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Toyota Zambia has invested three million United States dollars to expand the Copperbelt branch operations facility that will create employment for 66 Zambians
Group leader Africa Strategy Planning and Business Group Automotive Department Yoshitaka Shinhara said during the re opening of the refurbished Toyota Zambia Copperbelt facility in Kitwe last night that the Copperbelt Province was one of the most important promising markets in Africa.
Mr Shinhara said his company was positive that it would not only give Toyota customers the satisfaction but also contribute to Zambia’s development.
ZANIS reports that he said because of this Zambia especially the Copperbelt had one of the most important and promising market in Africa hence Toyota’s decision to further invest about three million US dollars to expand the Copperbelt facility.
He also expressed gratitude to the Zambian government for the deep concern shown to victims of the massive earthquake and Tsunami which hit Japan last month claiming thousands of lives.
At the same occassion, speaking on behalf of Commerce Minister Felix Mutati, District Commissioner Mac Donald Mtine said it was a pleasure that Toyota had been able to identify a niche market in the industry that was indispensable to the development of commerce and trade in the country.
Mr Mutati said Government hoped that Toyota would grow and become a major force in attracting investment into actual assembly of motor vehicles in Zambia .
He said Government would remain committed to promoting local production of vehicles as evidenced by the attractive incentive packages it had provided in the last few years.
Police have assured people wishing to attend the Kuomboka Ceremony this weekend in Mongu in Western Province that the situation will be calm and peaceful as usual.
Western Province Police Chief Fabian Katiba told Journalists at a press briefing in Mongu today that security measures have been put in place and those wishing to attend the ceremony will be protected by Police.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Katiba said all Zambian citizens and foreign tourists should have freedom of movement, and those causing fear on innocent people would be visited by the law.
The Police Chief reassured people travelling to the Province that the duty of police was to protect, and no officer would forment violence at the ceremony.
Mr. Katiba added that those without intentions to attend the ceremony should remain at their homes than going to the ceremony to cause violence.
He said no activities or meetings would be held in the district on the day of the ceremony.
More than six hundred police officers have been deployed to Western Province to maintain peace and order.
The ceremony which is an annnual ceremony celebrated by the Lozi speaking people with the Litunga moving from the flooded plains to higher land takes place tommorrow and is expected to be graced by Vice President George Kunda.
KITWE and Copperbelt residents are under siege from a crime gang with a menacing name—the jerabo unit. I thought sharing space with a criminal gang in itself is a bad thing. I never imagined the gang would be so daring as to storm a kitchen party and make off with money and gifts.
But lo, they did just that last Sunday as a young bride was basking in the glory of hosting family and friends at a bridal shower at Kitwe Basic school. I think that is just so unacceptable and we can’t have gangs acting with such impunity.
It shows that the gangs feel accepted by their communities, otherwise they would not be so blatant about their deeds.
I am told the name jerabos is a corruption of the English term jails boys, convicts who have left jail and mobilised idle youths to rise against their communities. This is a serious problem which we cannot afford to take lightly.
The reason the jerabos have gained this level of notoriety is because we seem to have a tendency as a society in general to glorify wrong-doers. If you go round Kitwe and the Copperbelt, the jerabos are the new kids on the block. In some circles, they are heroes or some kind of cult figures.
You cannot put criminals on a pedestal and treat them like demi-gods. That is totally wrong. It is such attitudes which elevate gangs to high places where they do not deserve to be. We are making the work of the police extremely difficult by glorifying criminals.
[pullquote]I am told the name jerabos is a corruption of the English term jails boys, convicts who have left jail and mobilised idle youths to rise against their communities.[/pullquote]
Ten years ago, we had no clue about the jerabo unit but now, they are literally ruling Kitwe and some Copperbelt towns, which situation should never have been allowed in the first place. The tragedy is that we knowingly or unknowingly mould these gangs and make them almost acceptable.
It is evident that over the years, we have been developing a culture of embracing thugs and looking down on orderliness and the rule of law. Otherwise where do thugs get the impunity to storm a kitchen party and literally turn an orderly gathering upside down?
Tragically, many of us do not realise that criminal gangs are our own creation. We hear of gangs being formed and we applaud them all the way. We laugh about their deeds and before we know it, we have created a monster.
