Minister Mhona sets record straight on Airport signage
Pretty Manyewe
Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Tapiwa Mhona, has expressed his sincere apologies over the hasty replacement of the welcome signage at Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport’s airside.
This comes after an uproar where citizens of Bulawayo condemned the Government for removing the signage which had a black and white shield and replacing it with one that has colours of the National flag and coat of arms.
The late Vice President Joshua Nkomo’s son, Sibangilizwe Nkomo, went on to the extent of likening the move to a tribal insult to the IsiNdebele people and descendants of tribal warriors who consider the shield or “ihawu” in isiNdebele as a heritage symbol and ode to their history.
In a press statement issued out today, Mhona expressed his regret of not initially informing all stakeholders before proceeding to replacing the signage.
“For the record, the signage at the J.M.Nkomo Airport was done as a temporary measure following the upgrading of the airport and its commissioning in 2013. A number of designs were brought up and consultations were done with all stakeholders including the Nkomo family Trust. There has, however, been concern by stakeholders on the poor quality and workmanship of the temporary signage since 2015. This led to the Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) being seized with the matter of improving signage at all our airports, further leading to the erection of the new signage which had the Zimbabwe coat of arms as another temporary measure.”
To solve the problem at hand, the Minister highlighted that all stakeholders have been informed that Government has gone to tender for new signage that will incorporate all stakeholders concerns.
“Wider consultations are on-going on the best signage we which will factor in regional sentiment and desires,” said Minister Mhona.
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