A local company is planning a huge cargo facility at the main airport in Harare. Transvaal Africa will invest just over a billion dollars to build a so-called smart cargo village at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport. The project is a partnership with the Airports Company of Zimbabwe, whose CEO, Tawanda Gusha, wants the airport to become a regional hub. The facility will include grading, sorting, and cold storage for perishable goods, aiming to boost agricultural and mineral exports.
The company's CEO, Patson Moyo, said groundbreaking is scheduled for early next year after securing most approvals. He noted the project will create thousands of jobs, with forty percent of construction work reserved for local contractors. The complex will also feature a secondary runway to prevent operational disruptions. Officials intend to have the area designated a Special Economic Zone, offering tax breaks and streamlined regulations to attract international investment.
This development aligns with government efforts to expand the airport's capacity and compete with regional hubs like OR Tambo in South Africa. Gusha emphasized Zimbabwe's geographic advantage for consolidating cargo from within a two-hour flight radius before shipping it globally. The goal is to transform the airport into a total logistics package, encouraging light manufacturing nearby and significantly increasing current cargo handling capabilities.
The company's CEO, Patson Moyo, said groundbreaking is scheduled for early next year after securing most approvals. He noted the project will create thousands of jobs, with forty percent of construction work reserved for local contractors. The complex will also feature a secondary runway to prevent operational disruptions. Officials intend to have the area designated a Special Economic Zone, offering tax breaks and streamlined regulations to attract international investment.
This development aligns with government efforts to expand the airport's capacity and compete with regional hubs like OR Tambo in South Africa. Gusha emphasized Zimbabwe's geographic advantage for consolidating cargo from within a two-hour flight radius before shipping it globally. The goal is to transform the airport into a total logistics package, encouraging light manufacturing nearby and significantly increasing current cargo handling capabilities.
