Story by Owen Mandovha
THE US$150 million Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport expansion project is now complete and will be handed over to the Airports Company of Zimbabwe next month.
The project is setting the tone for massive transformation in the aviation and tourism sectors.
Joining the Operational Readiness and Transfer committee in touring the new look Airport, this news crew witnessed China Jiangsu International
contractors putting the finishing touches as they look forward to the handover of the project by the fifteenth of next month.
“The airport is now complete save for just a few touches here or there that are being completed. Our goal is that the contractor will hand over the project by the 15th of June to the Airports Company of Zimbabwe and the new terminals will be in use by then,” said Chief Executive Officer, of Airports Company of Zimbabwe, Mr Tawanda Gusha.
The airport now has a passenger annual handling capacity of six million passengers in addition to several modern ancillary facilities such as the VIP pavilion
The project which started in 2018 also comes with four additional bridges and an expanded apron to accommodate more aircraft as the airport will compete with other airports on the continent in terms of size.
“The airport will accommodate more aircraft in line with increased passenger holding capacity hence the apron has been expanded while an additional four bridges have been constructed,” said Mr Gusha.
“The project has progressed quite well though there were Covid-19 disruptions which slowed progress but the Government has indeed provided the much-needed support which has seen the project progressing well.”
For fitness fanatic travellers, a gym has been installed while prayerful travellers will be accommodated in prayer rooms among other features which include salons, coffee bars and a children’s play centre at the airport.
