News / Regional
Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport needs $9k for tower construction
13 May 2016 at 06:57hrs | Views
THE government requires $9 million to construct the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower to improve safety at the airport.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Joram Gumbo, told legislators in the National Assembly on Wednesday that developing infrastructure at airports cannot be achieved immediately due to lack of resources.
Minister Gumbo was responding to MDC-T Bulawayo proportional representation MP Nicola Watson who had asked him about the amount that had been raised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) for development projects since taking over the collection taxes from Air Zimbabwe.
The Minister said CAAZ had raised $5 million and without giving an exact figure, added that part of that had been channelled towards the tower.
"Joshua Mqabuko control tower requires US$9 million and so far, the authority has paid US$5.2 million of which US$3.2 million has been committed towards capital projects such as the ATC simulator, Harare Sewer Project, Harare baggage handling equipment, purchase of utility vehicles, refurbishment of the fire tenders and the integrated security system," said Gumbo.
"CAAZ started collecting the passenger service and IDEF fees on 11 November 2014. To date, which was the date when you asked your question and I have not been able to update, the total sum collected was $5,154,910."
He said it was clear that at the rate at which collections are being done, it would not be possible to raise the resources required for the tower among other security and facilitation demands.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Joram Gumbo, told legislators in the National Assembly on Wednesday that developing infrastructure at airports cannot be achieved immediately due to lack of resources.
Minister Gumbo was responding to MDC-T Bulawayo proportional representation MP Nicola Watson who had asked him about the amount that had been raised by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) for development projects since taking over the collection taxes from Air Zimbabwe.
The Minister said CAAZ had raised $5 million and without giving an exact figure, added that part of that had been channelled towards the tower.
"Joshua Mqabuko control tower requires US$9 million and so far, the authority has paid US$5.2 million of which US$3.2 million has been committed towards capital projects such as the ATC simulator, Harare Sewer Project, Harare baggage handling equipment, purchase of utility vehicles, refurbishment of the fire tenders and the integrated security system," said Gumbo.
"CAAZ started collecting the passenger service and IDEF fees on 11 November 2014. To date, which was the date when you asked your question and I have not been able to update, the total sum collected was $5,154,910."
He said it was clear that at the rate at which collections are being done, it would not be possible to raise the resources required for the tower among other security and facilitation demands.
Source - chronicle
