Construction work at Nkumbula airport on course

According to project manager Peter Kapala, the airport building currently has the capacity of 250,000 passengers per annum, while the new terminal would be able to handle between 700,000 and one million passengers per annum.

The completion of the terminal building has been moved from the earlier timeframe of June 2013 due to the availing of most of the required resources on time.

"’We are ahead of schedule and we will finish the remaining work by May 2013. Almost all the resources required are available while other materials will be arriving in the country soon," said Kapala.

National Airports Corporation Limited (NACL) managing director, Robinson Misitala, has disclosed that the new airport infrastructure would be commissioned before the UNWTO general assembly.

The new terminal building will have two boarding gates, five club lounges, viewing terraces and 30 retail spaces, among other facilities.

Zambia and Zimbabwe are expecting a maximum of 4,000 participants during the UNWTO General Assembly, comprising 1,500 delegates from more than 180 member states, affiliate and associate members of the UNWTO, the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) and the general travelling public.

The two countries have agreed to share the costs of co-hosting on 50/50 basis, which means each country would host about 2,000 delegates.

Meanwhile, the National Steering Committee (Zambia) tasked to oversee preparations for the event has said it is satisfied with the work that has been done so far.

The team is headed by deputy secretary to the cabinet, Peter Kasanda, and comprises permanent secretaries from the ministries of Local Government and Housing, Commerce, Trade and Industry, Health, Home Affairs, Information and Broadcasting, and Tourism and Arts.

Nawa Mutumweno