■ ZIMBABWE: Construction of new airside infrastructure at Victoria Falls Airport goes ahead as Bulawayo's nears completion.

Work on the upgrading of airside infrastructure at Victoria Falls International Airport in Zimbabwe has finally gotten under way following a ground-breaking ceremony held in the resort town on Friday, attended by Zimbabwean government dignitaries. The contractor for the USD150million project, to be financed under a China ExIm Bank loan, has been identified as China Jiangsu International Group (CJIG).

► ZIMBABWE: Minister admits new Victoria Falls Airport terminal will not be ready for UNWTO event.

Zimbabwean Minister of Transport, Communication and Infrastructure Development, Nicholas Goche, has come clean on events surrounding the refurbishment and expansion of Victoria Falls Airport, set to be one of the main transit points (the other being at Livingstone, Zambia's Harry Mwanga Nkumbula International Airport) for next year's United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly.

● ZIMBABWE: Zim government signs USD$150m loan with China for Vic Falls Airport upgrade.

In an update to our previous article on the upgrade of Victoria Falls Airport (VFA) in Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwean Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Walter Mzembi, has announced the signing of  a USD$150 million loan facility between the Zimbabwean Government and the China EXIM Bank, to supplement funds already availed last month to get the works off the ground.

So far, the only real work done has been by the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (ZINWA) which has laid pipes that will take water to the airport from the Zambezi River during the construction period, that is now expected to move head in 2 months time.

Victoria Falls Airport (Alannah Eames)

"The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe is also expected to pay a fee of US$2,4 million dollars to the Environmental Management Agency (EMA) and the project is expected to incorporate the expansion of the airport runway, terminal, immigration, customs and radar control points.

The expansion of the airport will see bigger and wide-bodied aircraft such as the Airbus A340 and the Boeing 777 flying directly into the resort town, making it more accessible to the outside world."

Read More Here [ZBC News Zimbabwe]


Last year, Minister Mzembi said it was his intention to try and lure large international carriers to Victoria Falls, amongst them Emirates, British Airways,  Lufthansa and Virgin Atlantic, in preparation for next year's United Nations World Tourism Organisation General Assembly, to be held in Victoria Falls.

■ ZIMBABWE: Finances for Victoria Falls Airport upgrade unveiled - at last.

In preparation for the World Tourism Organisation Congress to be jointly hosted by Zimbabwe and Zambia  in Victoria Falls, the Zimbabwean Government has at last, availed part of the USD$150million needed to rehabilitate and upgrade Victoria Falls Airport. How much has been given, though, is still unknown.