Ethiopian Airways has announced that it plans to buy new regional jets in the next month or so as it prepares to relaunch Zambia Airways.

According to Chief Executive Officer Tewolde GebreMariam, the airline has narrowed its choice to Bombardier Inc.’s C Series and Embraer SA’s E2-family E195.

Mr GebreMariam said Boeing Co.’s 737 Max 7 is now out of the running for the contract, which could feature 10 firm orders and the same number of options.

He said there are no more pressing fleet requirements, though the airline could decide to add more Boeing 787 Dreamliners and Airbus SE A350s.

Ethiopian Airlines agreed in January to take a 45 percent stake in the new Zambia Airways, with flights likely to start in October.

Mr. GebreMariam said Zambia Airways is meant to initially serve national and regional destinations before embarking on international flights.

He also revealed that Ethiopian Airways has also signed an outline accord to establish new national carrier Chad Airlines with a 49 percent holding.

The company will also own all of the planned Ethiopia Mozambique Airlines and 49 percent of Guinea Airlines.

This is part of the Airline’s plans to establish half a dozen international offshoots before the end of the year as Africa’s biggest carrier steps up efforts to dominate markets across the continent.

The new initiatives are aimed at consolidating its lead over rivals Kenya Airways Plc and South African Airways.

Unionised workers at Kagem Minerals on Tuesday held a peaceful protest to press government to increase their salaries.

The workers who also staged a go-slow are demanding that management awards them a 50 percent pay hike.

They are also demanding for a 35 percent increase in housing allowance and a 20 percent hardship allowance.

And the Emerald and Semi-Precious Stones Mining Association of Zambia has commended the workers at Kagem for conducting a peace demonstration in demand of improved conditions of service other than revolting to destructive protests.

ESMAAZ President Victor Kalesha said as an association, they are optimistic that Kagem will meet this demand on a win-win situation.

Mr Kalesha has since urged the unions to be firm in its negotiations so as not to allow such protests to take off.

“Surely indeed conditions of service should be looked into to meet the current cost of living. We want to request our members to adhere to Labour Laws for the benefit of Human Capital or human Resource satisfaction. This will improve the output of production that will attract good auctions,” Mr Kalesha said.

He added, “Let’s not be experiencing one way achievement but both employees and employers. We are mindful that the workers at Kagem have raised the outcry over the auction sales they see in public domains by their employer. But we are also mindful that the cost of mining operations is so enormous hence the need to negotiate on a win-win situation that both the employees and employers are satisfied.”

“But one thing we are certainly proud of is that the employees have conducted themselves in a very well commendable manner without running wild and destroying company property.

We urge other companies across the country to emulate the workers at Kagem not to resort to violent protests when demanding for their labour rights,” Mr Kalesha said.

Zambia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, His Excellency Mr. Muyeba Chikonde has called on the Zambian Business Community in the diaspora to Unite and establish a Diaspora Bond to raise capital for investment projects back home.

Speaking when he officiated at a Corporate Business Dinner held at the Hilton Hotel-Paddington that brought Zambians in UK and other Business Executives interested to do Business in Zambia together, High Commissioner Chikonde said Zambians in the diaspora needed to deal with the issues that prevented them from working and supporting each other.

High Commissioner Chikonde urged the diaspora to use their network of contacts here in the UK, which is a fiscal financial hub, and Europe to access capital and technology that they can use in doing business.

“We are here to begin the conversation on renewing this commitment of working together with a common purpose of contributing to national development from the diaspora perspective. The High Commission is passionate to work hand in glove with all of you without leaving anyone behind. The mission exists because of you. We believe in transformational and servant leadership and we are at your service,” he said.

The High Commissioner said Diasporas are rich in knowledge and experience and have access to capital that could give them an edge. He said that the entrepreneurial spirit in Zambia is high however, the lack of Capital and Technology to support business initiatives is a major hinderance to growing the private sector and yet these ingredients are available here and very few in the diaspora are taking advantage of this to invest in the country.

Mr. Chikonde suggested that Zambians in the UK and Ireland should establish an umbrella body or organization which will help create a formal structure for engagement with Government.

He furthermore, proposed that Zambians living in the United Kingdom should explore how they can establish a diaspora bond that can help to raise capital for investment projects back home.

