The restructuring of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) to form a regulatory authority and an airports company will be completed by the end of the year, a Cabinet minister has said.
BY TARISAI MANDIZHA
Plans to restructure CAAZ in line with international best practices have been on the cards for a number of years.
Speaking at a familiarisation tour of CAAZ in Harare yesterday, Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Joram Gumbo said government was moving on with the splitting of CAAZ to form a regulatory board and a company in charge of airports.
“We are therefore encouraging all participants involved in the process to move with haste and diligence to attain this objective. The ministry is aware that the process is behind schedule but the target is to complete the project this year,” he said.
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Gumbo said government was aware of the industrial challenges facing CAAZ arising from the fact that at some stage over 50 people had had their contracts terminated.
“In your case it’s worse because even members of management have also had their contracts terminated. I, therefore, urge you to remain focused on managing these parastatals for the good of the country,” Gumbo said.
Commenting on CAAZ projects, Gumbo said in view of the impending commissioning of the Victoria Falls International Airport, there was need to perfect the product in consultation with key stakeholders bearing in mind the target date of the first half of the year.
Gumbo said the ministry had assisted CAAZ to secure funding to the tune of $500 000 which was requested as an urgent requirement to attend to specific requirements of the Harare International Airport runway.
“The money has been availed to you [CAAZ] and your immediate task is to move with speed in your planning process and complete the works without any further delay,” Gumbo said.
He said a new CAAZ board would be announced soon.
“The ministry is aware that there is no board currently, however the ministry is making necessary consultations and a board will be appointed soon. In the absence of the board you should liaise with the ministry for those issues that the board would ordinarily deal with,” Gumbo said.