The Sunday News
Wilson Dakwa, Business Reporter
THE Government has set sights at constructing two airports as well as refurbishing three of the country’s aerodromes as it moves to foster economic activities by way of encouraging international commerce and tourism.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo said the airport infrastructural development would play a major role in enhancing connectivity between cities and neighbouring countries.
He, however, could not be drawn to disclose the amount of investment to be channelled towards the projects as well as the timeline for construction, saying due diligence was still to be conducted.
“It is in our plans to construct an airport in Beitbridge so that people will be able to fly to the border town. Another airport will be constructed in Mutare to ensure that we move with the times. We are also looking at upgrading some airports in the country and also want to promote domestic tourism.
“Hence, the Hwange National Park Airport, Masvingo Airport and Kariba Airport will be refurbished. This will reduce the travelling hours for locals who want to go on game drives and view Lake Kariba,” said Dr Gumbo.
The country has eight airports namely Masvingo Airport, Hwange Airport, Kariba Airport, Charles Prince Airport, Buffalo Range Airport, Victoria Falls International Airport, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport and Robert Mugabe International Airport.
“We need to change our travelling methods by adopting flights, even locally. For instance, South Africans fly from one city to another whereas Zimbabweans prefer driving and this increases the cost of maintaining our roads,” he said.
The Government has invested over $300 million in the refurbishment of the country’s three main airports, Robert Mugabe International Airport, J M Nkomo International Airport and Victoria Falls International Airport.
The country’s busiest and largest airport, Robert Mugabe International Airport and the Victoria Falls International Airport were refurbished through Chinese loan facilities at a cost of $153 million and $150 million respectively while $7 million was channelled towards the construction of a Control Tower at J M Nkomo International Airport.
Meanwhile, Dr Gumbo said ownership and maintenance of road graders had been handed over to local authorities so as to promote convenience, prior to this, the Zimbabwe National Road Administration assumed responsibility of the machinery.
“I am pleased to inform you that with effect from 1 January 2018, the ownership and maintenance of graders were handed over to road authorities. Our expectation is that this will ensure the optimum utilisation of the graders so that the road network in your respective jurisdictions is kept in a trafficable state. We are aware of the inconvenience which they were facing when a grader broke down. They would have to wait for a mechanic to be sent from Harare,” he said.
Dr Gumbo further said the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Patrick Chinamasa and Minister Local Government, Public Works and National Housing July Moyo agreed to allow local authorities to apply for infrastructural development funds.
He also called on local authorities to engage in Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) as a strategy to fast track the rehabilitation of the country’s road network since road infrastructure was the backbone of the transport system, which in turn is key for investment.
