The Harare International Airport has been renamed after Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe during an official ceremony held in Harare on Thursday.

The government has so far gobbled  up $500 000 to fund the process of renaming of the airport to the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport, including $300 000 paid to the surveyor general’s office, while the remainder funded the official renaming ceremony.

Transport minister Joram Gumbo, speaking at the renaming ceremony, said: “Your Excellency, in recognition of your sterling work in the aviation industry and to the generality of the Zimbabweans in liberating this country and economically empowering them, our ministry is implementing the busiest and biggest and busiest airport in your honour.”

Gumbo highlighted that this will see the Robert Mugabe International Airport undergoing rehabilitation and development. “This includes the construction of three additional aero bridges, a new fire station, a modern terminal building and a new Very Very Important People (VVIP) pavilion.

He cited that negotiations for the financing of the project are nearing completion and expected to commence by the end of the year. A Chinese company, China Jiangsu International, has been contracted to do the work.

Mugabe said during the renaming ceremony: “It is indeed a great honour for me and I’m humbled by this gesture.”

Michael Chideme, the public relations officer for Harare City Council said, this is not something new in the world as we have seen airport named after JF Kennedy, Kenneth Kaunda. “We are hoping it will bring the much needed investment in the country, Chideme added.

Meanwhile, the ruling party ZANU-PF’s supreme decision-making body, the politburo, met on  Wednesday and reached a decision to expel Emmerson Mnagagwa, the former Vice President of Zimbabwe, from the party. This comes barely two day after he was fired from government. A five page letter attributed to him yesterday cited how he had been unfairly treated despite his loyalty to Mugabe for more than 40 years.

The communication from Emmerson Mnagagwa, who many believe has left the country for South Africa, reads: “I will go nowhere, I will fight tooth and nail against those making a mockery against ZANU-PF founding principles, ethos and values. You and your cohorts will instead leave Zanu-PF by the will of the people and this we will done in the coming few weeks as Zimbabweans in general now require new and progressive leadership that is not resident in the past and refuses to accept change.”

Speaking during the politburo meeting on Wednesday, ruling party spokesperson, Simon Khaya Moyo said: “On the request of the 10 provinces, the Women’s and the Youth League, the Politburo has unanimously expelled former Vice President and Second Secretary of the party Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa as a member of the party.”

Former Bulawayo (second largest city in Zimbabwe) provincial youth leader Magura Charumbira was also dismissed for masterminding the booing of Grace Mugabe at a controversial Youth Interface rally held over the weekend.

Further, the ZANU-PF disciplinary committee is expected to deal with several remaining Mnangagwa’s allies.

On another note, a much awaited special congress will be held from 12-17 December, which is set to bring to finality the replacement of the Vice President’s position. First lady Grace Mugabe has already been chosen as the candidate of choice, which means she will lead alongside her husband.   DM

Photo: The plaque is unveiled at  the international airport in Harare. Photo: Sally Nyakanyanga.