EVER since the demise of Zambia Airways in 1994, Zambia has had no flag carrier and this has had a negative impact on the growth of tourism in the country, which is one of key sectors of promoting economic development and job creation.
The MMD government realised this and made efforts to restart a national airline but to no avail even after a feasibility study was done on how to proceed with the process of re-starting a national airline.
There were no clear reasons given for the failure to establish a national airline even when a feasibility study had been concluded
Zambia Airways was the state-owned Zambian flag carrier which went bankrupt in 1994 although there are still reports that actually the airline should not have been allowed to be liquidated because it had more assets than liabilities.
But that was in 1994 and the Fredrick Chiluba-led government was under pressure from the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund not to sustain the airline’s operation under a donor-influenced structural adjustment programme.
Zambia Airways was founded in 1964 as a subsidiary of Central African Airways. The original fleet consisted two Douglas DC-3 and three DHC-2 Beaver and by 1967 Zambia Airways had become independent of Central African Airways.
Now that we do not have the airline anymore, the country is becoming increasingly aware about the need for a national airline and the PF government has equally realised this and wants to restart the issue of having a national carrier.
This is why we also agree with Taj Pamodzi Hotel which has joined several stakeholders to call for a national airline since it is crucial in increasing the number of tourists coming to Zambia.
Hotel general manager Sanjay Sood said many tourists shun the country because of the long travelling time due to lack of a national airline that could service direct flights to key destinations.
Now that British Airways has suspended flights into Zambia, the need for a national airline cannot be more imperative because tourists would have to make many connections if they are coming from Europe before landing into Zambia.
In June this year President Sata said Zambia urgently needs a national airline and it has invited international airlines to partner with government in setting up a national carrier.
In October Vice-President Guy Scott said the establishment of a national airline will be underway, adding that a Cabinet memo was in draft form and being circulated to various stakeholders in the transport sector although no decision had yet been made.
We need a national airline because it will help in marketing the country and ensure that Zambia has more tourist inflows.
A national airline will also go a long way in creating employment opportunities and this is in line with the PF manifesto designed to create jobs and reduce poverty.
A national airline will make it easier to export floricultural and horticultural products that have been earning millions of US$ dollars.
We, therefore, hope that a national airline will one day be created to help Zambia’s economic growth.
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