Assembly 2013, an official said.
Addressing stakeholders during the official launch of the UNWTO GA 2013 Local Organising Committee (LOC) in Victoria Falls on Friday, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development, Mr Partson Mbiriri said roads in Hwange National Park and those in Hwange District leading to Victoria Falls will also be attended to.
“We want to transform Victoria Falls International Airport completely. It will take a year to complete the new runway that will accommodate bigger airplanes largely because we are getting the gravel and stones from other places.
“The terminal will also be renovated and this is all very possible considering that the Chinese have agreed to finance the project to the tune of $150 million.
“Roads, especially trunk roads in Hwange RDC and National Park, need attention as some delegates might want to travel there to see the wild animals,” said Mr Mbiriri.
Turning to progress at Harare International Airport, Mr Mbiriri said 50 percent of work had been completed.
He said what was remaining was acquiring new machinery like conveyor belts and a new radar.
“Fifty metres of the runway have been resealed and the taxiway has also been done. Of course, there is a need for new equipment that goes with check-in desks because we want to add 30 more check-in points.
“Here we are looking at about $30 million to get all the work done,” said Mr Mbiriri.
He said the missing link was Air Zimbabwe, which he said should be turned around in time for the general assembly.
“It would be wonderful to see our national airline servicing its routes during the assembly,” said Mr Mbiriri.
He noted that $15 million was required for water and sewer reticulation in Victoria Falls.
“We need solid waste management and we want to revamp the supply and distribution of water. There is also need to upgrade the electricity supply network by putting in place dedicated lines so that the assembly is not affected by load- shedding,” said Mr Mbiriri.
He also said they were working on getting the National Railways of Zimbabwe’s (NRZ) steam trains up and running for the assembly.
He said there was still a lot of enthusiasm from people from all over the world whom he said still wanted to see the locomotives that have since been phased out in some countries.
“We want to be running the steam train locomotives during the assembly as some people are still fascinated with the noise they make and the smoke they produce,” he said.
Mr Mbiriri said there had been little appetite to build a new hotel by the hoteliers and therefore the plan to have a hotel at the convention centre.
“We held a meeting with all the hoteliers having in mind the general assembly. They expressed no interest in construction of a new hotel in Victoria Falls. They said they were still cognisant of massive
infrastructure development in South Africa ahead of the 2010 World Cup, which they said failed to attract much business. As a result noone was willing to take up the venture,” he said.
Zimbabwe and Zambia won the bid to co-host the 2013 UNWTO Assembly, to be held in Victoria Falls and Livingstone respectively.
The General Assembly is the supreme organ of the UNWTO and its ordinary sessions, held every two years, are attended by delegates of the full and associate members, as well as representatives of the business council.
The event would bring delegates from 176 countries to the Victoria Falls.

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