Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba-Senior Reporter
THE Government has reaffirmed its commitment to fostering a safe, secure and sustainable aviation sector that will catalyse national economic growth, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona has said.
In a speech read on his behalf by the ministry’s acting director for strategic policy planning, monitoring and evaluation, Mr Takura Vengesa, Minister Mhona underscored the Government’s commitment to expanding Zimbabwe’s connectivity through a sustainable policy framework and new Bilateral Air Services Agreements.
He stressed that the liberalisation of Zimbabwean skies remains a priority, in line with International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommendations and the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) provision.
The Minister was addressing the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) 11th Annual General Meeting that was held in Harare yesterday. The gathering, attended by CAAZ board members, director general Mr George Mashababe, chairperson Mrs Nonkosi Ncube, and other senior officials, was convened to review the authority’s operations and financial performance for the year ended December 31, 2025.
“Embracing the ‘Zimbabwe is Open for Business’ mantra championed by President Mnangagwa, the Government has solidified its open skies policy by approving flexible operating arrangements for airlines,” he said. “This has significantly bolstered air connectivity and created a ripple effect, accelerating development across trade, tourism, and investment.”
The Minister also highlighted notable progress under National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the transition to NDS2, citing major road rehabilitation projects, interchange upgrades, and decongestion initiatives in Harare that are improving access to critical gateways like Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Turning to future opportunities, Minister Mhona urged CAAZ to aggressively pursue sustainable aviation fuel production. He noted that a 2023 feasibility study confirmed Zimbabwe’s vast potential in this area, and a subsequent study visit to the UK in July 2025 revealed strong global interest in partnering with Zimbabwe.
In her remarks, CAAZ chairperson Mrs Nonkosi Ncube hailed the authority’s resilience over the past year, noting the onboarding of new operators like Solit Air and Zambia Airways, alongside expanded routes from existing partners, which pushed passenger traffic, aircraft movements, and cargo volumes beyond 2024 benchmarks. On the financial front, Mrs Ncube reported that revenue from binding transactions grew 12 percent to ZiG652,01 million, while total operating expenses dropped 48 percent to ZiG1,04 billion.
However, the authority recorded a net deficit of ZiG188,76 million, an increase from the previous year’s ZiG108,52 million.
