Zambia’s youngest commercial pilot, Besa Mumba, is now six months into her job with Proflight Zambia and has already clocked up 300 flying hours as well as proving an inspiration to young women and men across the country.
Besa Mumba came on board last year, after completing her training in Pretoria, South Africa, at the renowned SIMU Flight School. Now the 20-year-old is a fully-qualified pilot working full-time with Proflight Zambia, based in Lusaka.
She has already been back to her old high school, St Mary’s, to extol the virtues of being a female pilot in a former man’s world, and is looking forward to visiting more schools to tell eager young listeners just what flying a plane as a career really involves.
“A lot of people reach out to me and say they are inspired by my story,” she says. “They say that it is encouraging to the nation. This touches me and every day I am grateful to know that people can draw inspiration from me and my career path,” she said.
Besa decided to become a pilot four years ago, and since then has not looked back, having notched up over 300 flight hours as a First Officer on the Cessna Caravan aircraft where much of her day is spent.
“I enjoy being in the sky all the time,” says Besa. “My colleagues at work today look at me as any other pilot or member of staff. It has been a really worthwhile career for me. Of course, the career itself has its own challenges but overall I am happy that this is the path I chose because this is my passion and where my passion lies, my heart lies.”
Besa clearly has no regrets about her career path. “I am very happy to have the opportunity to fly for my home country. It’s satisfying and motivating to do something for the people around you, and knowing that you help build a better Zambia through your work is very fulfilling.”
She describes the experience of flying as spectacular: “I really love my work as a pilot. It has taken me far away and shown me many places around Zambia. I have been flying as First Officer pilot to Lower Zambezi, Kasama, Livingstone, Mfuwe and Ndola, with most of my frequent flights being along the Lusaka-to-Lower Zambezi route.”
Returning to her old school has been one of the highlights of her career. “It felt so thrilling to look back where I come from and know how I could make such a big difference by going back, to inspire others to do better as well. I am always humbled to know that I could make a difference in the lives of so many young people.”
Besa feels that as a female pilot in a traditionally male environment, her journey has only just begun. She continues to look forward to climbing her way up to the dizzy heights of captain and one day flying some of the company’s larger aircraft.
“It’s not about gender, about being male or female – everything is for everyone. We have equal opportunities,” she says. “I would like to reach a thousand hours by the end of 2017. It will be a great achievement for me, indicating my hard work. As you know, the pilot’s experience is measured by the number hours flown.”
Besa is particular excited about some of the new routes opening up on Proflight’s timetable. “I am very happy with the opening of the new routes from Ndola to Solwezi and Kasama, as they indicate growth in the work we do as an airline.”
Besa looks forward to flying to more places around Africa and beyond, as her career progresses.
Nice one…some of your friends all they know is which brand of booze they will take pa weekend at Lazymens in chilenje LOL smh
@nubian princess, you are more living game meat.
Great job, Sissy … wishing you the very best, coz you are simply the best!!!
Very nice Besa! You are young and smart, I hope you can morph into a real sustainable career. While in developing countries being a pilot is a big deal, elsewhere it it not.
@nubian princess are you serious?being a pilot is high profile anywhere in the world and just for the sake of asking what do you do ?
Please try to be positive! Being a pilot, doctor, lawyer is a big deal in any country!
Something seriously wrong with you dear
Congrats, for sure we are very inspired, u look young and brave. aim high.
Nubian prince mutonga limbi. You will just see how he is going to insult and confirm.
Go girl, go, excellent!
People being a pilot is not a big deal; its just like being a driver
There always has to be that jealous one.
Mwansa how many drivers (Pilots) do you have in your family?
Good work young lady. Keep setting the bar high. Congrats. Wishing you more safe flyings.
Well done Besa, we are proud of you. There might be one or two negatives posted on this blog because as you know we are not short of fo0ls. But all the best lady
Find a job in SA, USA,UAE and Europe, Zambian Air Liners are not stable and have old planes.
Congrats though.
very impressive! Hope she doesn’t tank the plane when her boyfriend upsets her!
I will never ride on her plane
Why not? There are no ‘Snakes On her Plane…!’
wow i am inspired by your story keep it up my dear.
All the best young lady, Some fools cant even drive an automatic spacio.
The sky is the limit. One day you will certainly fly the 777-300ER.
Forget some of the filthy comments from bloggers who probably have never flown before. There’s is Mazhandu, Juldan Motors, JITOTWE, Shalom etc..
A pilot is a driver in the air. No big deal there. Let’s talk of real accomplishments, please, not these six months training courses. Thank you.
I totally agree. I have added more below.
@Pwele this is an achievement and an accomplishment and falls within empowering women. What would you rather, her standing on a street corner begging for money like some ministers do in their sectors? Use your brain and give credit where it is due. Being a pilot is a great achievement but being a female pilot is a phenomenal achievement and means breaking the glass ceiling. Just give this wonderful young lady a round of applause.
Madam Besa. you offer great inspiration to our young females. You remind me of a comfortable flight I experienced in a plane piloted by a Malawian Lady Pilot from Lilongwe to Lusaka. I hope to fly in your plane destined for either Mfuwe, Ndola or Livingstone. Congratulations.
@Pwele should know that pilots are a pride of many families and nations. Let’s give praise where it is due rather than getting stressed when a fellow Zambian makes a good professional achievement. My guess is that Ba “pwele” has NEVER flown an inch in his life time. “Pwele” means a bird species that makes too much uncoordinated noises as it feeds on fig fruits (nkhuyu or intombolya). I hope he is not politicking to emit poisonous opposition gas called carbon monoxide.
I do not know why people think that flying a plane is such a big deal. It is not. It is just like driving a car. It only takes 100 hours to learn. A lot of teenagers in America fly planes. You cannot become a doctor after attending medical school for 100 hours, which is less than 3 weeks of a 40 hour week!
@18. Agreed, it is only in africa where they worship a glorified driver. I know people who learn to fly aircraft for fun or for commuting to work, not as a profession to get a job as a pilot. Would you spent 6 years to become a surgeon for fun? or study micro-surgery as a hobby? Come on she is young girl earning a living flying a small plane not a jet fighter pilot or space shuttle!
I congratulated a young lady for getting the JOB of Receptionist at my work place after undergoing ‘rigorous’ interviews. It was a big deal, and she now earns a salary and contributing to her household. It’s always a big deal getting a new job, any job…
(By the way, she recently got harself a Toyota IST, and DRIVES herself to work…)
Whether it is not a big deal, does not matter, the most important is she has achieved her go and as young as she is, needs to be encouraged. negativity in our comments does not eager well, let us give praise where it is due.
Mama keep the spirit high be focused, never be derailed by those who dont see goodness in others. look after
yourself, and put God first mama. God bless u. from mother zambia.
@Uncle Charles including @The Amish boy and all those talking from their ass-es. Can you fly a plane? Yes you are correct that a lot of teenagers abroad can flight planes but it takes a skill and time to learn just like being a doctor takes time and requires a skill set. Doctors can go and own their own practices and pilots can get a license to fly privately including having a business clientele. Would you know how to fly in bad weather conditions? Would you know how to fly a plane with two or more engines professionally? Do you know Air Law, Navigation, Meteorology including Aeronautics? Most importantly can you fly solo for over 5 hours across Zambia or Africa? If you can then much respect to you. And if the answer is no then please shut-it right now mwe matufi!
Very well put for the negative newts, though too harsh in the end. But I understand how you feel…
This is the kind of news that we need to be hearing and the the nonsense of keeping vendors on the streets. Keep it up girl.