THE US$153 million refurbishment and expansion works of the Robert Mugabe International Airport are now scheduled for completion next June while the full project is expected to be wrapped up in June 2023.
The project, initially scheduled for completion in September 2021, was disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic and the measures that were implemented to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
The government has been keeping a close eye on the project to ensure the works are progressing well.
In his recent visit to the airport, Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Felix Mhona said the government is happy with the progress.
“As government we are pleased with the progress. This is one project under the second republic set to transform the aviation sector,” he said.
The existing terminals will be closed for renovation after the new wing has been opened, according to Airports Company of Zimbabwe chief executive Tawanda Gusha.
“We are still working with the contractor and the consultants to come up with the exact timelines.
But initially, we were targeting to complete this project in September of 2021. And because of these delays, we are now looking at completion of 2022. What is happening is that, when we finish the extensions will then close off the current terminals for refurbishments and move operations to the extension,” Gusha said.
“By my calculation, in the next summer, operations will be in the new wings where we are installing brand new air conditioning which we are confident will last us a couple of years according to the manufacturer’s specifications,” Gusha said.
Robert Mugabe International Airport currently has a capacity to handle 2.5 million passengers per annum and the upgrade will increase it to over six million per annum.
Gusha said they were also working on moving to renewable sources of energy as a solution to power challenges.
