Zimpapers Logo

Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter

THE US$153 million expansion and upgrading of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare is now 97 percent complete, with engineers finalising the installation of equipment.

The extension is set to be opened to travellers by end of June and the refurbishment of the older terminal area will be finished by December.

The Government is accelerating progress through enhancing aviation infrastructure modernisation in line with global standards.

Developing an efficient air transport system is critical in enhancing economic growth in line with the country’s aspirations as expressed under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).

The Government is upgrading aviation infrastructure countrywide in an effort to meet international standards and attract more airlines, more passengers and more tourists.

Yesterday, officials and board members from the Airports Company of Zimbabwe conducted a tour of the airport to assess progress made so far.

In an interview, ACZ airport development manager Engineer Shamiso Makova said soon they will start refurbishing the terminal building. 

“What we did was to extend the current international building for both arrivals and departures; that part of the construction is now about 97 percent complete. 

“We are finalising the installation of the equipment,” said Eng Makova.

Employees put final touches at the upgraded airport which is 97 percent complete in Harare yesterday.

“We should be done with that work by the end of June, then we are going to refurbish the current terminal building and that work should be done by December. 

“Under the project, we have also constructed two more new aprons to accommodate our four aero bridges that have been installed. 

“One of the bridges is on the domestic terminal site, so there is an apron there and the other one is an extension of the current apron at the international terminal building. So we are installing four extra bridges.”

Eng Makova said they have also installed three more sets luggage handling equipment and 14 more check-in counters for departures.

“We are relocating one of our small fire service stations by about 100 metres so that there is no contact with aeroplanes with long wing span, so that is also under construction. 

“We completed the runway works and if you remember there was a lot of noise about lighting on our runway. 

“That has been done and we have completed that one. We now have complete lighting on our runways,” said Eng Makova.

“We still have to complete lighting on the aprons and that is work in progress and that is being done. We also have a new small car park in our arrivals area that currently under construction. It is our hope that by the time we open or finish the extensions by the end of June, that car park will also be ready,” said Eng Makova.

The international terminal side can now accommodate seven aircraft and if they have more aircraft, the extra can use the domestic terminal.

A Completed section of the baggage reclaim at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare, yesterday.

“We are also installing two new self-check-in cubicles and you can now check-in on yourself like what they do in the rest of the world and I think that is the major change right now,” she said.

Before the tour, the ACZ launched Braille signage at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, becoming the second airport in the country after Victoria Falls to have such signage.

However, the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport will become the first airport in Africa to have a braille guide booklet.

ACZ board chairman Mr Dave Popatlal welcomed the booklet saying such a development was in line with NDS1.

“We very proud to be part of President Mnangagwa’s vision of leaving no one and no place behind, to incorporate world services which make our country proud of implementing this kind of initiative, in which impaired citizens and people with disabilities can have access and they can have comfort of using a travelling guide booklet at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport,” he said.

Braille for Africa director Mr Enoch Mawema said the introduction of the braille guide booklet will make the airport accessible to anyone with any visual disability and they will obtain it at the information desk.

He said they will soon introduce the booklet in other languages for the benefit of all passengers.

One of the beneficiaries, Mr Desire Muketiwa said: “I would like to thank the Airports Company of Zimbabwe for allowing us make the airport accessible for visually impaired people.”

Ms Patricia Nyateka also said with the introduction of the booklet would help a lot of people whose vision is impaired.