I know that the jerabo unit is probably no match for the Copperbelt police crack squad headed by Dr Martin Malama but the truth is the police could have had more restful nights if communities did not get entertained by thugs making the lives of some people difficult.
[pullquote]It is evident that over the years, we have been developing a culture of embracing thugs and looking down on orderliness and the rule of law. Otherwise where do thugs get the impunity to storm a kitchen party and literally turn an orderly gathering upside down?[/pullquote]
I know that sometimes recreation can be in short supply but cheering thugs is the last thing we should ever do because we all end up being terrorised by the same monsters we unwittingly create.
I don’t care whether one of the jerabos was jilted by the young lady whose bridal shower the gang stormed. That is no justification for thuggery. What has the dumping of one man got to do with all the women who lost their handbags containing valuables?
This is not to say the thugs should have specifically targeted the girl or her family. I mean she had a choice. No one should be bamboozled into marrying anyone. There is absolutely no justification for anyone to harbour criminal thoughts for being ditched.
It might be painful to be dumped because we know men and their ego problems but what does it benefit a man to mobilise a gang to attack innocent women just because a woman has made a democratic choice to marry someone else? Who knows, maybe the story of a jilted lover could have just been cooked up to justify a criminal act.
There is no end in sight to the ‘ingenuity’ of thugs. They can do anything to justify their thuggery but they can’t fool all the people all the time. They know and everyone knows that there is absolutely no justification for criminality.
[pullquote]It might be painful to be dumped because we know men and their ego problems but what does it benefit a man to mobilise a gang to attack innocent women just because a woman has made a democratic choice to marry someone else?[/pullquote]
Nobody can stand in court and plead justification for robbing someone. A wrong is a wrong, there is no way of justifying it. What we are reaping now from the jerabos are the seeds we have been sowing over time.
We have created fertile ground for gangsters and it would appear that if we don’t move swiftly to change our attitudes, the worst is yet to come. How do you explain the conduct of a group of thugs invading a bridal shower? This is unprecedented and it should not be tolerated.
I know that attitude change does not happen overnight. It takes some time but we would do well to start now. We should stop giving tacit approval to vices, until they develop into something unmanageable.
It does not help us to start trying to do something about criminality when it is already out of hand. I am glad that the Copperbelt police chief is in no mood to brook any nonsense. DrMalama has sent out a clear message that he intends to cage the jerabos and send them where they belong—to prison.
We need sanity in our communities. We are already plagued with social problems and we cannot afford to invite more ills. We should loathe crime from the very beginning. Crime gangs are formed within our own communities and we know exactly who is involved but we usually just turn a blind eye to them until they attack us or our own children.
[pullquote]What example are the jerabos setting for young people who are easily influenced by what they see in their neighbourhoods? With the high rate of unemployment, it is easy for youths to look up to criminal gangs.[/pullquote]
We don’t all have to be Dr Malama to reject crime. I believe every citizen has a responsibility to protect themselves and those around them from vices. Dr Malama is merely showing the way by refusing to treat gangs with kid gloves. That is as it should be.
If we keep nodding the conduct of thugs, we will have more gangs and life will be unbearable. It is best to nip the problem in the bud right now. This thing of cheering law breakers should come to an end.
I think the directive from the Minister of Home Affairs for the jerabos to be brought to book immediately is helpful. It shows some political will to contain crime and I just hope and pray that the mob which traumatised peaceful women at a kitchen party in Kitwe is brought to justice.
What example are the jerabos setting for young people who are easily influenced by what they see in their neighbourhoods? With the high rate of unemployment, it is easy for youths to look up to criminal gangs.
This is why this problem should be curbed right now. We are sitting on a time bomb which we can only ignore at our own peril.
ZAMBIA is spending US$2.5 million (K11.8 billion) for promotion and marketing tourism with the hope of earning between US$300 to US$350 million from tourist arrivals this year.
And the Zambia Tourist Board (ZTB) is likely to launch the new rebranding of Zambia next month at the Durban Indaba in South Africa.
ZTB chairperson Timothy Mushibwe said the board will receive about US$2.5 million (K11.8 billion) in 2011 from Government for the promotion and marketing of Zambia as a tourist destination and is targeting to attract one million tourist arrivals.
