The airport expansion project funded by China Export Import Bank to the tune of 150 million dollars started in 2013. And it is being done by the China Jiangsu International Group.
The refurbishments include upgrading the domestic terminal building, a new 4km runway, a new international terminal and the construction of a new fire station and new control tower. Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo, who recently toured the new facility expressed satisfaction with progress made so far.
“I’m very happy with the progress that I see. People have worked very hard. I came here in December and there’s a difference. It shows that people are now working 24 hours a day. This is very impressive.” Joram Gumbo, Zimbabwean Transport Minister
Once completed, the new facility will accommodate wide-bodied aircraft such as the Boeing 747, Boeing 777 and Airbus 380. Passenger handling capacity will rise from just 500,000 passengers to 1.5 million passengers per annum.
Other airports such as the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo in Bulawayo, Buffalo Range and Kariba are also being renovated. Zimbabwe’s airline industry faces a string of challenges including closed skies, obsolete fleet and brain drain. But due to the government’s drive to bring back investors who were scared away by ownership laws, low cost airlines are now flodding the market.
