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Situated on the outskirts of Bulawayo, about 10km along Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, the newly upgraded airport terminal captures the aspirations of the city and showcases its development potential.
For nearly a decade, the upgrading of the airport has been under spotlight.
With 98 percent of the work having been done to date, the project no doubt looks ready for official commissioning.
The project is indeed one of the major capital investments by the Government in Matabeleland region with a bearing on the broader development strategy for the City of Kings.
Recently, a delegation comprising Bulawayo businesspeople, academics and residents, were taken through a guided tour of the new terminal building.
During the tour, the airport manager, Mr Passmore Dewa, appraised the delegation about the progress made so far.
There was a lot of excitement as the delegation moved around the towering two storey structure and marvelled at its well crafted architecture.
“Once operational, the new terminal building would afford travellers an opportunity to enjoy a wider choice of services such as banking and internet that would be offered for their convenience,” said Mr Dewa to the amusement of the delegation.
The crew was taken through the ground floor where it observed the airport infrastructure that included apartments for retail shops, offices for the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), departure lounges, public conference centre, neatly designed information displays and check in areas for both domestic and international flights.
Not to be left out is the Joshua Nkomo Gallery, which would be a mini museum where there would be displays depicting the legacy of the late Vice-President Nkomo, whom the airport is named after.
Mr Dewa said the infrastructure at the JMN International Airport rendered it the most modernised high tech airport in the country that matches international standards.
He said the airport would use modern access control units where travellers would use swipe cards, cordless phones within the terminal and closed circuit television system for security control.
The delegation also observed the already installed baggage conveyers, well functional ablution facilities, which cater even for people with disabilities.
For purposes of temperature control, the airport has a well-functional air conditioning system.
At the centre of the building near the exit and entrance points, is a neatly designed information centre for travellers’ enquiries.
Mr Dewa said the new terminal building would accommodate at least 200 travellers at one go as it was now four times larger than the initial terminal.
He said some companies such as Econet and CBZ had already secured apartments for conducting their businesses.
Provision has also been made for a health centre that will cater for the sick and social centres such as bars and restaurants for refreshments as well as offices for security agencies such as the police.
The delegation also toured the domestic and international arrival sections where requisite infrastructure such as chairs are put.
In this section special services would be given to specific clients such as diplomats and businesspeople.
There was pomp and fanfare as the sizeable delegation jostled to take photographs of the attractive signage outside the terminal using their cellphones.
The signage bears the name of the airport, written in blue colour on a yellow background and has a symbol of a shield with a short spear and a club.
According to King Lobengula’s descendant, Mr Peter Zwide kaLanga Khumalo, this symbol is a representation of ubuntu of the Ndebele speaking people, especially their historic Nguni background.
“This is a very important symbol, especially for people from Matabeleland. Ndebeles are an offshoot of the great Nguni people, who are the second largest in Africa. The symbol has been adopted internationally and represents the strength and military prowess of our people, which is unquestionable,” said Mr Khumalo.
Outside the main structure of the new terminal building is a fenced enclosure, where Mr Dewa said the statue of the late Vice-President Nkomo would be erected.
The delegation was also taken through the second floor where there are offices for the airport administration, a boardroom and a centralised monitoring room, which is the heart of the security at the airport.
There is also an architectural bridge joining the eastern and western wing of the second floor as well as additional shops, which the old airport did not have.
Mr Dewa said he was elated that the new terminal building was nearing completion.
“This project started in February 2003 and it has been a long journey of 10 years. We are now in a position to commission the terminal anytime before Christmas,” he said.
“This airport is set to change the face of Bulawayo and Matabeleland region at large. To the stakeholders who are here, this is your airport. Let us work together to keep it busy and increase volume of traffic.”
Mr Dewa said the airport could now support 1,2 million travellers per year from 350 000.
He challenged marketers and travel agencies to market the airport.
“The Bulawayo City Council and ZTA must be in the forefront in marketing this airport. At the moment, the airport is underutilised yet we have a staff complement of 500 workers and we do not want to retrench,” he said.
Mr Dewa said about $25 million had been put on this project and they have to return that money to Government.
He urged local businesses to use the plane for their local and regional travel and pledged that the airport would be charge affordable prices.
“Our strategy is to make this a low cost airport and boost the volume of flights,” he said.
The civil aviation sector is a key player in the country’s economy especially in the tourism industry.
Online Reporter