Emmerson Njanjamangezi, Group Features Editor 
AIRPORTS Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) says it has begun civil works to refurbish the Grand Reef Airport in Mutare, with the view of completing the project this year.
Focus on Grand Reef Airport, which is a military air force base serving the city of Mutare and has a 20-kilometre runway, follows the completion of the US$2,5 million upgrade of Buffalo Range Airport in Chiredzi.
Buffalo Range’s runway was rehabilitated and upgraded to accommodate bigger aircraft as the nation’s tourism sector continues to show signs of recovery. The airport is the gateway to the Lowveld, which is home to the wildlife-rich Gonarezhou National Park, a part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park.
In an interview this week, ACZ chief executive Tawanda Gusha said all eyes were on Grand Reef pursuant to the need to increase domestic flights in the country.
“We are currently mobilising resources for Grand Reef Airport in Mutare. For now, we are working on the airstrip as well as clearing the bushes.
“For Kariba Airport, we are not yet doing refurbishments, we are still on resource mobilisation. At the moment we are working on sprucing up Hwange and we have so far finished the runway and are left with bush clearing,” he said.
Gusha said the plans to ramp up domestic airport refurbishments come on the back of ACZ’s target to lure more domestic flight operators to widen options for local travellers and ultimately offer competitive fares.
Following the launch of Kuva Air, a new airline operated by Zimbabwean aircraft charter firm Executive Air recently, the country now has three local flight operators, including Air Zimbabwe and Fastjet.
Kuva Air has introduced flights on the Harare-Victoria Falls route and has plans to ply the Harare-Kariba route.
“This means more options for travellers to local destinations. It means that we have an opportunity to have air services in places that were last served a long time ago such as Kariba, Hwange, Masvingo and Chiredzi,” Gusha said in an interview this week.
“We are currently upgrading our airports’ infrastructure. We are currently doing the Robert Mugabe International Airport, which is set for completion next year.
“However, we are also refurbishing domestic airports to increase local operators and flights.
“This is because we believe that growth in domestic tourism also contributes to economic growth and development,” Gusha added.
In line with the ‘Open Air’ policy in the five-year economic plan — the National Development Strategy 1, the government has prioritised modernising infrastructure at international airports to lure more global airlines to Zimbabwe.
ACZ board chairman Davnada Popatlal said the focus was now on rehabilitating and revamping local airports.
“The 50-seater Embraer 145 can now land at Buffalo Range. The plan is to move on to Kariba Airport.
“We are drawing up a budget to undertake the project and apply for funds from the government. Buffalo Range now has a very good landing strip,” Popatlal said.
Popatlal said due to the interconnectedness of the aviation industry and the tourism sector, the Buffalo Range Airport upgrade was part of the government’s plans to boost tourism in the Lowveld.
The project was undertaken by Bitumen and DDF.
ACZ manages and develops eight airports in Zimbabwe, offering direct and fast access to the country’s tourist resort areas.
Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport is the international gateway into the capital city, Harare, the hub of commercial activity in the country.
Popatlal said ACZ will also be responsible for roads and infrastructure connected to airports.
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