and we will be affected.
Ba shikulu, we should look at a long term solution period(OWN AIRLINE). You may be a professional in that area but on this one,think properly.
Surprisingly, Ethiopian Airlines is doing fine International wise around the AsiaPacific..It is competing and has some connections with reputable airlines like Thai,Cathay,Malaysia,Singapore.
Could be a good and welcome idea to have connections direct to Livingstone. =d>=d>
Thats my opinion=d>=d>
you people you are talking rabish,do you know ethiopia? you don`t know.it is a beautiful country much 100 persent beter than zambia.very beautiful place to visit.