Poor road infrastructure leading to Kalambo Falls continues to hinder tourism growth in Mbala District, limiting the number of both local and international visitors. Mbala Town Clerk Laura Yumba Munkanta told Zambian Business Times-ZBT in an exclusive interview that the poor state of the road network remains one of the biggest challenges affecting tourism in the area despite the district’s potential to attract more visitors.
“The road network is quite bad and that has seen the reduction in terms of international tourists as well as the locals,” she said.
She explained that although the Mbala Museum remains accessible because it is located within the central business district, access to Kalambo Falls remains difficult due to the poor road condition. “The museum is reachable, but the road to Kalambo Falls is really bad,” she said.
Munkanta noted that the district has a number of lodges capable of accommodating international visitors, adding that hospitality facilities are not a major challenge.
“We have a number of lodges and they are to standards that international travelers can use. There isn’t a gap in terms of hospitality to take care of tourists,” she said.
She further revealed that the local authority has repeatedly engaged relevant authorities regarding the road situation. “We have been reporting on that challenge. Government was almost sealing a deal with some Egyptians, but we do not know how far that has gone. The road has really been a challenge,”she said.
Apart from Kalambo Falls, she identified the Mbala Museum as another major attraction drawing tourists to the district and disclosed plans to seek funding to renovate a historic library to further enhance tourism offerings. Munkanta expressed hope that improved infrastructure and increased investment in tourism facilities would help unlock Mbala’s tourism potential and increase visitor numbers to Kalambo Falls and other heritage sites.
Article by Karen Ngulube