“We are hoping to attract one million visitors this year because on average, the arrivals are 825,000 with each tourist spending about US$200 and spending between two to three days. So it is likely that after we carry out all the programme activities, it is estimated that US$300-US$350 million will be earned in the sector and we hope to convince them to stay more that three days.” he said.
Mr Mushibwe said this in an interview in Mfuwe on april 13 after the reopening of Chichele Presidential Lodge.
He said Government has done incredibly well in supporting and funding tourism marketing and this has revived the board’s aggressiveness compared to the past when the money was insufficient.
“For the first time in the history of ZTB, Government has committed close to US$2.5 million from January to December for marketing purposes alone,” he said.
He said Government is committed to supporting and making tourism a vibrant economic sector and this is why it is being pushed to become the second economic sector to help develop the country.
Mr Mushibwe said currently, the board is running a road show in South Africa and Namibia to showcase Zambia’s unique products.
He said the board has also invited the private sector to join it to market their products and services.
Mr Mushibwe said ZTB, until recently, had been lagging behind in terms of marketing effectiveness due to lack of resources.
“We need to reach a position in Zambia that once we promote and market the country, there is a correspondence of quality of services that can complement and support that marketing effort,” he said.
He said ZTB considers SA an important source of tourism, hence the road show happening in SA to attract more tourists.
On rebranding of Zambia, Mr Mushibwe said the board made recommendations on the new brand to Government and is waiting for Government’s response.
“We are hoping that the minister gives us blessings and launch the rebrand at the tourism regional indaba in May while in Zambia it can be done at any of the fairs as soon as possible,” he said.
He said the rebranding process had gone very well with 5,900 entries received from various entities that participated in designing the logo.
THE Human Rights Commission (HRC) has launched investigations to establish if the photographer who took a picture of Mwiya Sihope at Lewanika General Hospital in Mongu got permission from the subject, as not doing so would be an infringement on his rights.
HRC chairperson Pixie Yangailo said yesterday the commission wanted to know if Mr Sihope, aged 70 years, gave consent to the photographer to take a picture with a bare body.
Ms Yangailo said HRC officers in Mongu had been to the hospital and would soon go to the police and the local prison to establish some facts before issuing a comprehensive statement.
She said the photographer and the publishers, the Post Newspaper, should have considered implications of exposing nudity to the general public.
The Post edition of Wednesday, April 13, 2011 carried a picture of Mr Sihope with a bare body on the front page.
Ms Yangailo said a professional photojournalist or photographer should have covered the upper part of Mr Sihope’s body leaving the amputated leg for the picture instead of exposing him to the public in the manner the newspaper did.
“The message could have been sent by just showing the leg unlike exposing the old man’s body to the public like that, which is against human rights,” she said.
She said the picture was sensitive and was likely to injure the cultural sensibilities of Mr Sihope’s family.
The Committee of Citizens also expressed concern over the picture, with executive director, Gregory Chifire saying in a statement on Wednesday that it was not only misleading but also alien and unacceptable to Zambia.
Mr Chifire said the publication of the picture showed how low the Post had sunk ethically, morally and professionally in pursuit of its political agenda.
He advised the newspaper to desist from using innocent and unsuspecting Zambians to advance its well-known political agenda.
He said the Post raised no medically-proven connection between the patient’s condition and his detention and that if the picture was taken from hospital, the paper neglected to clarify matters with hospital medical authorities.
“The fact that they did not do so showed that their story was fuelled by ulterior motives. Contrary to the story, medical records we have accessed show that the patient referred to has been an out-patient for a chronic illness long before his detention,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Zambia Police Service refuted the story in the Post linking the amputation of Mr Sihope’s right leg to his detention in connection with the January 2011 riots in Mongu sparked by disagreements over the Barotseland Agreement.
Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde said in a statement released on Wednesday evening that when Mr Sihope was released from detention through a nolle prosequi, he had both legs.
Mr Kabonde said Mr Sihope was admitted to Lewanika General Hospital for asthma-related complications, which later made medical authorities to amputate his right leg.
He said information obtained from the hospital showed that Mr Sihope had been an out-patient undergoing treatment for chronic asthma.
