The CAAZ chief’s remarks expose the country’s lack of preparedness for the event, amid reports that the construction of the convention centre at Victoria Falls is yet to commence with just nine months before the country co-hosts the UNWTO event with Zambia.
Reacting to questions raised by Zimsun Chief Executive Shingi Munyeza on the state of the country’s airports in view of the anticipated influx of tourists and delegates for the meeting, Chaota said while the upgrading of other airports was on course, work on the Victoria Falls 2,286 metre-long runway, expected to be the busiest of the airports in the country during the event, will have to be put on a fast track.
“The Joshua Nkomo Airport is definitely scheduled to open in December this year, but we are trying to fast track the runway so that we complete it in 10 month. Working with what we have, we might take 12 months,” said Chaota, who blamed the slow speed on lack of money. He revealed that the authority was looking to Chinese financiers to bankroll the project, together with work at the Harare International Airport, which has an annual capacity of 2,5 million passengers.
Chaota said the Victoria Falls airport upgrade requires about $150 million while the Harare upgrade would require $4 million. “Funding can be from anywhere but we are pursuing the Chinese. We want to start the project this year,” he said.
The country’s ageing air traffic control system is also a major cause for concern amid reports that the equipment does not cover the whole country. According to a report by the African Development Bank, the country’s air traffic surveillance system requires extensive upgrading. “The entire airspace of Zimbabwe has not been covered by existing facilities, and what does exist is deficient. The airspace surveillance equipment is not well maintained, and while repairs have been carried out at Harare, work on the system at Joshua Nkomo International Airport (in Bulawayo) is incomplete,” the AfDB said.
The country is expected to see an increase in airlines flying in and out of the country following a renewed interest by global airlines.
CAAZ projects that with its ageing airports refurbished, and new airlines flying in, air passenger numbers would climb to one million in 2012, from 973,000 in 2010.The number is expected to rise to 2,2 million by 2020.
Post published in: Business