From Roads to Runways: Why Zambia’s Next Development Frontier Is Air Connectivity
Mutotwe Kafwaya’s ignorance exposes Tonse Alliance’s dangerous divisive politics. Zambians should be concerned with the leadership of Brian Mundubile and his tribally inclined gang.
Founding Patriotic Front (PF) President Michael Chilufya Sata was not stupid when he believed that no part of Zambia should remain isolated from the rest of the country. 
Sata’s administration invested heavily in expanding and rehabilitating the national road network, connecting districts and provinces that had for decades suffered from poor infrastructure.
At the time, some questioned the scale of those investments, yet today, those roads have become vital arteries for commerce, agriculture, and national integration.
President Hakainde Hichilema’s ambition to establish airports and universities across Zambia’s provinces is even better and follows the same development philosophy.
If Sata connected Zambia by road, President Hichilema wants to take the next logical step—connecting regions by air while expanding access to higher education.
Critics, including opposition politician Mutotwe Kafwaya, have argued that provinces such as Western have too little economic activity to justify an airport.
Such arguments, however, overlook a basic principle of development: infrastructure is not built because prosperity already exists; it is built to create prosperity.
Throughout the world, airports have become catalysts for economic transformation since they attract investors, facilitate tourism, support trade, and create employment.
Businesses are far more likely to invest in areas that are easily accessible.
Agricultural producers gain faster access to markets, while tourism operators benefit from shorter travel times for visitors.
Western Province is a perfect example. To reduce the province’s economic potential to the annual Kuomboka Ceremony ignores its vast tourism opportunities, livestock industry, fisheries, agriculture, and strategic position bordering neighbouring countries.
Improved air access would not simply benefit tourists. It would make the province more attractive to investors, improve emergency medical services, and encourage business development throughout the year.
The same thinking applies to the proposed expansion of universities. The free education policy has dramatically increased the number of pupils completing secondary school. Naturally, more graduates now seek admission into universities.
Unless Zambia expands higher education infrastructure, many deserving students will find themselves without opportunities simply because available spaces cannot meet demand.
Establishing universities in every province is, therefore, not an unnecessary luxury but a practical response to a growing national need.
Provincial universities also stimulate local economies. They create jobs for lecturers, researchers, administrators, and support staff while generating business for landlords, transport operators, retailers, and food suppliers.
In many countries, university towns have become centres of innovation and entrepreneurship.
Equally important, universities can specialise in research relevant to their regions. Institutions in farming areas can focus on agricultural innovation, while those located near mining communities can advance engineering and mineral research. This allows education to directly support local economic development.
The debate should, therefore, not centre on whether every province deserves infrastructure. Every Zambian province deserves equal opportunities to grow.
The real discussion should focus on ensuring that these projects are properly planned, financially sustainable, and implemented in phases.
History has repeatedly shown that major infrastructure projects often appear ambitious before they become indispensable. The roads built under Michael Sata have transformed transport and commerce across the country. Many communities that were once difficult to reach are now integrated into the national economy.
President Hichilema’s vision seeks to build upon that foundation by adding another layer of connectivity. Roads move people across the country; airports connect regions to national, regional, and international markets.
Universities, meanwhile, equip citizens with the knowledge and skills needed to drive future growth.
Balanced national development cannot be achieved if investment remains concentrated in only a few urban centres. Every province possesses untapped economic potential that can only be unlocked through modern infrastructure and education.
Just as roads opened new opportunities during the previous decade, airports and universities could become the engines that shape Zambia’s next chapter of inclusive economic development.