He had developed wet gangrene on both legs and subsequently admitted to the hospital.
Mr Kabonde said that was the condition that led to Mr Sihope’s leg being amputated last Friday.
He appealed to the media to refrain from publishing inflammatory and unsubstantiated stories that could make people react negatively, leading to a breakdown in law and order.
PRESIDENT Banda will today launch the Roma Industrial and Commercial Park, which is expected to generate more than 4,000 permanent jobs once fully developed.
The park is one of the multi-facility economic zones and industrial parks Government is establishing around the country and will, in the construction period, provide up to 2,000 jobs.
This is contained in a statement issued in Lusaka on April 14 by special assistant to the President for press and public relations Dickson Jere.
“The project, which is a joint venture between foreign and local entrepreneurs, is in line with President Banda’s pledge to diversify Zambia’s investment and development programmes with the objective of promoting value addition to the economy,” Mr Jere said.
He said the park will have its own residential and suburban living places, commercial units, shopping mall, office complex, warehousing, filling station and many more facilities, and is designed to become one of the first mixed-use developments in Zambia.
Mr Jere said President Banda has continued to stress his commitment to creating an environment in which Zambians will have jobs which will eventually contribute to better standards of living for all citizens, regardless of which region they come from.
“The Roma Industrial and Commercial Park provides yet more tangible evidence of the President’s unfailing determination to build tomorrow’s Zambia in which employment opportunities are made available for nearly every Zambian,” he said.
GOVERNMENT has invested over K130 billion in the education sector in Western Province, Minister of Education Dora Siliya said in Petauke on April 14.
Ms Siliya said in an interview that Government has spent over K80 billion, out of K130 billion, on the construction of basic schools in Western Province, which has the highest number of basic schools being constructed in the country.
“This is the cost of the infrastructure that has been put up. The MMD is developing the whole country, President Banda is President for all,” she said.
She said at basic school level, Government has completed three schools in Sesheke at a cost of K9 billion while four schools in Mongu have been built at a cost of K15 billion.
Ms Siliya said the construction of three schools in Kalabo is progressing well at a cost of K15 billion while two schools are being built in Shangombo at a cost of K11 billion. Ms Siliya said five schools in Senanga are being constructed at a cost of K15 billion.
The high schools under construction include Lukulu, Mwandi, Nkaanya, Mayukwayukwa and Libonde at an average cost of K28 billion each. She said the MMD government has made education a priority.
Ms Siliya, who is also MMD spokesperson, said some media houses and the opposition are bent on creating a rift between President Banda’s government and the Western Province.
“They are criticising a government that is busy developing the country. Even the people of Western Province can see through the ill intentions of the opposition,” she said.
She said President Banda’s leadership has also been making efforts to ensure that the country has a good road network, citing the K1.3 trillion Mongu-Kalaboroad under construction.
CHIEF Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha has said the launch of Zambia Media Council (ZAMEC) has not been approved by Government.
Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said this on April 14 after MISA Zambia held a press briefing to announce that the launch of ZAMEC will be held on World Press Freedom Day (May 3).
“As Government, we have not been consulted over the launch of ZAMEC,” Gen Shikapwasha said.
He said if MISA launches ZAMEC, it means they have nothing to do with Government. Gen Shikapwasha said MISA Zambia is creating confusion by not consulting Government over the launch of ZAMEC.
“Launching ZAMEC without Government’s approval will show that the government does not have any position on the media,” he said.
Gen Shikapwasha said negotiations for the launch have not come to a conclusion for ZAMEC to be launched. He said that if MISA goes ahead to launch ZAMEC on World Press Freedom Day, Government will advise media houses to have nothing to do with ZAMEC.
Gen Shikapwasha has advised MISA Zambia not to launch ZAMEC to avoid confusion, saying MISA should wait until negotiations come to a conclusion.
FORMER MMD national secretary Katele Kalumba has advised Zambians to be wary of some developed countries which believe in the philosophy of changing government because they can use any method at their disposal to ensure the opposition wins this year’s tripartite elections.
Dr Kalumba said in an interview on April 14 the youth should support President Banda because he is the only mature and experienced leader capable of withstanding the pressure from some developed countries which believe that there must be change of governmnet if a particular political party stays in power.
