XAI-XAI, MOZAMBIQUE, — Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi has pledged that construction of an airport in the southern province of Gaza will begin this year.
Speaking at Licilo, in Limpopo district, on the first day of a working visit to Gaza Monday, he declared that the airport will happen, as I have said before”.
“The technicians have come here, they’ve made the measurements, they’ve tested the soil, and a tender has been launched in China. The company that wins the tender will begin to build the airport this year, he said.
The airport is to be built at Chonguene, about 17 kilometres from the provincial capital, Xai-Xai. The runway will be 1,600 metres long, and the entire airport is budgeted at 50 million US dollars. Last year China pledged to provide 15 million USD for the airport.
Critics point out that Xai-Xai is only three hours drive from the capital, Maputo, and doubt that there is sufficient demand to make an international airport here viable.
Mozambique already has another international airport which is virtually unused, in the northern city of Nacala, inaugurated in 2014 by Nyusi’s predecessor, Armando Guebuza. Although it is the most modern airport in the country, the only airline flying there is Mozambique Airlines (LAM), with two flights a week from Maputo.
If the Gaza airport is indeed built, it will almost certainly depend for its viability on charter flights bringing tourists to Gaza’s beaches and wildlife parks.
Source: NAM NEWS NETWORK