Welcome On Board Proflight
Dear Respected Customers,
We are delighted to have you aboard.
The month of July was a sorrowful period for us here at Proflight as two very important architects of Zambian aviation passed on that month. The two are Captain Philip Lemba and Mr Richard Mvula. Both gentlemen worked with our CEO, Captain Tony Irwin in the 70s and early 80s during the era of the original Zambia Airways.
As one of the first ten young Zambian trainee pilots picked to fly after independence, Captain Lemba’s aviation career began when he was 24 years old and was chosen as one of Zambia’s brightest citizens to train as a pilot. Captain Lemba’s career began in the Air Force, where he served for ten years while pursuing his desire and passion. The Hawker Siddeley 748-2 was his aircraft of choice as one of the first homegrown presidential pilots. At ZAF Lusaka, he rose to the rank of Wing Commander. Captain Lemba and Tony would work together for more than a decade at Proflight, where they had previously worked together in the cockpit of commercial planes. Captain Lemba’s role as Director of Government and Industry Affairs for Proflight led to the airline’s rapid growth in Southern and Central Africa when the carrier began operating its first international flights to many nations in the region.
Richard Mvula has been greatly influential in Zambia’s aviation with more than 40 years’ experience as a ground handling specialist. He has been described as “cheerful, devoted, courteous, a team player, professional, committed, father and mentor.” Richard began his aviation career in the 1980s as a load control officer for Zambia Airways. While working for the airline at the time, he had the opportunity to meet Proflight Zambia’s founder, Captain Tony Irwin. The Richard Mvula Dedication Award has been established by Proflight Zambia in honour of Mr Mvula’s contributions to the aviation industry and Proflight Zambia.
We have included obituaries for the two exemplary gentlemen in this edition of Nkwazi. Proflight Zambia and the entire aviation industry will greatly miss the two gentlemen.
We are sincerely grateful to you for choosing Proflight Zambia as your carrier of choice. We are grateful for your continued support and look forward to seeing you on one of our future trips.
I thank you.
Captain Josias Walubita, Director Flight Operations
