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Siavonga airstrip now a white elephant

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from SNIKE MZULAH in Siavonga, Zambia
Zambia Bureau
SIAVONGA, (CAJ News) – A FORMER councilor has decried the absence of a domestic airline service to Siavonga as frustrating the growth of tourism in the destination.

Smart Gwanda, the ex-councilor, noted that access to the district was presently by road only.

He said an airline service was needed in order to attract local and foreign tourists.

“Air connectivity is cardinal for Siavonga because of the district being a tourist destination,” Gwanda said.

“I feel an airline service is needed just like it is in Livingstone. This will attract tourists, especially foreign tourists to visit Siavonga and also boost tourism business in the area.”

The airstrip in Siavonga has deteriorated into a white elephant.

Parts of it have been vandalised.

“It has become a grazing ground for livestock, which is very unfortunate for a good place like Siavonga. We want the government to rehabilitate the airstrip and upgrade it into a mini airport,” Gwanda said.

The former civil leader also called on the council to devise events that can help to sell Siavonga’s tourism.

Local headman, Frackson Siamenda, said the airstrip was constructed in 2009 but the official handover failed because of alleged poor workmanship.

“Officials from the civil aviation department refused to take over the airstrip and described the works done on it as sub-standard,” Siamenda said.

Siamende added that lack of markings, signages and chopping off more than 200 metres of the runway were some of the reasons that could not permit the airstrip to resume operations.

“Since 2009, the airstrip has been abandoned. No one seems to care about it. It’s sad that the airstrip has now become a grazing ground for domestic animals,” he lamented.

Given Kwapu, the Siavonga Town Council chairperson, said the local authority has budgeted over K100 000 (US$5 500) towards the rehabilitation of the airstrip in the tourist town.

Rehabilitation works will include markings, signages and fencing around the airstrip to prevent livestock and other wildlife animals from crossing the runway.

“One of the issues affecting tourism in Siavonga has been the dilapidated airstrip, that’s why we need to work on it to boost tourism,” Kwapu said.

“For now we just want to rehabilitate it, then in future, we will consider upgrading it into a mini airport. We want to rehabilitate the airstrip at least up to international standard so that people can land in numbers to enjoy the serenity and the beauty of Siavonga,” he added.

Siavonga is Zambia’s principal tourism centre for Lake Kariba.

– CAJ News

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Changing the African aviation narrative

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from ADANE BIKILA in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Ethiopia Bureau
ADDIS ABABA, (CAJ News) – THE 11th Aviation Stakeholders Convention scheduled for Ethiopia will aim to Africa’s market share of the world market.

The continent’s share has remained stagnant at less than 3 percent, despite Africa’s vast landmass, its population accounting for 16 percent of the world population.

Africa also has a low share of global trade at 2 percent.

The convention scheduled for May 7-9 is hailed as timely and aligned to address this situation.

Ethiopian Airlines, under the patronage of the Government of Ethiopia, will host the event under the theme, “Changing the African Aviation Narrative.”

The Aviation Stakeholders Convention will bring together over 400 delegates from Africa and across the globe.

Abdérahmane Berthé, African Airlines Association (AFRAA) Secretary General, emphasised the importance of dialogue among stakeholders and collaborative initiatives such as those facilitated by AFRAA.

“AFRAA and Ethiopian Airlines are excited to stage this convention for the travel ecosystem stakeholders to meet, deliberate on strategies to enhance efficiencies, create synergies, develop intra-Africa connectivity, ensure business continuity that will redefine the narrative of Africa air transport industry,” Berthé said.

AFRAA is the leading trade association of airlines from the member states of the African Union (AU).

Mesfin Bekele, Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO, said the convention of AFRAA will serve as a forum for stakeholders in the industry to discuss the opportunities and pressing issues in Africa’s aviation sector.

“The forum will showcase the ‘Africa Rising’ mantra manifested in the growing opportunities for all stakeholders in the continent’s aviation industry,” Bekele said.

– CAJ News

 

Millions secured to close East Africa fish deficit

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from MARIA MACHARIA in Nairobi, Kenya
Kenya Bureau
NAIROBI, (CAJ News) – AN investment of US$35 million by the region’s leading aquaculture platform is set to address the fish supply deficit in East Africa.

The deficit is one of the greatest supply-demand imbalances in the global food system today.

Victory Farms, has announced it has completed its Series B round to fund the expansion of its operations in Kenya and Rwanda as well as potential entry into Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda.

Series B financing is the second round of funding for a company that has met certain milestones and is past the initial startup stage.

The round was led by Creadev, a global growth equity evergreen investor controlled by the Mulliez Family. It includes the Acumen Resilient Agriculture Fund (ARAF), DOB Equity, Endeavor Catalyst Fund, and Hesabu Capital.

The funding is anticipated to enable production of 100-million high-quality protein meals for East Africans annually, create thousands more direct, stable employment opportunities and further enable tens of thousands more small, female-led fish mongers at local markets, often known as mama samakis.

“Participating in food and nutrition security is at the core of Creadev’s mission in Africa,” said Tom Rostand, Investment Director Africa at Creadev.

Joseph Rehmann, Founder and CEO at Victory Farms, said the Series B investment will enable Victory Farms to scale up its platform for sustainable, affordable protein production and expand their food print within the region.

The company has a mission to build the world’s most sustainable end-to-end protein platform that will nourish 2 billion Africans with affordable, accessible and healthy meals.

“As East Africa’s population grows, so does the need for sustainable and efficient protein production that both helps to address food insecurity and alleviates pressure on important natural resources,” Rehmann said.

The Series B round takes place in the eighth year since Victory Farms’ establishment.

Since then, the two co-founders- Rehmann and Steve Moran- have built the fastest-growing tilapia platform in East Africa, with more than 80 branches serving tens of thousands customers daily.

– CAJ News

Government communicators dodge questions over SA crises

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by TINTSWALO BALOYI
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – A DERELECTION of duty by government spokespeople has been noted as the crises afflicting the administration of President Cyril Ramaphosa mount.

This is much to the dismay of the media, a fourth estate in any democratic government.

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has expressed concern at the growing lack of responses to media queries.

It disclosed it had been receiving complaints from journalists about the failure of spokespeople, to either reply to questions or to provide useful information – when approached for comment.

“This tendency seems to be worsening,” SANEF stated.

It noted that “It is not a choice or optional for the government to communicate properly” as this is required by the Constitution.

Section 195 of the Constitution states: “Transparency must be fostered by providing the public with timely, accessible, and accurate information.”

Previously, SANEF has engaged the Government Communication and Information Systems (GCIS) to raise this issue.

“Seemingly, there is no progress being made here as spokespersons continue to disregard journalists’ requests for comments, clarity, or information,” SANEF stated.

The editors’ forum said when government departments fail to employ spokespeople/communicators to communicate accurately and timeously with the media, taxpayers’ money is wasted, and South Africans are left none the wiser.

“It is disdainful for departments to choose not to respond to questions, despite being given ample time to do so,” SANEF argued.

The South African government has lurched between crises, the latest being the daring escape of murder and rape convicted Thabo Bester and the failure to extradite the controversial Gupta brothers.

Government communicators have also snubbed some media over the pit latrines tragedies at schools and the crises around asylum seekers.

– CAJ News

 

 

 

 

 

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