Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Senior Reporter
The African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) has hailed the country’s aviation sector saying that it has already contributed an estimated US$200 million to Zimbabwe’s GDP and supports around 40 000 jobs.
According to AFCAC, with disciplined implementation, the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) could generate an additional US$450 million to US$700 million in GDP over five years and create between 45 000 to 70 000 new jobs and reduce intra-African fares by 15 to 27 per cent.
This was said by the Secretary General of AFCAC, Ms Adefunke Adeyemi, during the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) Pilot Implementation Project (PIP) Airshow, which was held in Harare on Friday.
The event was presided over by Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, which was held under the theme: “Acceleration of Air Transport Liberalisation in Africa to Improve Continental Connectivity and Integration.”
In her speech, Ms Adeyemi said a few weeks ago, African ministers meeting in Lomé, Togo adopted a clear message that: “Africa must move from commitment to measurable implementation.”
“The Lomé Declaration reaffirmed the Yamoussoukro Decision as the legal foundation for market liberalisation and SAATM as the practical framework for delivery. It also called for whole-of-government action, because aviation cannot be delivered by transport authorities alone. Zimbabwe is well placed to respond to that call.
“Zimbabwe signed the SAATM Solemn Commitment in January 2018. It has embraced open skies, granted fifth-freedom rights, attracted more than 18 airlines, and established itself as a serious implementation candidate in Southern Africa. These are not small achievements. They show political will, regulatory readiness, and a national understanding that air transport is economic infrastructure, not a luxury sector.
“Today, aviation already contributes an estimated US$200 million to Zimbabwe’s GDP and supports around 40,000 jobs. With disciplined implementation, SAATM could generate an additional USD450 to 700 million in GDP over five years, create 45 000 to 70 000 new jobs and reduce intra-African fares by 15 to 27 percent. That is the opportunity before us. And, frankly, that is also the cost of delay.”
Ms Adeyemi said for the ministry responsible for Transport and Infrastructure, the priority was to transform open skies into operational routes and that this involved SAATM-compliant air service arrangements, predictable airline designation, practical fifth-freedom approvals, regular flight frequencies, efficient airports, modern air navigation services and a national implementation dashboard that monitors actual movement.
“For Foreign Affairs and International Trade, SAATM serves as economic diplomacy. Zimbabwe can leverage its bilateral, SADC, COMESA, and continental relationships to access African markets, support AfCFTA value chains, and position Harare, Victoria Falls and Bulawayo as gateways for business, tourism, cargo and regional integration,” she said.
“For Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion, Lomé was clear: Africa needs bankable aviation infrastructure pipelines.
“Zimbabwe should now transition from concepts to transactions in airport commercialisation, cargo and cold-chain logistics, logistics parks, airport cities, digital border systems, training, MRO, and ground handling.
“These projects must be prepared to a standard that can attract DFIs, PPPs, private investors, blended finance and de-risking instruments. For Home Affairs, Immigration and Customs, facilitation is a matter of competitiveness.”
She said an open sky loses its appeal when passengers, investors, tourists and traders encounter slow or unpredictable border procedures.
On industry and commerce, she said, SAATM must facilitate the movement of goods, not just passengers.
“The Lomé Declaration emphasises the need for priority passenger and cargo corridors aligned with AfCFTA value chains,” Ms Adeyemi said.
“Zimbabwe can utilise air cargo to support perishables, high-value agriculture, mining inputs, pharmaceuticals, e-commerce, light manufacturing and time-sensitive exports. Connectivity must enable production to reach markets.
“Tourism presents an immediate opportunity. Victoria Falls can become a leading Southern African tourism hub, connected to multi-country circuits with Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, and the wider region.
“Increased direct air services, improved facilitation, enhanced destination marketing, and coordinated route incentives can turn tourism potential into foreign exchange, employment, and regional prosperity.”
Dr Bernard Dzawanda, the director of infrastructure and logistics at the COMESA secretariat, also said the continental study on the benefits of SAATM projects that full implementation would increase intra-African traffic, reduce average fares, open additional country-pairs to direct service, and raise frequencies on existing routes.
“Improved connectivity is expected to increase Africa’s GDP and create additional jobs. Yet Fifth Freedom traffic penetration across our continent remains low, thereby suppressing passenger trips each year for reasons of cost, availability or convenience,” he said.
“Encouragingly, momentum is building. Thirty-eight African union Member States, all together accounting for close to 80 per cent of Africa’s air traffic, have now signed the Solemn Commitment to SAATM, and twenty-six have signed Memoranda of Implementation.”
Dr Dzawanda said the Pilot Implementation Project, launched by 14 African Ministers responsible for Transport and Aviation in Dakar in November 2022, last week brought together 21 States in six clusters, with the shared goal of raising Fifth Freedom traffic operations from 23 per cent to 30 per cent by 2027.
