News / Local
Joshua Nkomo airport refurbishment to be completed by September
09 Jun 2012 at 08:23hrs | Views
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe says the refurbishment of the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo will be completed by September following the mobilisation of financial resources by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development.
When the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development invited the Vice President Cde Landa John Nkomo last year to assess the progress in the refurbishment of the airport, it was hoped that the project would be completed and ready for commissioning by end of July 2011.
However, the multi-million dollar project which has faced various challenges since it began over 10 years ago still remains incomplete due in adequate funding.
Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) Board Chairperson, Advocate Jacob Mudenda said with the mobilisation of funds which has been done by the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development and the Ministry of Finance, the remaining work will be completed on time to allow the newly refurbished terminal to be operational by September.
Responding to questions on what his organisation will do to ensure that the airport does not become a white elephant, Advocate Mudenda said the CAAZ has put in place marketing strategies that will attract foreign airlines into the city so that it is fully utilised.
He however said there is also a need to revive industry in Bulawayo which is mainly a business destination as well as tourist attractions that are close to the city so that the demand for air travel can increase.
Currently, South African Airlink is the only foreign airline that operates flights into the city from Johannesburg, South Africa.
When the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development invited the Vice President Cde Landa John Nkomo last year to assess the progress in the refurbishment of the airport, it was hoped that the project would be completed and ready for commissioning by end of July 2011.
However, the multi-million dollar project which has faced various challenges since it began over 10 years ago still remains incomplete due in adequate funding.
Responding to questions on what his organisation will do to ensure that the airport does not become a white elephant, Advocate Mudenda said the CAAZ has put in place marketing strategies that will attract foreign airlines into the city so that it is fully utilised.
He however said there is also a need to revive industry in Bulawayo which is mainly a business destination as well as tourist attractions that are close to the city so that the demand for air travel can increase.
Currently, South African Airlink is the only foreign airline that operates flights into the city from Johannesburg, South Africa.
Source - zbc