“We cannot fall prey to the philosophy of government change at any cost. I would like to counsel Zambians to be wary of those who believe in the change philosophy who can use any method like changing electoral procedure and rules, infiltrating churches and creating false opposition through sponsored civil society organisations,” Dr Kalumba said.
He warned that those advocating change have a variety of institutions they can use to create an impression that the people of Zambia do not want their government or ruling party to continue in office.
“We must be wary of such things, and we must talk about them when we notice them. The philosophy of change of government is not about democracy, it is about controlling small powers. I am not suggesting conspiracy but strategic interests in Zambia,” Dr Kalumba said.
He congratulated President Banda on scooping the MMD presidency at the party’s national convention.
“It is not an imposition, it is the way the membership reads the party and the leadership maturity that President Banda has exhibited.
[pullquote]“When the late President Mwanawasa came to power, he had issues with the former president, Dr Chiluba, and that takes away from the country. But President Banda is taking over the MMD in a civilised manner, with no quarrels or beef with anyone,” Dr Kalumba said.[/pullquote]
“President Banda is in the best position to be the leader of the party because he has no scores to settle with anyone,” Dr Kalumba said.
He said the change of leadership in 1991 was not smooth because there were many issues between former President Frederick Chiluba and Dr Kenneth Kaunda.
“When the late President Mwanawasa came to power, he had issues with the former president, Dr Chiluba, and that takes away from the country. But President Banda is taking over the MMD in a civilised manner, with no quarrels or beef with anyone,” Dr Kalumba said.
Zambia today recorded their first ever win over Angola at all levels in basketball competition in their formality penultimate Africa Zone 6 Under-16 Championship game in Lusaka.
And South Africa were this evening crowned new Zone 6 Under 16 champions after defeating Mozambique in a nail-biting final played at the Olympic Youth Development Centre.
Noah Mabutwe’s side beat outgoing champions Angola 58-49 with Dingani Hara contributing 19 points.
Mabutwe said he hoped the Zambia junior team will build on their historic win for the future.
Meanwhile, South Africa rallied after trailing in the opening three quarters against Mozambique to lift their first Zone 6 Under 16 championship title on the second attempt.
South Africa, who finished runner-up in the last tournament to Angola, beat Mozambique 77-76 in a riveting final to win their debut Zone 6 junior title.
The tournament comes to an end tomorrow with Zimbabwe boys facing Botswana boys at 17:00 in the first of two matches on Friday.
Second placed Mozambique girls on 5 points face Zambia on 4 points in the final match of the tournament at 19:00 in the formers battle to pip leaders Zimbabwe on 7 points to the female crown.
Inspector General of Police Francis Kabonde has strongly warned that police will not hesitate to deal with anybody who will attempt to cause confusion at this years Kuomboka traditional ceremony in Mongu on Saturday.
Mr. Kabonde says six hundred police officers have already been dispatched to Mongu to ensure that the traditional ceremony of the Lozi people is held in a peaceful manner.
He told ZNBC news that the Zambia Police Service has instituted investigations into the source of intimidating flyers being circulated in Western Province ahead of the Kuomboka traditional ceremony.
Mr. Kabonde explained that preliminary investigations have revealed that its only a few disgruntled people who want to cause confusion.
He warned that the culprits will be arrested and prosecuted.
Mr. Kabonde wondered how some people can be planning to cause confusion when the Kuomboka traditional ceremony attracts a number of tourists who earn the country foreign exchange.
Yesterday Mr Kabonde assured would be patrons to the ceremony that the Kuomboka will be held in a peaceful atmosphere.
He said six hundred police officers have been deployed to provide security during the ceremony.
President Rupiah Banda has commended Zambian diplomats accredited to various countries for the role they played in safeguarding and promoting the country’s interests in their respective missions.
And Mr. Banda has appealed to the envoys to aggressively market Zambia’s potential in various economic sectors in countries where they are serving.
Speaking when he addressed Zambian Heads of Missions abroad at Chisamba’s Protea Hotel today, President Banda said as people representing Zambia in many lands, the envoys must gather as much information as possible to ensure that the country’s interests were safeguarded.
ZANIS reports that Mr. Banda said this was important especially that diplomacy was no longer political but more of economical.
