THE Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport will be officially opened tomorrow following pressure by President Robert Mugabe to operationalise the new terminal building before completion.
GAMMA MUDARIKIRI
Mugabe reportedly ordered the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) to open the airport by November 1 without fail.
CAAZ yesterday issued a statement confirming that the new terminal, which has the capacity to handle 1,5 million passengers per year will be opened tomorrow although the facility was still under construction.
“Although the terminal is undergoing its final stages of completion, it has become absolutely necessary to operationalise the facility to allow the utilisation of the already installed systems,” read part of the CAAZ statement.
The terminal has been under construction for the past 10 years.
Last week, airport manager Passmore Dewa told the local media that all key security systems were now in place and they would meet the set deadline to operationalise the facility.
The multi-million dollar project was once stopped after funds ran dry, but the government last year released $1,3 million followed by another $1 million for the purchase of communication equipment among other things.
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There are an estimated 15 contractors working on the project that includes the refurbishment of the international arrivals’ hall, a variety of shops, a car park and a separate State pavilion, but progress has been stalled by financial constraints.
According to CAAZ, the project was 95% complete, but required in excess of $2,5 million for final touches.
The cash-strapped government, however, was struggling to finance capital projects as 70% of the budget was swallowed by civil servants’ salaries.
The project was initially scheduled to be completed in December 2004, but has been pending until Mugabe put pressure for the facility to be completed.
