Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airport to be fully operational

The Joshua Mqabuko International Airport in Bulawayo will be fully operationalised this week, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) has said In a statement CAAZ said the facility is built on standards and characteristics of a modern airport.

"The terminal building has a capacity to handle 1.5 million passengers per year, the facility features all requisite safety systems, security systems and ambience characteristic of a modern airport," said CAAZ.

Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe added that the building is a state-of-the-art facility designed to serve the interests of the flying public and the community at large.

This comes after President Mugabe ordered that the airport should be opened soon. The airport has been facing major funding constraints which have seen the refurbishment project taking more than 10 years.

The upgrading of the international airport was scheduled to be completed in December 2004.

Stakeholders in Bulawayo and in the tourism sector have voiced their concern over the continued delays in completing the upgrading of the airport.