Airlines flock to Zim

Masvingo Bureau
Government has expressed satisfaction with progress made in re-engaging international airlines to resume flights into the country with at least five international airlines returning to the Zimbabwean airspace this year.Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Obert Mpofu yesterday said Zimbabwe, this year, successfully negotiated with five international airlines to resume flights into the country with more expected to join next year as the negotiation process continues.

In a speech read on his behalf by Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development, Mr Munesushe Munodawafa, during the official opening of the ministry’s strategic planning workshop in Masvingo, Minister Mpofu said Zimbabwe continued to get positive responses from the international airlines.

The re-engagement of the airlines comes on the back of the world-wide acclaim Zimbabwe is getting following the successful holding of peaceful harmonised elections that were certified as free, fair and credible by the international community. It also comes as many countries are stampeding to re-engage Zimbabwe and normalise relations after over a decade of isolation because of illegal sanctions. He challenged Air Zimbabwe to operate along business lines and strive to regain its lost former niche markets.