Another milestone. Another signature of the Second Republic’s vision. Government has set in motion plans to expand Charles Prince Airport in Mt Hampden, transforming it into a modern international hub and marking a decisive step in strengthening national and regional air connectivity.
The initiative, unveiled during a ministerial tour of the facility, underscores Zimbabwe’s infrastructure transformation agenda. More than 300 hectares of land have already been secured for the project, with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development tasked to expedite planning and implementation.
Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Dr Anxious Masuka, confirmed the land allocation, signalling the seriousness of government’s intent. Transport Minister Felix Mhona echoed that urgency, citing President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s directive to move with speed, with initial technical reporting expected within days.
The plan is bold: develop a modern international airport with capacity for up to three runways, positioning Mt Hampden as both an administrative and aviation hub. This complements the new Parliament building and ongoing infrastructure investments that are steadily reshaping the capital’s north-western corridor.
The project carries symbolic and practical weight. Symbolically, it reflects a leadership determined to align infrastructure with its economic vision. Practically, it promises expanded connectivity, reduced congestion at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, and enhanced capacity to attract investment, tourism, and trade flows.
Zimbabwe has already demonstrated its commitment to aviation growth, with recent multimillion-dollar upgrades at Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo, and Victoria Falls airports. Charles Prince’s expansion is not an isolated initiative, but part of a coherent strategy to leverage aviation as a driver of competitiveness and growth.
If realised with efficiency and foresight, the Mt Hampden project could become a pivot for regional integration, logistics development, and investor confidence, another chapter in the story of a nation rebuilding itself through infrastructure-led development.
