Norman Dururu
GWERU – A senior government official has called for the urgent need to transform Gweru aerodrome into a fully-fledged airport, citing the city’s strategic location as a potential air transport hub for the Southern African region.
Speaking during an interview on the sidelines of the Midlands Investment Conference, Minister of Finance and Economic Development Professor Mthuli Ncube said Gweru was a strategic city in the Midlands and Zimbabwe as a whole.
“There is need to develop airport infrastructure here in the City of Gweru so that there is easy access as it is one of the key cities in this province. We really need to work on this upgrade,” he said.
Professor Ncube pointed out that many overlook Gweru’s potential, often placing greater attention on Bulawayo.
“I ply the route by air and I am thinking if we had a proper airport here, we could fly here very easily, land, do business for the city and Midlands Province and then proceed on our way,” he said.
He encouraged the local business community to leverage the abundant resources and strategic advantages of the Midlands Province in order to create a more industrialised and prosperous Zimbabwe.
Speaking to the media recently, Gweru Mayor Councillor Martin Chivhoko said upgrading the aerodrome to a fully operational airport has always been integral to their plans.
“We will see some activities in the next half year. We want to do the groundbreaking and expansion of the aerodrome into a fully-fledged airport,” he was quoted as saying.
However, progress on the project has faced delays due to administrative holdups at the Deeds Office, which has been processing deeds of donation and the registration of notarised leases.
The local council mentioned last year that it had identified a private partner poised to collaborate on the airport project, a development that is expected to boost growth in the Midlands capital.
With government backing now in place, the anticipated construction of Gweru airport is expected to accelerate, promising to enhance connectivity and stimulate economic activity in the province
