Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – The government has embarked on an ambitious, wide-ranging programme to rehabilitate and modernise airports across the country, a cabinet minister has said. The initiative is aimed at improving the country’s air transport infrastructure to boost the tourism sector, and attract critical foreign investment.
Among other things, this will see Charles Prince Airport on the outskirts of Harare upgraded to full international status. This was said by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development, Felix Mhona at the 2025 edition of Built Environment Conference and Expo.
“In the aviation sector, the government has embarked on an ambitious programme to rehabilitate and modernise airports to enhance air transport infrastructure, boost tourism, and attract investments. ”
The ongoing rehabilitation and upgrade of the airport infrastructure has already gone a long way in improving the country`s international image, as well as attracting new airlines. “The recently refurbished and modern Robert Mugabe International Airport will be re-purposed to focus primarily on handling domestic air traffic, streamlining operations and optimizing capacity,” Mhona said.
He said projects earmarked include the extensive upgrading and expansion of Charles Prince Airport, the construction of a new Mutare International Airport, and development of Kariba International Airport. “Charles Prince Airport is going to be an international airport. We are going to have one of our biggest airports at Charles Prince.
“I am grateful again, land has been availed through government to us through the Airports Company of Zimbabwe to expand, and we were there together with the Minister of Lands. We are ensuring that the project will start soon. We are currently busy with feasibility studies, and we will be having three or four runways,” Mhona told the delegates.
Beyond aviation, he said government’s strategic focus is also firmly fixed on improving regional rail and road connectivity. “Zimbabwe is decisively transforming from a landlocked nation into a land-linked regional hub as we unlock new trade and economic opportunities.
“Our concerted efforts in upgrading road infrastructure are now visibly manifesting through the strategic road corridors approach, with the North-South Corridor, the Beira Development Corridor, and the Limpopo Corridors being the anchor of connectivity as a transit nation.
“Our unique geographical location positions Zimbabwe as a critical link between major markets, facilitating the seamless movement of goods and services. Zimbabwe’s role in regional trade and economic integration is therefore absolutely critical,” Mhona explained.
“The upgrading of road infrastructure is one of the key initiatives the government has implemented to reduce transit times and improve logistics. “This is being robustly complemented by the concurrent upgrading of the country’s key border posts and streamlining our customs procedures, thus fostering a more favourable business environment and overall increasing the efficiency of the entire transport network.
“In line with this integrated vision, the Ministry is targeting the following major projects in the immediate term, the completion of the Upgrading of Beitbridge-Masvingo-Harare-Chirundu Road, the Christmas Pass bypass of 31.2km, the Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Road Project, the modernization of Chirundu Border Post, the upgrade of Forbes Border Post, and the construction of four new Interchanges, among other vital projects,” Mhona said.
He acknowledged that while the involvement of private investors and operators comes with clear benefits, certain obstacles still need to be overcome for public-private collaborations to achieve full success. “It is vital that we adopt a business-minded approach to infrastructure services provision.
Such an approach will require that services attract access fees adequate for infrastructure to be self-maintained and sustainable. “Without these commercial viability potentials, the necessary private capital might not be adequately attracted to the sector.
New Ziana
