The Government will soon renovate and upgrade the Kamembe International Airport in Western Province, with the Rwf5 billion works set to commence in November. And, it is hoped that by the time the upgrading exercise gets underway, expansion works at the Kigali International Airport will have been finalised, while plans to construct another international airport in Bugesera also remain on course. The development comes at a time the Rwanda Development Board is looking for private investors to develop areas around Lake Kivu in Western Province to make the most of the magnificent sceneries there. The upgrades on Kamembe airport will see the runway increase from the current 1.5km to 2.2km and resurfaced, subsequently allowing it to accommodate bigger planes. The move comes as a major boost to efforts to develop the so-called western corridor as a key tourist destination under what has been termed as ‘the Congo Nile Trail’, a new hiking tourism product that links Nyunge National Park the southwest and Volcanoes National Park in the northwest, home to famed mountain gorillas. A bigger, busier, safer and modernised Kamembe International Airport will not only attract more traffic to that part of the country but will also change the face of the western corridor and give a major lift to the country’s ambition of becoming a regional aviation and services hub. In recent years government has made clear its intentions to increase off-farm jobs, with a target of creating at least 200,000 jobs annually, which would not only go a long way in addressing the issue of youth unemployment and underemployment but also significantly enhance the country’s chances of achieving its development agenda. In light of this vision as well as growing investments in the countryside, it’s imperative that both central and local governments actively prepare local communities to seize these opportunities with both hands to transform their livelihoods and contribute to the treasury through taxes. Residents in areas that are witnessing major investments such as Kamembe should not only target jobs that are directly generated by these projects but, most importantly, tap into the benefits that come with such major strategic investments, such as increased tourists. Community tourism along the Congo Nile Trail is one of the things that can be emphasised. The same goes for other areas like Bugesera, which is not only awaiting a major airport but is also blessed with several water bodies. While this area may not have the most fertile land, there are other resources like lakes which residents can capitalise on and help diversify their economic activities. But government and private sector needs to play a major role in this.
