Brian Mushimba revives Zambian Airways
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Brian Mushimba and Communications Director Yese Bwalya with Zambia Railway Board Chairperson Lubinda Linyama – Picture by MTC Zambia
By Evans Sinjela
TRANSPORT and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba is elated following cabinet approval to resuscitate a national flag carrier so as to boost Zambia’s hospitality potential.
Mr. Mushimba says Government following a decision by Government to invest US$1.7bn on infrastructure development of the aviation industry; it is the right time for Zambia to restart the National Airline.
Mushimba reiterated that Cabinet chaired by President, Edgar Chagwa Lungu approved the reestablishment of the National Airline on December 18,2017, with Government through the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) holding 55 per cent and Ethiopian Airlines having 45 per cent equity in the rebranded Zambian Airways.
Tanzanian President John Pombe Magufuli surprised the world by flying in Economy section of the Ethiopian plane with other civilians
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu with Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba in South Africa
“The New national airline will bring about competition in the Aviation industry and new domestic and regional route will be introduced. Once the National Airlines is established, the move will enable socio- economic development by providing downstream or catalytic impacts, particularly in tourism and trade dependent industries
On her part, Veronica Mwaba said it was a good development but sought to learn more on how trade and development will impact gender, for the benefit of the communities at large as children and women remain at the peripheral of economic activities.
Mushimba, currently serving as Patriotic Front (PF) Kakonyo Member of Parliament (MP) in Mufulira of the Copperbelt Province says Government will through the Ministry of Transport and Communications Inject US$120m into the upgrade of Mfuwe Airport, while Kenneth Kaunda International Airport is near completion at 65 per cent complete and scheduled to be completed by 2019.
Zambia’s Former First Republican Dr. Kenneth David Buchizya Kaunda with Zambia Airways in the background
“To accelerate National Economic Development, Government is committed to improve the transport and enabler infrastructure in the Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Lusaka, Luapula, Muchinga, Northern, North-Western, Southern and Western Provinces to position in Zambia as a regional transport hub going into the future.
