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Professor Chirwa comes to Zambian Airways' defence

Professor Chirwa comes to Zambian Airways' defence
By Lambwe Kachali
Thursday September 11, 2008 [04:00]

MMD 2011 presidential aspirant Professor Clive Chirwa yesterday warned that those who want to kill Zambian Airways should have a good reason otherwise they will be injuring investor confidence in the country.

Professor Chirwa said Zambians owning airlines such as Zambian Airways were performing a noble national cause that had brought about respect for the country. He said the transport and communication policy in his manifesto clearly states that Zambia must have airlines in order to have international communication with the outside world.

Prof Chirwa said government leaders should commend and support indigenous Zambians who ventured in the airline business instead of suppressing them.

"The face of a nation by a stranger from another country who wants to visit you is to look for its airlines. If you do not have one or do not adequately support those airlines as a government, then you are not promoting the Zambian cause of having integrated transport system necessary for a land locked country," Prof Chirwa said.

"If we are serious about tourism, about people coming to invest in Zambia, about the development goals we need to attain, then we must support airlines owned by Zambians."

Prof Chirwa said if elected as Republican president in 2011, he would introduce a charter for Zambian Airways to assume all functions of being a national airline.

"I know we have lost a lot after the capitulation of Zambia Airways. We lost the expertise, the well-calibrated management system, skills that will be difficult to recoup," Prof Chirwa said. "What we need to do now is not to be threatening Zambian Airways for some payments that can be deferred upon mutual agreement."

Prof Chirwa urged the MMD government to work for Zambians and ensure support was rendered at all levels of empowerment.

"MMD is all about working for the people and I would like to see that exercised at all levels of empowerment...The airline is the only property we Zambians can feel proud of as it flies the flag. Foreign nationals in other countries who have never been to Zambia relate Zambian Airways to Zambians. If somebody wants to kill it, they must have a good reason to do so," said Prof Chirwa.

Labels: CLIVE CHIRWA, ZAMBIAN AIRWAYS

posted by MrK @ 7:10 AM