Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, Victoria Falls Reporter
THE Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) is embarking on an ambitious plan to reposition the country’s three international airports as key drivers of economic activity, moving beyond their traditional role of being mere transit points.
With a vision aligned with global trends, the ACZ is engaging stakeholders to establish Special Economic Zones (SEZs) around airports, fostering aviation-linked industries, logistics, agriculture and tourism.
In an interview with Zimpapers at the recently held Africa Indian Ocean (AFI) Aviation Week held in Victoria Falls last week, ACZ Finance Director Mr Verengayi Ruswa outlined the company’s strategy saying there is a need for airports to evolve into regional hubs that stimulate business and investment.
Globally, airports are increasingly becoming catalysts for commerce, hosting free trade zones, industrial parks, and logistics centres.
The ACZ seeks to follow this model, leveraging its strategic location in Southern Africa to attract investment and boost trade.
“With regards to Special Economic Zones, our vision, as I see it, is moving away from airports just being transit points where people fly in or fly out of the destination. As you see, airports around the world are moving towards being anchors and drivers for economic activity, and that’s what we are hoping to do,” said Mr Ruswa.
He said, for Zimbabwe’s airports to function as true regional hubs, they must stimulate commercial activity in their surrounding areas and preliminary discussions are already underway with the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (Zida) and potential investors to explore viable investment models.
“The ACZ is working closely with Zida to align its plans with national investment policies and establish incentive schemes that will attract businesses to operate within airport SEZs. While no agreements have been finalised, the groundwork is being laid for aviation-related industries, logistics firms, agribusinesses, and tourism operators to set up within these zones.
“The idea behind engaging with Zida as we go further is to ensure that we align ourselves with what Zida requires in establishing these SEZs, as well as working with Zida to determine or to define the investment models that will work,” said Mr Ruswa.
He said the ACZ is actively seeking investors interested in developing these zones, whether through aviation support services, cargo handling, or hospitality ventures with the goal to create a thriving ecosystem where businesses benefit from proximity to air transport while contributing to Zimbabwe’s economic growth.
He said the ACZ is pushing for rapid progress with hopes of announcing concrete developments by next year.
“We are aggressively looking into this as a leadership and we are hoping that by next year we will have some seriously good news to tell with regards to the establishment of the special economic zones,” said Mr Ruswa.
He said this initiative aligns with the Government’s broader economic strategy, which prioritises infrastructure development and investment facilitation.
“By transforming our airports into multi-functional business hubs, we could enhance its attractiveness as a trade and logistics gateway for the region.
“Internationally, airports such as Dubai International, Singapore Changi, and Amsterdam Schiphol have successfully integrated SEZs, generating billions in revenue and creating thousands of jobs. If we replicate even a fraction of this success, the impact on employment, exports, and GDP could be substantial,” said Mr Ruswa.
He said for now, the focus remains on finalising partnerships, investment frameworks and regulatory approvals.
@nyeve14
