Zimbabwe Committed to Creating Secured Airspace

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By Marlvin Ngiza

The government of Zimbabwe is implementing a vast of strategies aimed at making the airspace more secure and to ensure standards conformity to International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), a government official has said.

In a statement ,Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development Felix Mhona said the government  was committed to a safe and secure airspace and zero tolerance to any situation where any aircraft plying our skies is exposed to danger.

Minister Mhona added that Zimbabwe was undertaking several projects of improving service delivery which include upgrading the Air Traffic Control Communication Systems and Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport among others.

“The government of the Republic of Zimbabwe would like to make it clear that it is committed to a safe and secure airspace and would never allow a situation where any aircraft plying our skies is exposed to danger.In this regard the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe(CAAZ) continues to carry out its mandate of ensuring a safe airspace within given minimum standards expected by International Civil Aviation Organization.

“The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe is implementing a project to upgrade the air traffic control communication systems to enhance ground to air radio communications at seven air ports which include Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport,Buffalo Range Airport,Charles Prince Airport,Hwange Airport,Joshua Nkomo International Airport,Kariba and Masvingo Airports.Modern systems are already installed at Victoria Falls International Airport.

“The ongoing project entails,among others the upgrading of Navigational Aids System and installation of Radar Systems.The systems will provide national coverage for transponder equipped aircraft and enhance airspace management through positive identification of the aircraft in the air space.The radar project will be commissioned by the third quarter of 2022,”said Minister Mhona.

He also guaranteed the safety of the traveling public.

“The ministry of Transport and Infrastructure Development would like to assure the traveling public and air operators that while awaiting the commissioning of the various systems,the highly qualified and experienced Air Traffic Controllers employed by the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) continue to use globally acceptable procedures to guide aircraft and at our aerodromes for safe operations.”

International Civil Aviation Organization recently audited Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in August 2019.