THE government continues to modernise infrastructure at the country’s ports of entry, with a visit to the expanded Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport revealing efficiency in the passage of people and cargo.
The Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Honourable Felix Mhona, showcased some of the ground services equipment acquired by the National Handling Services (NHS) to improve the operational efficiency of the airport services this Wednesday.
The fleet of airport ground equipment has already been distributed to other major airports like the Joshua Nkomo and Victoria Falls international airports, signifying a major scaling up of airport efficiency towards creating a regional aviation hub.
“The unveiling of this equipment is essential for our upgrading and development of our airport ecosystem. The fleet of ground services equipment bolsters operational efficiency at the airport, which creates modern airport infrastructure,” Minister Mhona said.
At the same occasion, a plush business lounge to cater for esteemed business travellers was unveiled, with the Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Honourable Barbra Rwodzi highlighting the importance of modern airport facilities to tourism development.
“It is essential that our airport has facilities that resonate with all classes in the plane and there was no first class lounge here, which we are very confident will cater for such a profile of travellers. This contributes to the development of our tourism and hospitality industry,” she said.
The NHS signalled the unveiling of the equipment and the business lounge as key milestones to harness the aviation and tourism value chains.
The Shipping and Freight Forwarding Association of Zimbabwe’s president, Mr Washington Dube says airport recapitalisation is also a boost to creating a regional cargo hub.
“This is big because it facilitates the smooth flow and processing of cargo at very short turnarounds and complements our quest to become a cargo hub like Kenya.”
The expanded Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport now boasts of an annual passenger handling capacity of six million passengers from around 2.5 million and continues to make interventions to further modernise the airport to world-class standards.
