Airport upgrade to be completed next year

The refurbishment and expansion of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare is progressing well with the new expansions expected to be completed in June next year.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona yesterday toured the airport to assess progress on the project where the contractor, China Jiangsu International, assured him that the new expansions would be completed next year in June.

This was despite delays caused by the outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 pandemic.

China Jiangsu International company is doing the expansion which will see the construction of the international terminal building and aprons, installation of four new bridges, a secondary radar system, construction of a VVIP pavilion and an airfield ground lighting and communication system.

“With the advent of the Covid-19, that cannot be over emphasized, the engineer was saying they have lost time but they are now up to date in terms of performance.

“Given the commitment and the work ethics the contractor has, we are seeing progress.

“I am delighted after having toured this magnificent project. What I really wanted to monitor is the time frame because we want to deliver according to the National Development Strategy 1 so that we meet our desired targets. We have seen the concrete work is on 90 percent completion while the roof is about 80 percent complete.

“I was asking the contractor on when the project will be finished and they assured me that by June next year, they would have finished.

“This has also been confirmed by our local engineers. This is the work of the Second Republic. We are delivering according to the Vision 2030.”

Minister Mhona said after completion, Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport would be one of the regional flight hubs and one of the best airports in Southern Africa.

China Jiangsu International project manager Mr Weiwei said the Covid-19 pandemic hindered progress but they had since resumed operations and work was progressing well.

“We suffered a one-year delay because of the Covid-19 pandemic but next month, we will finish inside work and this time next year we will be completing the new expansions and we will start on refurbishments of existing terminals. We are very confident that will deliver a good product to this country.”

Acting chief executive officer for Airports Company of Zimbabwe,Mr Tawanda Gusha, said they were anticipating a growth in air travel.

“The international terminal and the domestic terminal buildings will also be refurbished with the project increasing the airport’s holding capacity to six million people per annum from 2,5 million.

“What it means is that we are preparing for the anticipated growth in aviation and air traffic as seen by Africa having untapped destinations.

“Through the Zimbabwe Destination Development Program, the Government of Zimbabwe is developing Victoria Falls as a regional tourism hub. There is no way that Victoria Falls will be growing on its own. It will grow together with the RGM International Airport hence this expansion.-herald.cl.zw