Victoria Falls Airport set for major security upgrade

The Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) has unveiled plans to upgrade the Integrated Security System at three of the country's key international airports - Victoria Falls International Airport, Robert Mugabe International Airport, and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport. This strategic move aims to enhance aviation safety and security standards to attract more global airlines and boost Zimbabwe's position as a regional travel hub.

The project targets modernising airport security infrastructure to align with stringent international regulations amid the continued growth of Zimbabwe's aviation sector, which has seen increasing passenger traffic and airline operations in recent years.

In a recent interview in Victoria Falls, ACZ Finance Director Mr. Vengesai Ruswa emphasized the critical role of robust security systems in supporting the aviation industry's expansion.

"The idea that we are trying to push here is, we have seen the growth in our aviation infrastructure and our airport infrastructure over the past couple of years. That has to be complemented by a robust security system, and aviation security and safety are critical to the survival of the sector," said Mr. Ruswa.

He highlighted the importance of meeting security requirements demanded by airlines from key markets such as Asia and the Americas, where compliance with international bodies like the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is mandatory to facilitate increased airline operations.

Earlier this year, ACZ conducted a pre-feasibility study for the Civil Aviation Integrated Security System, which received approval from the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA). This greenlight sets the stage for the project to enter the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) development pipeline.

"The next step is performing a full feasibility study, which is supposed to be done by an external technical consultant. We are in the process of securing funding for that," Mr. Ruswa added.

He explained that once funding arrangements are finalized, a public procurement process will commence to appoint a competent consultant to conduct a comprehensive study assessing the technical, financial, and operational aspects of the security upgrade.

The upgrade comes amid evolving global security challenges, including cyber threats, insider risks, and organised crime targeting airports.

In a separate interview, Mr. Laxman Moyo, Director of Aviation Security at the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ), discussed emerging security concerns facing the sector.

"We are always mindful that whatever is happening outside the continent may also be a threat to Africa. We have seen a real challenge with false bomb threats or hoaxes because of the proliferation of social media and unregulated internet use. It is easy for someone to just throw a message like, ‘I have placed a bomb,' causing unnecessary panic," he said.

Mr. Moyo also warned of increasing insider threats and the infiltration of organised crime within airport environments.

"The insider threat is a dimension of every other threat. Every time there is an incident, there could be an element of someone with local knowledge aiding or abetting the situation," he noted.

"Another dimension is organised crime such as smuggling, human trafficking, identity theft. These crimes are slowly drifting into the aviation world due to the displacement theory. The more law enforcement cracks down in urban areas, the more criminals may shift operations to airports."

The planned security upgrade is expected to position Zimbabwe's airports as more competitive regional hubs, enhancing confidence among international airlines and passengers alike. With Victoria Falls being a premier tourist destination, the introduction of state-of-the-art security systems will further bolster its reputation as a safe and world-class gateway.

ACZ reiterated that finalizing funding and appointing technical consultants for the full feasibility study will mark a significant milestone in advancing this transformative security project.