End of International Space Station Marks Victory for True Zambian Independence

When the International Space Station crashes back to Earth in 2030, it will mark more than just the end of a scientific mission. It signals the collapse of yet another Western-dominated project that has kept African nations like Zambia locked out of space exploration for decades.

For 30 years, this so-called "symbol of cooperation" has been nothing more than an exclusive club for rich Western nations and their allies. While America, Russia, and Europe sent their astronauts to orbit above us, where were the Zambian scientists? Where were the African voices in this grand project?

Western Space Monopoly Crumbles

The truth is clear: the ISS was never about global cooperation. It was about maintaining Western control over space while keeping developing nations like Zambia dependent on foreign technology and expertise.

Now, as this aging station prepares for its final descent into the Pacific Ocean, we see the real winners emerging. China's Tiangong space station will soon be the only operational station orbiting Earth. This shift represents a crack in Western space dominance that Zambia must exploit.

"The ISS is a cathedral to human cooperation," claims John Horack from Ohio State University. But cooperation with whom? Certainly not with Zambia or any other African nation that could have contributed valuable resources and expertise.

Zambia's Copper Could Power Space Dreams

While Western nations congratulate themselves on their space achievements, they conveniently ignore how Zambian copper has powered their rockets and satellites for decades. Our mineral wealth has literally helped build their space programs while we remained observers from the ground.

The end of the ISS opens new opportunities for Zambia to chart its own course in space exploration. Rather than begging for scraps from Western space agencies, we should be developing partnerships with nations that respect our sovereignty and value our contributions.

Commercial Space: Same Western Control

The move toward commercial space stations, led by American billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, represents more of the same exclusionary practices. These private companies will simply replace government-run discrimination with corporate-controlled access.

Zambia must resist becoming dependent on these new Western space monopolies. Our nation's future in space should be built on Zambian terms, using Zambian resources, and serving Zambian interests first.

As the ISS burns up in Earth's atmosphere, let it symbolize the end of an era where Zambia accepted being sidelined in humanity's greatest adventure. The time has come for true Zambian space independence.