WHY THE AIRPORT LOCKDOWN NOW?
By Nachilima Cleopatra Chisala
When did Kenneth Kaunda International Airport stop being the people’s ground and start becoming a no-go zone for the very people it represents?
This isn’t just a patch of tarmac. KKIA—once Lusaka International—has been the beating heart of Zambia’s most defining moments. It’s where the nation grieved, celebrated, and stood together.
Nobody needed an access pass when:
1. Levy Mwanawasa’s body came home.
2. Michael Sata’s casket touched Zambian soil.
3. The fallen Chipolopolo heroes of 1993 were received with national heartbreak.
4. The Silver Medalists of 1994 were welcomed with pride.
5. The 2012 AFCON Champions returned to thunderous unity.
6. Nelson Mandela landed in 1990, and Zambia stood tall.
7. Anderson Kambela Mazoka’s remains returned in May 2006—and the gates were open to everyone.
So again, we ask:
What changed? Who changed it? And for whose benefit?
Since when did mourning become an invitation-only affair?
Since when did national moments become exclusive events guarded from the very nation?
Let’s not pretend this is normal. It’s not. It’s a worrying trend of exclusion—a quiet sidelining of ordinary Zambians from their own story.
And while the President and key institutions have called for a peaceful mourning period, let’s be brutally honest:
Peace isn’t a PR slogan. Peace is a promise. A two-way street.
That peace—if it is to be real—can only be sustained when all stakeholders live up to their word. The communiqu
Hakainde is just an oppressive man. He lied his way into office, and now he has glued his bokosi to the chair. He is not fit to be the president of Zambia.
REJECT TRIBALISM, CORRUPTION AND OPPRESSION.
VOTE FOR CHANGE IN 2026.
The Airport tarmac is a restricted area. It doesn’t mean that if you have a funeral then everything should come to a stand still. The airport tarmac can only be accessed by people with clearance and not every Jim and Jack. You have international protocols to operates and some people with trips overseas might need to connect their flights in order to arrive at their destinations on time. Besides this there’s a question of safety. You can’t allow everyone including drunk kaponyas who have safety understanding at the airport and think because of Lungu’s body arrival they will have passport to get anywhere they want. The way you written your article shows a lot of ignorance on airport security. Just because it was done previously does make it right and it should not be followed.
It’s now becoming crystal clear why the Family of ECL didn’t want the remains of the late President to be anywhere near Mr Hakainde Hichilema . For Hakainde it should always be about him, and him alone.
The remains of ECL should be in his pocket for him to Reap and Rip off. It’s not about paying respects, it’s to abuse the dead for his benefits.
He appropriated Michael Sata’s memorial, refused the Catholic Church any role, and bulldozed everyone, and even sent Police to surround the Catholic Church at Pope Square. To Reap and Rip off the Dead Michael Sata.
He did the same for Edith Nawakwi, abused in Life and in Death.
Now he wants to abuse ECL remains even in Death. No one should welcome the remains of ECL at KKIA. Military Honors are now a Top Secret event! And being used to stop people from receiving ECL.
We received the remains of Levy Mwanawasa, Michael Sata…but we should receive ECL’s remains on our load shedded TV . Mr Hakainde Hichilema has a very big problem. Please allow people to mourn the departed Edgar Lungu.
This bunch of hooligans is problematic. They can’t even control and behave themselves within the precinct of their own Secretariat. All they have been doing is intoxicate themselves; they are smoking things, drinking alcohol and doing some hanky panky business in cars. Left alone, they will urinate and deficate on the run way. They are immune to embarrassment. Remember, they deficated in HH’s house after stealing food when he was arrested. These are nincompoops who must not be trusted. They are brats without manners. This funeral will come to an end soon. So find something meaningful to do. We will meet on the streets.
Chisala the question you have asked can only be answered by you. PF project was a disaster for this nation because of the behaviour of its members. Never will it rule again this peaceful nation and we thank God for giving us HH. In opposition you want to dictate over national mourning? Hey,come on.
So you want to turn the airport a “free for all?”
Is the intent of those behind all this seeking to smuggle something?
The Lungu family has asked that order prevail at the funeral home. Why should the same not be done at the airport?
Stop holding the nation at ransome. This is rhe arrogance we speak of.
It’s better not to go because chikala chagwa will steal your money to feed his corruption habit, like a drug addict
I’m home with my family, that’s all that matters to me