17/07/2026
Govt starts preps for 2026 Aviation Safety audit
CHONGWE, Zambia, Thursday, July 16, 2026
Government says the demand for safe and efficient air transport can never be compromised.
Speaking at the kick-off meeting for the WGS-84 aerodrome and obstacle survey project in Lusaka yesterday, Ministry of Transport and Logistics Permanent Secretary Fredrick Mwalusaka said aviation safety therefore, requires that Zambia continuously maintains accurate, reliable and up-to-date information about airports and their surrounding environments.
In a speech read on his behalf by the Ministry’s Director of Planning and Monitoring Mr. Stephen Mbewe, Mr. Mwalusaka said accurate geospatial information is essential for, among others, safe aircraft approach and landing procedures.
And Zambia Airports Corporation Managing Director Urvesh Desai said accurate information is the baseline of aviation safe and efficient operations.
He said the quality of airport infrastructure must be matched by the quality of information upon which aviation decisions are made.
A team of aviation experts from South Africa is in the country to check security levels on the three international airports namely Kenneth Kaunda International Airport, Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport, and Simon Mwansa Kapwepwe International Airport.
Zambia is preparing for the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) safety audit scheduled for November 2026.
The World Geodetic System 1984 (WGS 84) is the universal three-dimensional coordinate reference system used for mapping, positioning, and navigation.
It provides a globally recognised reference framework used in modern aviation.
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ERNEST CHANDA
PRINCIPAL PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER