Zimbabwe's Harare Airport to be renamed as RG Mugabe International Airport

September 22, 2017: Effective from November 9, 2017, Zimbabwe's Harare International Airport will be known as RG Mugabe International Airport. This is in the honour of Zimbabwe's current president, Robert Mugabe.

A Notice to Airmen, recognised as Notam was recently issued informing pilots and operators worldwide that Harare International Airport will be referred to as Robert Mugabe International Airport from November onwards. Notam is a written notification issued to pilots advising them of circumstances relating to the state of flying.

Zanu PF League, the ruling party's youth wing had initiated the name change call. Secretary for Youth Kudzanai Chipanga initially made the calls for the airport to be renamed at the beginning of this year reports The African Exponent. Chipanga remarked, "I am repeating what I said in Plumtree some weeks ago, that senior members of the party and ministers will not be allowed to attend the 21st February Movement celebrations next year if the Harare International Airport is not going to be named after Mugabe before the celebrations. The youths demand renaming of the airport and this must be done as a matter of urgency."

93-year old Robert Mugabe is the only leader Zimbabwe has seen independence in 1980, and he is the longest-serving leader. The airport was earlier known as the Salisbury Airport which was renamed as Harare International Airport after Zimbabwe gained independence in 1980. The National Treasury has allocated $10 million to upgrade the airport facilities over the next few years.