"Upgrading of Major Zimbabwean Airports Progresses Well"

Friday, August 22, 2003

Upgrading of Major Airports Progresses Well
Zimbabwe - The Harare Herald


Harare, THE multi-billion dollar massive refurbishment and upgrading of the
country's four major airports is reportedly proceeding well with work having
already been completed at some of the sites. 

The refurbishment which is being undertaken by the Civil Aviation Authority
of Zimbabwe is expected to cost $800 billion (US$100 million) at the
existing exchange rate. 

The chief executive of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Mr Karikoga
Kaseke said this week that the refurbishment and upgrading process was
expected to be completed by the year 2006. 

"Work is going on at the Harare International Airport, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo,
Victoria Falls and Buffalo Range airports. 

"The whole exercise is going on smoothly and significant progress has been
recorded despite the critical shortage of cement, diesel, bitumen and
paraffin," he said. 

Already, the concrete pavement at the Harare International Airport has been
refurbished to the tune of $430 million. 

The refurbishment, which started early this year, was completed in June. 

Mr Kaseke said the refurbishment of the airport's runway was also going on
smoothly. 

" Progress " 

"Work is currently in progress at the site. A fifth of the runway has
already been covered. The refurbishment of the runaway, which is expected to
cost $21,8 billion, will be completed in November 2004," he said. 

Mr Kaseke said work on rehabilitating the approach lights at the airport has
already been completed. 

He added that new lights would be installed by September 15. 

On progress at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport, Mr Kaseke said foundation works
and excavations for the piles and beams have already been completed. 

"Concreting of the foundation is in progress and the contractor is working
on the first floor beams," he said. 

The upgrading of the JM Nkomo Airport that will cost $8 billion will be
completed in October 2004. 

Apart from the expansion of the terminal building, the project also involves
the upgrading of the car park and associated landside roads. 

Mr Kaseke said work had already started at the Victoria Falls Airport. 

The airport's terminal building will be upgraded and a new runway will be
constructed at Victoria Falls. 

The whole exercise will be completed in 2006 is expected to cost at least
$51 billion. 

The apron and taxiway rehabilitation works at Buffalo Range airport were
also complete while the department of roads had completed the topographical
and soil surveys and was clearing the area to be extended. 

The project, which would involve the expansion of the runway to cater for
critical aircrafts like the Boeing 737 will cost $7,5 billion. 

Mr Kaseke dismissed reports that several airlines had withdrawn from the
country due to poor state of the Harare International Airport runway. 

" Best " 

"Harare airport runway is still one of the best in the world. It is utterly
misleading for some to suggest that the withdrawals of airlines from
Zimbabwe had something to do with the state of the runway. 

"Lufthansa stopped flying into Zimbabwe in 2000, Qantas in 2000 and Air
France in 1997. Not even a single official from the respective airlines
raised a complaint about the runway. The reason for their withdrawal had
nothing to do with CAAZ facilities," he said. 

Mr Kaseke said several international airlines were still passing through the
Harare International Airport to drop off passengers. 

"In fact we are gearing ourselves for more business. There are indications
that the number of flights into the country will increase in the near
future. 

"The national airline has re-commenced flights to Bulawayo, Victoria Falls,
Lusaka and Lilongwe while South African Airways, the biggest regional
carrier has increased flights from South Africa to Victoria Falls and
Harare. 

"British Airways has indicated that it will be increasing it flights into
Harare and other carriers have shown interest in flying back into Zimbabwe.
All these developments are signs of recovery and not collapse," he said. 

Government directed the Civil Aviation Authority to upgrade the country's
airports as part of efforts to revive the tourism industry.


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