He noted that with a lot of misinformation about happenings in the country, all Zambian diplomats should understand and defend the country against all forms of misinformation.
The President noted that it was saddening that most of the misinformation was coming from dishonest people in Zambia whose intentions were to misrepresent the actual happenings in the country.
“You as diplomats have a critical role to play in safeguarding our interests in the countries where you are working. We know you hear a lot of things about what some people say was happening and unfortunately this does not only misinform you but also unsettles you,” he said.
He assured the diplomats that his government had no time to spend on responding to criticism which he said was mostly meant to derail the many achievements the country had scored in various sectors of the economy.
And the President advised the envoys to ensure that they disseminated information on investment opportunities in Zambia to both citizens in foreign countries and Zambians in the diaspora.
Mr. Banda challenged the diplomats to explain the economic transformation the country had gone through in various sectors.
He said Zambia had recorded a lot of development which needed to be publicised to both foreigners and Zambians abroad.
Meanwhile, President Banda has disclosed that he had continued to receive reports of squabbles among members of staff in various missions abroad.
Mr. Banda said such squabbles were unnecessary because they have the potential to damage the country’s image abroad.
He noted that there was need for all envoys to provide exemplary leadership to both Zambians abroad and people in the countries they work from.
President Banda further said as a former diplomat, he understood the challenges diplomats were facing in dealing with various issues at their missions.
He explained that some of the reported squabbles were merely as a result of petty jealous.
The President advised the Zambian diplomats to ensure that they handled such cases as parents and heads of missions.
“Because of your level and as heads of mission, you should handle and look at these issues like parents because some of our staff are young and have no experience so they tend to be too excited,” he advised.
The President explained that he decided to raise the issue openly so that all diplomats could rise to the occasion and find lasting solutions to such challenges.
Mr. Banda thanked the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for ensuring that the mandatory meeting for Zambian Heads of Mission abroad, which failed to take place last year, was held this year.
He also thanked the ministry for including in their programme, a tour of selected economic sectors saying this would help the envoys articulate issues effectively.
Before the conference of Heads of Mission and Senior Management which is being held under the theme: ‘ Effective Diplomacy for Sustainable National Development’, the diplomats toured Kansanshi Mine in North Western Province, Kasumbalesa Border Post on the Copperbelt and Nansanga Farming Block in Central Province.
And speaking earlier, Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary, Ambassador Lucy Mungoma said the conference was organised to update the envoys on what was happening in the country and to afford them an opportunity to speak to key stakeholders and line ministries.
At the same occasion, Dean of Zambian Diplomats abroad, Dr. Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika commended Government for the many developments the country had recorded in various sectors of the economy.
Dr. Mbikusita-Lewanika also congratulated President Banda on his election as MMD party president.
She said the conference was important because it accorded envoys, an opportunity to share knowledge on the many issues affecting their work.
Dr Mbikutsita-Lewanika assured the nation that the money the country was spending on missions abroad was paying off because diplomats played a key role in attracting investments in the country.
The Dean of Zambian diplomats abroad also pledged the envoys’ continued efforts to advertise and market Zambia’s investment opportunities to the outside world.
She however called for more information in terms of brochures and DVDs on the many opportunities the country offers.
“We need more information in languages that people in the countries we operate from can appreciate,” she said.
She also commended President Banda for his efforts to attract investments in the country which she said had yielded many positive results.
Government has commended Zambezi Airlines for reviving the airline hanger that had remained a white elephant since the closure of Zambia Airways in 1994.
Communications and Transport Minister, Geoffrey Lungwangwa said government has opened up opportunities for the private sector to thrive in the aviation industry.
Prof. Lungwangwa was speaking in Lusaka today when he launched the Zambezi Airline hanger at the Lusaka International Airport.
He said the challenge is on the private sector to take advantage of the available opportunities and invest heavily in the sector for it to continue expanding.
He stated that since the liquidation of Zambia Airways 17 years ago, a number of private airline companies have been set up in the country to fill the void left by the closure of the national airline.
Prof. Lungwangwa said government was committed to ensuring that private investors compete favourably with their foreign counterparts.
He said Zambia has made major strides in the aviation sector with the sector ranked among the best in the world.
