The Sunday News
Roberta Katunga Senior Business Reporter
THE Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe will embrace a Public Private Partnership approach to rehabilitate Kariba and Buffalo Range airports as part of a broad-based project to rehabilitate all the airports that are key to the development of tourism.Responding to concerns on whether the aviation authority was paying too much attention to certain airports at the expense of others, CAAZ chief executive Mr David Chawota said plans were in place to rehabilitate the rest of the airports in the country.
“We are rolling out a plan which is systematic, phased and planned. The Victoria Falls is being worked on so that it will drive Kariba, Buffalo Range and Joshua Nkomo airports as they are all part of the plan,” said Mr Chawota.
He said Government welcomed Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) in airport construction.
Mr Chawota said airports in Zimbabwe were designed to facilitate tourism and Victoria Falls being the tourism hub in the country was meant to drive development in other areas.
He said partnership between tourism and the aviation sector was important in unlocking economic development.
“Proposals to interested investors on that model are being circulated as Government strives to find a clear way of funding development. Partnerships in airport construction and development are allowed here,” he said.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Ministry Permanent Secretary Mr Munesu Munodawafa said Government was clear on the need to develop Harare and Bulawayo and said CAAZ was offering incentives to any airline willing to operate in Zimbabwe.
“The strategy is to bring in tourists via the major three airports that are Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls and then distribute that traffic to the rest of the airports like Kariba, Masvingo and Buffalo Range. We are not sidelining any of the airports but there is a plan in place which we are following. Everything is being done systematically,” said Mr Munodawafa.
Connectivity has been viewed in the country as a necessity in driving economic development and growth.
Masvingo airport has been earmarked for construction of a new terminal building and runway. The province is popular with tourists because of the Great Zimbabwe ruins, which are 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.
Mr Chawota said rehabilitation of the airports started with Phase 1 of the Harare International Airport taxi way which is about 2,1 kilometres and what remains is the runway lighting system. He said they were now working on Phase 2.
Rehabilitation of the Harare International Airport was split into three phases and according to CAAZ at least $30 million is needed to complete work at the airport in the capital.
Other domestic airports and airstrips that need to be developed are in areas such as Hwange, Mushumbi Pools, Bumi Hills, Buffalo Range, Kariba, Gweru and Mutare.
