By Dickson Jere
My pick for this week is Ethel. To the world she is known as Mrs Salasini. But to us close to her, she is simply “Ethel”. She is a trailblazer in her aviation industry – cabin crew manager, inspector and trainer.
Ethel is what we call “air hostess” in our common parlance. She has been part of the presidential cabin crew on Zambia One – the Challenger Jet. She has served five out of the seven Presidents of the Republic of Zambia in that role – a very rare experience and honour!
She serviced Presidents Levy Mwanawasa, Rupiah Banda, Michael Sata, Edgar Lungu and later President Hakainde Hichilema. It takes a lot to service different Heads of State – professionalism and dedication to duty!
“The most significant reward for me has been the privilege of serving five out of the seven Presidents of Zambia as a cabin crew member,” Ethel says.
She began her career at the now defunct Zambia Express Airline as an air hostess many years ago. Ethel makes one point clearly – there is more to being air hostess than serving drinks and food on the plane. It involves handling emergencies, passenger safety and security, medical care and complete paper work.
I have been privileged to be onboard with Ethel several times on that Presidential equipment and I can attest to her professional conduct and attributes.
She is simply good in her work!
Holder of the Bachelor Degree in Human Resources from Copperbelt University- Ethel – is currently working at Civil Aviation Authority. Even though she is no longer active in cabin crew, she still services the presidential plane from time to time.
Always calm, Ethel is good role model to the girl child. In my weekly girl child series, I pick Ethel as trailblazer in her profession and mentor for the young girls who want to enter this field.
Ethel Mwelya Mulwe Salasini receive your flowers! You are the girl child role model of the week…
