Air transport sector records growth

THE air transport sector in Zimbabwe recorded an increase in both flights and passenger numbers during the third quarter ended September 30 2023.

According to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat) report, Victoria Falls International Airport recorded a 21,9 percent increase in flights from 3 815 during the second quarter to 4 652 in the third quarter 2023.

The Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport recorded 11,8 percent increase in flights during the period under review from 6 562 to 7 339, while the Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport recorded 4,3 percent increase from 1 547 during the second quarter to 1 614 in the third quarter.

Other airports recorded 16,7 percent increase from 3 369 to 3 931 during the quarter under review.

“All airports reported more flights in the third quarter than in the second quarter of 2023. An increase in the number of passengers during third quarter 2023 was recorded at all airports when compared to second quarter 2023,” said ZimStat.

“During third quarter 2023, the highest number of flights for both domestic and international flights were recorded in August.

“There was an increase of 10,5 percent in the number of flights recorded between July and August of 2023.”

The agency said there was an increase of 11 percent in the number of passengers at all airports between July and August of 2023.

The Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport recorded 43 015 passengers during the quarter up from 40 471 in the second quarter, Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport recorded 334 469 passengers up from 293 922 in the second quarter, with Victoria Falls International Airport recording 133 501 up from 93 145 while other airports recorded 11 065 passengers from 8 484 in the second quarter.

The aviation sector has been described as a critical player in economic growth as the nation moves towards the attainment of Vision 2030. Zimbabwe’s open skies policy has seen an increase on flights coming in the country.

Meanwhile, ZimStat said during the 2023 third quarter, the volume of goods transported through rail was 662 589 net tonnes, a quarter-on-quarter comparison showing a 9,5 percent increase from 604 894 net tonnes recorded in the second quarter 2023.

A total of 94 rail accidents were reported in the third quarter of 2023, of which, 62 were from shunt lines.

On road transport, the number of vehicles registered for the first time decreased by 22 percent from 23 849 in the second quarter of 2023 to 18 605 in the third quarter of 2023.

“Light motor vehicle registrations decreased from 17 772 in the second quarter of 2023 to 14 045 in the third quarter, reflecting a decrease of 21 percent,” said ZimStat.

“Light motor vehicles accounted for more than seventy percent of all vehicles registered for the first time in all three months of the third quarter of 2023.”

Meanwhile, at national level, 61 644 candidates undertook a certificate of competency test during third quarter 2023, of which less than half (43,2 percent) succeeded.

“In all provinces except Bulawayo, proportions of candidates who passed provisional driver’s licences tests during third quarter 2023, were above 50 percent, ranging from 59,9 percent in Midlands to 78 percent in Mashonaland East and Mashonaland Central. About 80 percent of the individuals who were retested, succeeded,” said the agency.

Also, ZimStat said a total of 121 inland water vessels were registered for the first time during third quarter 2023, depicting a 1,6 percent decrease from 123 recorded in second quarter 2023. — @SikhulekelaniM1