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Walter Muchinguri : recently in Dar es Salaam
Air Zimbabwe on Saturday relaunched the Harare to Dar es Salaam route after a seven year absence as part of its strategic plan to regain market share. Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo, who led the Zimbabwe delegation to Tanzania, said that the return of the national airline was key in further strengthening the relations that exist between the two countries.“Zimbabwe and Tanzania have memorable historic ties dating back to the liberation war, which Zimbabwe successfully waged with the full support of the people of Tanzania. The ties were forged by our two iconic founding presidents Mwalimu Julius Nyerere and Robert Mugabe.
“This history of our two countries signifies the strong ties in many areas inclusive of the aviation industry. I am confident that this service by Air Zimbabwe will not only improve connectivity in Africa, but will also provide opportunities for business and convenience to leisure travellers,” he said.
He said that on its part the Government was engaged in several initiative to assist the country’s aviation industry to meet its goal of facilitating trade, tourism and regional integration.
To this end he said Government recent approved engagement of a strategic partner for Air Zimbabwe, upgrading of the country’s airports such as the Victoria Falls to international standards and opening up the countries skies in accordance with the Yamoussoukro Decision.
He said there was scope for co-operation between Zimbabwe and Tanzania in the aviation industry and tourism.
“I am aware that the Tanzanian Government in the same way as our Government is working on the recapitalisation of Air Zimbabwe. I therefore expect our two national airlines to take the lead by commencing direct air services between Africa’s tallest mountain Mt Kilimajaro and the Victoria Falls, one of the seven natural wonders of the World. This can prove to be an irresistible tourist package if properly marketed,” he said.
In his remarks on behalf of the Tanzanian Minister for Works, Transport and Communication professor Makame Mbarawa, permanent secretary Professor Faustin Kamuzora said that the existence of an airlink will help facilitate growing trade between the two countries.
“We have a rising middle class which want to be efficient. It does not want to waste time moving from one place to the next so this service has come at the right time because out people are getting richer and richer.
“A lot of business people from Zimbabwe are conducting business through our ports and we do not expect them to continue to travel by bus which takes three days, which translates to loss of productivity. Air Zimbabwe is promising competitive airfares and generous baggage allocation, to me this is a viable business model,” he said.
He also called for co-operation between the two countries airlines.
“Our airlines should consider code sharing because why should our planes fly half empty, and where we can let’s have healthy completion,” he said.
Air Zimbabwe’s acting chief executive Mr Edmund Makona said that the launch was part of the airline’s turnaround process.
“Our turnaround is not an event but a process on its own and part of that process is ensuring that Air Zimbabwe becomes a force to recon within the region before we venture internationally.
“It is part of the process of what we have been saying at Air Zimbabwe that growth and sustainability is integral within our strategic plan and we cannot grow if we do not increase our route network and this is part of the process,” he said.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief operating officer Givemore Chidzidzi, who was part of the invited guests and paying customers who made the trip said that the air link was a welcome development as it would boost tourism.
“We have been in talks with the Tanzania Tourist Board about jointly marketing our tourist attractions but connectivity by air has been the missing link.
“Now that we have the link we want to offer tourists to the region with a total package because when tourists come into a country within the region they do not just want to see what is in that country but the whole region because while Tanzania might have the Serengeti and we have the Hwange National park, which offer the same attractions, the experiences are different,” he said.
The national airline will be flying to Dar es Salaam twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturday using Airbus A320 and will be competing with fastjet which is also flying an Airbus A319 on the same route.
Online Reporter