Story by John Nhandara
THE refurbishment of the domestic terminal at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport is nearing completion, with the facility expected to become fully operational by April, marking another milestone in Government’s ongoing infrastructure modernisation drive under the Second Republic.
The upgraded terminal now mirrors the standards of the recently modernised international terminal, with improved passenger handling systems, enhanced amenities and redesigned spaces aimed at delivering a seamless travel experience.
Travellers who have used the refurbished sections say the improvements are already evident.
“These are world-class facilities that meet international standards. Services are now seamless, and the transformation is quite massive,” some passengers said, adding that further expansion would ease congestion and improve service flow.
The Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) says the project is in its final stages, with only finishing touches remaining.
“We have expanded the runway and refurbished the whole terminal. All the systems we are putting in place such as check in counters are up to standard and a replica of what you have seen at the international side. By and large by April we will be done with the final touch ups,” ACZ, Chief Executive Office, Mr Tawanda Gusha noted.
The modernised domestic terminal is expected to improve operational efficiency, reduce travel bottlenecks and enhance the airport’s appeal to regional airlines, as Zimbabwe positions itself as a competitive aviation hub.
Beyond Harare, ACZ has turned its attention to upgrading other key airports across the country in line with the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2).
“Under NDS2, we have earmarked a number of projects such as developing Charles prince airport into an international airport. We are also working on Mutare airport. We will be upgrading the runway at the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo international airport as well as cargo facilities. We have different funding models in place,” Mr Gusha said.
The successful upgrading of the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport has seen the airport’s passenger handling capacity increasing from 2.5 million passengers to 6 million per year.
