Mutare airport plans hit snag
MUTARE business community’s bid to construct a commercial airport in the town has stalled, albeit, temporarily as the committee supervising the campaign is waiting for the incoming Cabinet’s input on the matter.
A consortium of business people in Manicaland, chaired by Mutare businessman Mr Joseph Sanhanga, in August launched the campaign for the construction of a commercial and cargo airport in Mutare, as part of efforts to create an export processing zone in line with Government’s Special Economic Zones programme.
In an interview, Mr Sanhanga said they had covered some ground with regards to engaging the necessary authorities but the project had stalled owing to the change in the political dispensation in the past two weeks.
“We had engaged the Special Economic Zones board, the Ministry of Transport seeking land for the construction of the airport and we were also referred to the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe who also gave us a favourable response. But we have basically gone back to the drawing board and we wait to be advised on the best course of action once the new Cabinet is in place. We are optimistic about the outcome because the President has expressed his desire to encourage development and economic growth going forward,” said Mr Sanhanga.
He said the next step would be to engage the Minister of Finance and Economic Development and other relevant Government departments in the province to map the way forward.
“In the meantime, we are in the process of drafting a business plan, which will give details of the planning considerations, the design of the airport we intend to construct as well as the cost structure of the project,” Mr Sanhanga further explained.
He said the consortium had engaged some Indian aviation experts who had been advising them on the technicalities of constructing an airport. He, however, said the Indians would not get an automatic qualification to be part of the construction process, as they would have to go to tender with many other experts in the field.
On funding, Mr Sanhanga said there was no cost structure yet but they would get funding from private investors.
“We don’t need money from Government but we want the approval to be granted quickly so that we can invite investors to come on board for the project,” he said.