News / Local
Mugabe to land at new Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo terminal
31 Oct 2013 at 09:23hrs | Views
President Robert Mugabe is set to use the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport Friday as he jets in the city for National University of Science and Technology graduation.
The new terminal which government was battling to complete for past decade will receive its first flight Friday Morning.
The Air Zimbabwe Harare- Bulawayo flight will touch down shortly after 8am with Mugabe expected to land by mid morning.
Sources at the terminal told ZimbabweFocus Thursday that Mugabe is will have "a pass by at the new terminal".
"Last minute meeting on the opening will be done today afternoon but everything is now in place" said the source.
Mugabe reportedly ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) to open the airport by November 1 without fail.
In Wednesday, Caaz issued a statement confirming that the new terminal, which has a capacity to handle 1,5 million passengers per year will be opened.
"Although the terminal is undergoing its final stages of completion, it has become absolutely necessary to operationalise the facility to allow the utilisation of the already installed systems," part of the Caaz statement read.
The terminal has been under construction for the past 10 years.
Last week, airport manager Passmore Dewa was quoted in the State-owned media saying all key security systems were now in place and they would meet the set deadline to operationalise the facility.
The multi-million dollar project was once stopped after funds ran dry, but the government last year released $1,3 million followed by another $1 million for the purchase of communication equipment, among other things.
There are an estimated 15 contractors working on the project, refurbishing the international arrivals' hall, building a variety of shops, a car park and a separate State pavilion, but progress has been stalled by financial constraints.
According to Caaz, the project is 95% complete, but requires in excess of $2,5 million for final touches.
The cash-strapped government, however, is struggling to finance capital projects as 70% of the budget is swallowed by civil servants' salaries.
The project was initially scheduled to be completed in December 2004, but had been pending until Mugabe put pressure on the facility to be completed.
The new terminal which government was battling to complete for past decade will receive its first flight Friday Morning.
The Air Zimbabwe Harare- Bulawayo flight will touch down shortly after 8am with Mugabe expected to land by mid morning.
Sources at the terminal told ZimbabweFocus Thursday that Mugabe is will have "a pass by at the new terminal".
"Last minute meeting on the opening will be done today afternoon but everything is now in place" said the source.
Mugabe reportedly ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) to open the airport by November 1 without fail.
In Wednesday, Caaz issued a statement confirming that the new terminal, which has a capacity to handle 1,5 million passengers per year will be opened.
"Although the terminal is undergoing its final stages of completion, it has become absolutely necessary to operationalise the facility to allow the utilisation of the already installed systems," part of the Caaz statement read.
Last week, airport manager Passmore Dewa was quoted in the State-owned media saying all key security systems were now in place and they would meet the set deadline to operationalise the facility.
The multi-million dollar project was once stopped after funds ran dry, but the government last year released $1,3 million followed by another $1 million for the purchase of communication equipment, among other things.
There are an estimated 15 contractors working on the project, refurbishing the international arrivals' hall, building a variety of shops, a car park and a separate State pavilion, but progress has been stalled by financial constraints.
According to Caaz, the project is 95% complete, but requires in excess of $2,5 million for final touches.
The cash-strapped government, however, is struggling to finance capital projects as 70% of the budget is swallowed by civil servants' salaries.
The project was initially scheduled to be completed in December 2004, but had been pending until Mugabe put pressure on the facility to be completed.
Source - zimbabwe focus
