State to spend $3.2m on Mansa airport

Mr Kasolo said in an interview yesterday that the 1.7km airport runway will be extended to about 3.7kms to allow for landing of bigger aircraft.
“Mansa airport will before the end of this year be able to host aircraft from countries like South Africa and Kenya,” he said.
He said the upgrading of Mansa airport will help boost tourism in Luapula Province.
Mr Kasolo said Mansa airport is in a bad state because it has not been upgraded since 1971.
He said Luapula Province has had no decent airport and this has deterred potential investors.
Mr Kasolo said after the completion of the works at the airport, tourists will be able to travel directly from South Africa into Luapula Province.
He said the runway cracks, encroachment by grass and pot-holes make it impossible for bigger aircraft to land at the airport