Mr Song Qinbo, the Chairman of China Jiangsu, and the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Honourable Felix Tapiwa Mhona, yesterday visited the RGMI Airport to assess how much progress has been made in constructing the VVIP Pavilion Lounge.
Mr Song Qinbo stated that he and the Ministry of Transport are working to complete the VVIP Pavilion Lounge project.
“We have come to visit Zimbabwe and have completed construction at two airports, Victoria Falls Airport and RGMI Airport. The Minister of Transport has requested us to finish the VVIP Pavilion Lounge before the end of July, so we have come to push and ensure that the construction is done before the deadline,” he said.
He added that it’s an honor to continue working with the Ministry of Transport and the Airport Company of Zimbabwe for the past 12 years.
“It is a great pleasure to come to Zimbabwe to see these airports and we have been working together for a very long time since 2012 with the Ministry of Transport and the ACZ.
“These two airports are helping the development of the country and will help to boost the economic development in the country and I am happy and satisfied,” he said.
Mr Song Qinbo also highlighted that he is more than welcome to continue working with the Ministry of Transport and ACZ for the betterment of the country.
Minister Mhona stated to the media that the purpose of the visit of the Chairman of China Jiangsu is to work closely with the Ministry.
He added that they started in Victoria Falls, are currently working on the RGMI Airport, and will soon be moving to Mutasa Airport.
The Minister added that the Ministry is not only looking at fiscas but also partnering with China Jiangsu to obtain easy and accessible funding.
“We are not only looking at the fiscas but we are looking outside the box, I was in China last year pursuing the Belt and Road Intiative were we are also supposed to tap into funding and this initiative we are making as a Ministry is to augment and support treasury so that we then build these Airports and we partner with players and in particular with China Jiangsu so that we get easy and accessible funding, “he said.
He went on and said that the economy continues to soar despite the illegal sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe.
“The idea is to demonstrate to the outside world that yes we are under very punitive illegal sanctions, but as Zimbabweans it resonates well with the mantra ‘nyika inovakwa nevene vayo’ that we are using our own resources and precisely this is what we are doing,” said Hon Mhona.
He added that,” We want to thank President Emmerson Mnangagwa, our visionary leader and as you have seen today the wonderful works that has been demonstrated on this particular project where we are witnessing the completion of the VVIP Pavilion Lounge and as I communicated with my team that we want this to be completed by 30th June.
Hon Mhona highlighted that as a Ministry there are also focusing on constructing a bigger International Airport Charles Prince which will have 2 to 3 runaways as RGMI Airport is now restricted due to residential stands near the airport.
“The most exciting news today is we now need a bigger place to showcase and also to have bigger International Airport and we are now focusing on the Charles Prince Airport.
“It is good news that we are now descending to Charles Prince where we will have 2 to 3 runways and because of space we can not continously improve in terms of ancillary services of the Airport but we are now targeting Charles Prince to be our International Airport and as we speak we are working with the Ministry of Lands to secure additional land,” he said.
Eng S C Makova said the VVIP Pavilion Lounge is now 85% complete and by end of June it will be completed.
Story By Farirai Mutumburanzou
