via New Kariba airport on the cards – New Zimbabwe 26/01/2015
THE government plans to build a new bigger airport in the resort town of Kariba and is in talks with the Chinese government to fund the project, an official said at the weekend.
The Chinese government, through China Exim Bank is funding the $150 million upgrade of the Victoria Falls International Airport. The expansion work is being carried out by China Jiangsu.
Transport secretary Munesushe Munodawafa told The Source that a new site had been identified away from the existing airport where a much bigger facility will be built.
“After Victoria Falls we want to develop national aviation infrastructure and plans are underway to look at Kariba Airport. We have identified a site where we want to build a much bigger airport,” said Munodawafa.
He added that ‘our discussions with China are taking us somewhere’ but declined to give more details.
The existing Kariba Airport has limitations owing to its size and equipment, which needs upgrading, he said.
“Kariba is a busy tourist destination and needs a proper airport,” Munodawafa said.
Besides the Victoria Falls Airport, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) is upgrading Joshua Mqabuko International Airport in Bulawayo, Harare International Airport and Buffalo Range Airport in Chiredzi.
At the Harare international Airport, Munodawafa said, the plan is to upgrade it to handle seven airlines at any given time up from the current four.
COMMENTS
Funny that they think of this ahead of delivery of services. This is a clueless administration that does not know it’s left leg from it’s right. Why are we cursed with these imbeciles. Airports are the last priority. The second largest City is on it’s knees and the think about airports. You cannot even walk on the roads without fear of drowning in a pothole. Zanu pf are criminals and the Corpus Delicti is there for the world to see. He with pens please document for future prosecutions because this is far from over. People have to answer for the suffering the people have sustained.
As usual couldn’t agree wit you more Doc. There is nothing wrong with the existing airport in Kariba aside from the fact that it has no tourist arrivals. Only a madman would go and build a bigger one ???
Have you noticed that all what this Government does is to dream-up projects and ask some other countries for fund them
I agree that a new airport for Kariba is not a priority. Then the usual will follow when you get a project funded by the Chinese. Everything and everyone will come from China. I read recently about a country in East Africa (Uganda or Rwanda; not sure which one of the two) was in long negotiations with the Chinese on some project and one of the sticking pointts was the need to agree on the level of local participation. There are a lot of areas where locals can participate (as main contractors, specialist subcontractors, engineering consultants, materials supply etc) and in future our government must think along these lines.