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From Tawanda Mangoma in Chiredzi
THE Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) says about $300 million is required for the expansion of Buffalo Range Airport in Chiredzi. CAAZ regional airports manager Tawanda Gusha said after the completion of expansion work currently underway at the Victoria Falls International Airport priority would be on Buffalo Range Airport.

“When we finish the development of the Victoria Falls International Airport, we intend to move to Buffalo Range Airport. Buffalo Range is next on our list of priorities. We intend to extend the runway at the airport and construct a new terminal building that would have the capacity to handle at least a million passengers per annum,” said Gusha.

He said according to their feasibility study conducted six years ago, Buffalo Range would need $300 million.

“Plans to expand Buffalo Range didn’t start this year. We once started some expansion work at Buffalo Range some time in 2009 but we, however, resolved that we would undertake the expansion projects one after the other.

“We completed the Joshua Nkomo International Airport, now Victoria Falls International Airport. All this is in line with our thrust to develop aviation in the country and this is in line also with the expectations of Zim-Asset on the aviation industry in the infrastructure and utilities cluster,” said Gusha.

Buffalo Range is presently undergoing a facelift after Tongaat Hullets Zimbabwe and Malilangwe Conservation Trust agreed to avail some funding for the facility.

CAAZ public relations and communications manager Anna Julia Hungwe said they will construct the ninth airport in the Eastern Highlands.

“We also have plans to construct an airport in the Eastern Highlands. We want to promote the development of aviation and access to all regions.

“The main reason why we will construct an airport is to promote access to the Eastern Highlands for both business and tourism,” said Hungwe.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) Chiredzi manager Marvellous Sengwe urged airlines to fully utilise the Buffalo Range Airport since the South East Lowveld has a number of tourism packages.

“Residents and the business community aren’t happy with the false promises made by Air Zimbabwe that they have plans to re-introduce the flights to Chiredzi. We, however, urge other airlines to take up the Chiredzi route since many business people and tourists were left stranded by a team from Air Zimbabwe who promised the resumption of flights last year but never returned with feedback,” said Sengwe.