New airport for Manicaland

Samuel Kadungure

Senior Reporter

MANICALAND has identified land for the construction of a new airport as part of initiatives to lure investors and tourists to the majestic province, The Manica Post has established.

Manicaland is endowed with an assortment of minerals, timber and tea estates, tourism facilities as well as adequate water for agriculture, among other natural resources.

However, its major undoing has been the lack of an airport that facilitates faster shipping times for goods, improved access to international markets and increased tourism opportunities.

Airports also provide a range of services such as banking, postal and transportation services. In an interview on the sidelines of a Brand Zimbabwe consultative meeting in Mutare on Tuesday, the Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Advocate Misheck Mugadza said the province has vast opportunities that can grow its economy.

“We have outstanding centres for tourism, timber and minerals and we need to put everything together, package and sell it out so that investors are spoilt for choice.

“Strategic infrastructure like roads and airports are crucial. To that end, land has been identified for the construction of a new airport.

“Initially, the land had been identified at Grand Reef near Odzi, but certain technical issues caused its abandonment and compelled us to look for another place.

“Fortunately there is very good flat land in Mutasa South and all efforts are being made to get things together and ensure that airport project takes off,” he said.

“I am also glad to say the Christmas Pass Bypass Road work is now at an advanced stage, very soon we will have a ground-breaking ceremony to mark the beginning of its construction. The Public-Private Partnership (PPP) is already in place and the partner is ready to commence work. We are left with putting a few logistical arrangements in place for the construction work to take-off.

‘‘When you have a good road network, everything else will fall into place,” he said.