The Governor of the Zambezi Region, Dorothy Kabula, has called on the Minister of Works and Transport to prioritise the development of Mpacha Airport, saying its location positions it well enough to qualify as an international airport.

Kabula made these remarks during a debriefing on the government’s response to flooding in the region.

In response, Works and Transport Minister Veikko Nekundi said the matter would be addressed by the end of the year. However, he clarified that Mpacha Airport would, for now, remain a domestic facility, as the government continues to prioritise developments at Hosea Kutako International Airport.

Nekundi added that a feasibility study would be conducted at a later stage to determine the costs and viability of upgrading Mpacha Airport to international standards.