ZAMBIA HAS CONTINUED TO REPOSITION HERSELF ON THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE

 Zambia has continued to reposition herself on the International stage through various means, including recognition of its outstanding citizens by International Organisations.

A case in point is the award that the International Federation of Airworthiness –IFA – has granted a female Zambian aircraft engineer, for her outstanding contribution or achievement in advancing the safety of aircraft.

Lillian Lungu who is Manager Quality Safety at  Zambia Civil Aviation Authority was granted the prestigious Whitte Safety Award by IFA.

She is the first African and first female to receive the  IFA Whitte Safety Award.

The IFA recognized Mrs. Lungu’s thirty years in aviation, and her being one of the first female Aircraft engineers in Africa.

The award was presented to Mrs. Lungu by the Ethiopian Minister of Transport and Logistics, Dr. Alemu Feyisa during the African Aviation MRO Africa and African Aviation Training Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Minister said prioritising safety in aviation not only protects lives and assets but builds confidence for  airlines.

Speaking after receiving the award, Mrs. Lungu said it was an honor for her to represent Zambia on the International scene.

She said she was gratified that despite aviation being dominated by males, more females were now aspiring to take up positions in aviation.

Mrs. Lungu urged women to ensure that they follow their dreams and was hopeful that winning the award would inspire more to take up aircraft engineering as a career.

Aside from Aircraft Engineering, Mrs. Lungu is a lawyer who was recently admitted to the bar.

Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia, Mrs. Rose Sakala who attended the award-giving ceremony said it was gratifying that Zambia was competing favorably on the international scene.

She said the winning of the award would inspire a lot of Zambia especially girls to aspire to take up professions that may be deemed a preserve for men.

The Ambassador said Mrs. Lungu was a perfect example of a woman who had excelled in a male-dominated profession of aircraft engineering that is shunned by many.

This is cointained in a statement made avaliablle to the media by First secretary-First Secretary Press/Tourism at the Zambian Embassy, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Mrs Inutu Mupango Mwanza