Vic Falls Airport to be complete by August

By Emmerson Njanjamangezi

VICTORIA FALLS – Expansion works at Victoria Falls International Airport initially scheduled for completion by April next year are now expected to sail through by August 2015 due to construction materials procurement bottlenecks.

Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe chief executive David Chawota told stakeholders during a monitoring and evaluation tour of the airport on Monday that civil works had been delayed.

“Civil works are expected to end by August 2015 because of delays in procurement of construction materials and rain. The construction company has asked for 127 days more to complete the project.

Works which commenced in April 2013 include the construction of a new terminal building with a capacity to handle 1,5 million passengers per annum, a-four-kilometre runway and associated taxiways with a capacity to handle a Boeing 747-400 or equivalent aircraft, a new Air Traffic Control Tower with associated equipment and a new fire station to meet the demands of the new runway.

Currently, Victoria Falls Airport has 2 200 by 30 metres runway set to be converted to a taxiway upon the completion of 4 000 by 60 metres new tarmac currently under construction.

Despite the delay, Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Obert Mpofu said government was pleased with the progress of upgrade works.

“To date, we note with satisfaction that the terminal building is at 43% completion while the runaway is at 73% completion.

“As we all witnessed, the completion is imminent and anticipated by August 2015.”

Mpofu also noted that government was also delighted by the progress on the airport to date as well as the performance of the main contractor, China Jiangsu International.

On completion of expansion works, Mpofu said it would be imperative to increase capacity utilisation to justify the huge investment.

“Further to ensure viability of this and other airports expansion projects, government has taken a two pronged approach of increasing traffic volumes.

“We are negotiating Bilateral Air Service Agreements with countries where airlines have shown interest in flying to Zimbabwe as well as promoting the growth of the domestic aviation sector,” Mpofu added.

The construction works were financed through a concessionary $150 million loan from China Eximbank to Zimbabwe. The Zimbabwe Mail