Chipata airport needs up-grading

Dear Editor,

In the 53 years of independence Chipata Airport in the Eastern Province has remained in the same state the colonial masters left it.

It is shocking that the airport lies next to former republic president Rupiah Banda’s farm who should have been the first one to worry about the state of affairs of this facility. Sadly, he did not. But I don’t blame him.

Sufficient to state that Chipata is the only provincial airport with unlit runway. Which means you cannot fly to Chipata at night. What a shame!

I am therefore not knocked for six that all domestic airlines such as Proflight and Mahogany Air are not flying to Chipata for fear of getting stuck in the event of trying to fly out of Chipata late in the evening.

I recently flew to this city on a business tour and the pilots kept phoning, reminding us to quickly finish our work before it got dark otherwise we would be unable to take off because of the same pickle.

I wish therefore to make a solemn appeal to the government to include Chipata Airport on its rehabilitation programme of these facilities in Zambia. It should at least light up the runway. Chipata can be a connection point for those flying into Tanzania, Mozambique and Malawi from outside points.

Ganizani LUSAKA Chafulumila Banda,