Lack of forex hits Zim airports
10/04/2006 21:16  - (SA)  

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Johannesburg - The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe's (CAAZ) programme of refurbishing the country's main airports has been hampered by lack of foreign currency, a senior official has told Zimbabwe's state-owned Herald newspaper.

"CAAZ acting general manager Ezra Mazambara told the parliamentary portfolio committee on mines, environment and tourism last week that shortage of forex was affecting the progress of the exercise," the paper said.

Mazambara was presenting oral evidence before the committee on the operations and challenges facing the authority.

"We have problems in funding and we have forwarded our concerns to the relevant taskforce dealing with the issue," Mazambara is quoted by the paper as saying.

He added that the upgrading exercise included refurbishment of the lighting system at both Harare International Airport and Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo Airport.

Mazambara said CAAZ had a back up system of generators used in the lighting system at major airports in the event of electricity blackouts although sometimes they encountered fuel shortages.

CAAZ chief executive officer, David Chawota was quoted as saying the authority was negotiating with foreign and local investors to seal joint ventures to upgrade airports in line with international standards.

According to the Herald, he stated that there were some investors willing to enter into joint ventures with the authority though details of the negotiations were still to be finalised.

Chawota declined to outline the amount of funds needed in the refurbishment exercise but sources close to CAAZ operations told the Herald that the organisation required about Zim$2 trillion.

"The authority has, over the past three years, failed to complete the refurbishment of the airports due to foreign currency shortages. Other airports whose refurbishment was yet to be completed included Victoria Falls and Buffalo Range.

"The CAAZ has also been courting Asian investors on joint ventures in line with the government's look east policy," the Herald said.

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