ZAMBIA: CHARTER AIRCRAFT FLIES IN MINING EQUIPMENT AFTER RHODESIAN BORDER CLOSURE.

Record ID: 585017

  • Title: ZAMBIA: CHARTER AIRCRAFT FLIES IN MINING EQUIPMENT AFTER RHODESIAN BORDER CLOSURE.
  • Date: 23rd January 1973
  • Summary: 1. GV PAN Lusaka airport building 0.06 2. GV Goods out of aircraft 0.11 3. SV Goods being lowered 0.16 4. SV Aircrews talking 0.19 5. SV Goods being taken away by tractor (2 shots) 0.34 6. TV More goods being lowered from aircraft 0.42 7. SV Goods being rolled out and taken away by tractor (2 shots) 0.56 Initials ESP/2245 ESP/2254 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 7th February 1973 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: LUSAKA, ZAMBIA
  • Country: Zambia
  • Reuters ID: LVA2XVPVFHPR0TOJ5PC4BRK6A2BC
  • Story Text: The first shipment of vitally needed mining equipment was flown into Zambia from South African on Monday (22 January) following Rhodesia's closure of its border with Zambia.

    The airlift, which left Johannesburg in a jet of the French airline U.T.A., included 34 tons of chemicals and spare parts.

    The equipment is normally shipped by rail through Rhodesia to Zambia, but the rail route has been blocked by Rhodesian action to stop guerrilla border activities.

    Trade officials in South Africa said the airlift was a practical proposition, in spite of higher costs.

    Closure of the border has also affected Zambia's export of copper, 30,000 tons of which formerly was sent through Rhodesia to the Mozambique port of Beira each year.

    It has been announced that the copper will be hauled to the sea along the partly-completed railway to Tanzania, being built with the help of The People's Republic of China.

    SYNOPSIS: At Lusaka airport, the first shipment of thirty-four tons of equipment for Zambia's vital mining industry arrives from South Africa by charter flight. The airlift of chemicals and spare parts was arranged to replace the usual shipment by rail through Rhodesia to Zambia.... a route blocked by the recent Rhodesian decision to close the border against guerrilla activities. The equipment was flown in aboard a jet of the French airline U.T.A.

    Closure of the border has also affected Zambia's copper exports.... thirty-thousand tons of which formerly went through Rhodesia to the Mozambique port of Beira. The partly-built railway to Tanzania, being built with Chinese help, will be increasingly used. Trade officials in South Africa said the airlift had proved a practical proposition, in spite of higher costs.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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