The Minister said Zambia has developed a cadre of skilled and professional human capital to run the aviation sector that could compete with the best in the world.
Prof. Lungwangwa has commended Zambezi Airlines for refurbishing the airline hanger at a substantial cost.
He said once fully operational, the hanger will contribute immensely to strengthening the country’s economy by enhancing job creation and bringing in the much needed foreign exchange.
Prof Lungwangwa stated that a number of Zambian engineers that had left the country after the liquidation of Zambia Airways are returning back home to contribute to the restoration of Lusaka as a maintenance centre.
“In 1994, Zambia took a very difficult decision to liquidate Zambia Airways which rendered the hanger idle. Over the last 17 years or so, a number of private airlines were set up to fill the void left by the closure of Zambia Airways,” he explained.
He however said unfortunately, most of the airlines that were set up have been sending their aero planes to South Africa for maintenance.
“When Zambezi Airlines came on the scene in 2008, they also tool a similar route but I am happy that this has changed. Government is indeed delighted that Zambezi Airlines has decided to lease the facility and invest a substantial amount of money to refurbish and equip the facility,” he said.
Speaking at the same occasion, Zambezi Airlines Chairman Maurice Jangulo disclosed that his company spent a total of US$400,000 in refurbishing the facility.
Dr. Jangulo said Zambezi Airlines also commenced a retooling exercise for the facility at the cost of over US$300, 000.
He said following the granting of the Aircraft Maintenance Organisation (AMO) in March this year, Zambezi Airlines will carry out line maintenance services and A-checks.
And Dr. Jangulo said Zambezi Airlines will on June 30 this year launch a Livingstone-Cape Town flight.
He thanked government for creating an enabling environment for private sector investment in the aviation sector.
He also explained that Zambezi Airlines has an average of 10,000 passengers in-flight per month which he said is expected to increase to 15, 000 in the next six month.
Dr. Jangulo reaffirmed his company’s commitment and resolve to serving customers beyond their expectations in future.
And Zambezi Airlines Chief Executive Officer Wilfred Amstelveen said it was important for Zambia to have its own maintenance centre for its aircrafts.
Mr. Amstelveen said this would ensure that regular checks are carried out on aircrafts.
He said a simple oversight in the aviation sector can results into fatalities.
Vice President George Kunda is tomorrow expected to travel to Mongu to grace this year’s
FLASHBACK: Royal Highness the Litunga of the Lozi people Lubosi Imwiko II with Vice President George Kunda at Lealui Palace during the kufuluhela traditional ceremony in Mongu
Kuomboka traditional ceremony of the Lozi people in Western province.
Senior Private Secretary to the Vice President, Kenneth Ngosa, confirmed the development in a press statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today.
The ceremony will be held on Saturday, 16th April, 2011.
While in Western province, Mr. Kunda will address public rallies in Kaoma district on Monday before travelling to Copperbelt for other duties.
In the Copperbelt province, Mr. Kunda is scheduled to handover Nkulumashiba High School and to inspect other developmental projects.
The development projects Mr. Kunda will inspect are based in Kabushi and Mushili where he will hold a public rally thereafter.
The Vice President is also expected to officiate at the Sathya Sai School’s 21st anniversary before returning to Lusaka.
Mr. Kunda will be accompanied by his wife, Irene Kunda, Minister of Works and Supply, Gabriel Namulambe, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, Allan Mbewe and some senior government officials.
Some refugees living in Zambia showcasing their dances during the World Refugee Day in Lusaka
United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) Assistant High Commissioner, Erica Feller, has described Zambia as a hub of peace in the Southern African region.
Ms. Feller said Zambia’s peaceful environment is vital for the protection of people seeking asylum in the Southern region.
She was speaking at Lusaka International Airport in Lusaka today upon arrival from Geneva, Switzerland.
She said Zambia has for a long time now been hosting thousands of refugees from countries that faced political conflicts in the region and beyond.
Ms. Feller has thanked the Zambian government for being generous to host refugees from other countries.
She said it is therefore appropriate that Zambia will host the dialogue meeting during the UNHCR’s commemoration of the 60th Global Anniversary.
While in the country, Ms. Feller will call on Vice President George Kunda and meet with some stakeholders.