“No one will develop Zambia but ourselves. We should not just think of doing business with government but explore the immense opportunities in agriculture and tourism as well as the financial services space” he said.

The High Commissioner said the government has introduced a Diaspora policy to promote the participation of the Diaspora in the development of the country and by working together Zambians can make a difference in their own country.

Mr. Chikonde said President Edgar Chagwa Lungu continues to re-affirm Government’s resolve to diversify the economy from the dependency of Copper and boost Agriculture and industrialization to stimulate job and wealth creation adding that Government has put in place investor friendly economic policies to allow both local and foreign investors to take advantage of the many opportunities that Zambia offers.

The High Commissioner also invited other UK based companies to come and explore investment opportunities in Zambia

Invited guests including some from Belgium and Luxemburg made use of the opportunity to engage with the High Commissioner and Diplomats who accompanied him to the function, on various topics of their concerns related to doing business in Zambia.

Issued by: Abigail Chaponda (Mrs.)
First Secretary | Press and Public Relations
Zambia High Commission in the United Kingdom.

Lukanga Water and Sewerage Company Limited (LgWSC) has observed that Non-Revenue Water is one of the most lethal challenges affecting the Water Sector.
The Water Sector in Zambia continue to lose colossal sums of money through Non revenue water which comes as a result of illegal connections, unbilled customers, old dilapidated water infrastructure,leakages or wastage on unmetered customers’ premises among other things.

Speaking in Kabwe, LgWSC Managing Director, Mushany Ngafise Kapusana noted that it is astounding that all the 11 Commercial Utilities in Zambia posted a loss of K848.9 Million during the year under review, which was K 38.6 Million more than what the sector lost in 2016.
Mr. Kapusana said that there was urgent need for Commercial Utilities and all Sector players to urgently seek unanimous solutions towards mitigating the challenge of Non-Revenue Water.

He however disclosed that with the help of guidelines from the National NRW Reduction Strategy which was launched in 2016, LgWSC has had already began working towards mitigating the challenge.

Mr. Kapusana disclosed that LgWSC was working towards increasing its metering ratio and reduce NRW by 25% in 2018.He explained that the Utility this year procured 1,950 at the cost of over K 2 Million, to go towards metering commercial and domestic customers.

“So far all Police Camps in Kabwe have been metered 100% and we want to meter more communities so that we reduce on non-revenue water with water meters in place, customers will be cautious not to waste water and they will make it a point to take care of their own leakages after the meter” he said.

He also explained that LgWSC has in place an inspectorate Team and has intensified inspections aimed at curbing illegal connections, meter by-passes and other illegal activities.

“Despite LgWSC having been recognized as the Most Improved Commercial Utility in terms of tackling Non-Revenue Water in 2016, and the Most Improved in terms of providing Quality Water in 2017, we want to improve and excel more in the area of NRW and we have various measures in place. This is a great challenge affecting company operations because we do not end up collecting as much revenue as we are supposed to collect in order to improve service delivery” the Managing Director said.

He added that the establishment of a stand-alone Ministry of Water Development, Sanitation and Environmental Protection gives a glimmer of hope that all sector players begin to benchmark and collaborate more in terms of strategies to collectively combat Non-Revenue Water.

Mr. Kapusana also appealed to customers to desist from engaging in activities that are detrimental to the provision of Water and Sanitation Services such as illegal connections, vandalism of water pipes and shunning paying bills.

Non-Revenue Water is the difference between the quantity of treated water distributed in the network and the quantity of water billed. It is the water that has been produced and lost due to leakages, illegal connections, unbilled customers, or wastage on unmetered customers’ premises among other things.

According to the 2017 Urban and Peri-Urban Water and Sanitation Sector Report, the current National NRW statistics remain at 49% against the acceptable benchmark loss of 25%.

LgWSC has launched a Mega-Mass Leak Detection and Repairing Program, a strategy which is aimed at reducing NRW through tackling and sealing of severe leakages. The Water Utility is also working towards securing external capital funding for the overhaul of old dilapidated infrastructure that contributes to NRW.

Issued by
Louis Mwape
Public Relations Officer
Lukanga Water & Sewerage Company Limited