News / National
Masvingo airport set for upgrade
12 Sep 2013 at 05:05hrs | Views
Airport Tower View
GOVERNMENT says it is seeking strategic partners and investors to bankroll the construction of a new terminal building and runway at Masvingo Airport.
Masvingo province is popular with tourists because of the Great Zimbabwe ruins, which are situated about 30 kilometres south of the city.
However, accessibility to the attraction has been affected by poor access by air due to the size of its airport, whose facilities need urgent attention.
In a report released last week spelling out investment opportunities in Zimbabwe, government said Masvingo airport was part of several projects that it urgently wanted to be completed.
"A total of US$300 million is required for the upgrading and development of airport infrastructure and services in Zimbabwe," said the report, released by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion.
"Key investment opportunities (include) construction of a new terminal building and runway expansion for Masvingo airport, modernisation of air navigation equipment for all airports, replacement of air terminal meteorology equipment, rehabilitation of Harare International Airport runway and completion of Joshua Nkomo Airport," said the report.
Since dollarisation in 2009, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) has been refurbishing and expanding major airports following a decade of economic crisis during which it failed to carry out refurbishments.
The authority is currently undertaking the US$150 million expansion of Victoria Falls International Airport.
However, many of the smaller airports had not been given attention.
But of particular concern has been air traffic control and safety in Zimbabwe's airports due to old equipment.
"There are also domestic airports and airstrips that could be further developed in areas such as Hwange, Mushumbi Pools, Bumi Hills, Buffalo Range, Kariba, Gweru and Mutare," said the report.
The African Development Bank said in 2011 Zimbabwe's entire airspace had not been covered by existing facilities, and what does exist was deficient.
CAAZ has been talking to Chinese financiers to bankroll the completion of work at the Harare International Airport, which has an annual capacity of 2,5 million passengers and to expand the 2 286 metre-long Victoria Falls International Airport runway.
Meanwhile, CAAZ has started the refurbishment of the domestic terminal at the Harare International Airport, which was badly in need of attention following many years of neglect due to funding problems.
The authority had projected that with its ageing airports refurbished, and new airlines flying in, air passenger numbers would climb to 2,2 million by 2020.
Masvingo province is popular with tourists because of the Great Zimbabwe ruins, which are situated about 30 kilometres south of the city.
However, accessibility to the attraction has been affected by poor access by air due to the size of its airport, whose facilities need urgent attention.
In a report released last week spelling out investment opportunities in Zimbabwe, government said Masvingo airport was part of several projects that it urgently wanted to be completed.
"A total of US$300 million is required for the upgrading and development of airport infrastructure and services in Zimbabwe," said the report, released by the Ministry of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion.
"Key investment opportunities (include) construction of a new terminal building and runway expansion for Masvingo airport, modernisation of air navigation equipment for all airports, replacement of air terminal meteorology equipment, rehabilitation of Harare International Airport runway and completion of Joshua Nkomo Airport," said the report.
Since dollarisation in 2009, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) has been refurbishing and expanding major airports following a decade of economic crisis during which it failed to carry out refurbishments.
However, many of the smaller airports had not been given attention.
But of particular concern has been air traffic control and safety in Zimbabwe's airports due to old equipment.
"There are also domestic airports and airstrips that could be further developed in areas such as Hwange, Mushumbi Pools, Bumi Hills, Buffalo Range, Kariba, Gweru and Mutare," said the report.
The African Development Bank said in 2011 Zimbabwe's entire airspace had not been covered by existing facilities, and what does exist was deficient.
CAAZ has been talking to Chinese financiers to bankroll the completion of work at the Harare International Airport, which has an annual capacity of 2,5 million passengers and to expand the 2 286 metre-long Victoria Falls International Airport runway.
Meanwhile, CAAZ has started the refurbishment of the domestic terminal at the Harare International Airport, which was badly in need of attention following many years of neglect due to funding problems.
The authority had projected that with its ageing airports refurbished, and new airlines flying in, air passenger numbers would climb to 2,2 million by 2020.
Source - fingaz
