Online Reporter
Freeman Razemba
Herald Reporter
ZIMBABWE has pledged to accelerate its journey towards a safer, more efficient, and environmentally sustainable aviation sector, positioning it as a key driver of national economic growth.
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona delivered this message while leading a delegation at the 42nd Session of the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal, Canada.
The session, attended by all 193 ICAO member states, sets the worldwide policy for civil aviation for the next three years.
Minister Mhona began by reflecting on Zimbabwe’s recently concluded term on the ICAO Council, a role he described as “both a privilege and a valuable learning experience.”
He expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity, which provided the nation with a deeper understanding of global aviation challenges.
Looking ahead, the minister outlined a multi-pronged strategy for Zimbabwe’s aviation future, deeply entwined with the nation’s economic ambitions.
Minister Mhona announced that Zimbabwe is actively working to reduce carbon emissions from aviation.
The country has formally submitted a State Action Plan (SAP) and is participating in the global Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA).
Furthermore, Zimbabwe is a beneficiary of the ICAO Assistance, Capacity-Building, and Training for Sustainable Aviation Fuels Programme (ACT-SAF), securing crucial support for its green transition.
Linking aviation directly to national development, Minister Mhona said that under the “wise leadership” of President Mnangagwa, the country’s Vision 2030 blueprint and National Development Strategies have prioritised major infrastructural upgrades.
“A substantial investment has been channelled towards the rehabilitation and upgrading of international airports, improving airspace management, and enhancing safety and security,” he told the assembly.
These critical projects, he explained, are the foundation for the full implementation of the Open Skies Policy in line with the African Yamoussoukro Decision.
This paves the way for the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), a continent-wide initiative to liberalise air travel.
The results are already tangible.
“Zimbabwe’s aviation sector has shown positive growth, with new airlines coming on board as well as an increase in frequencies by some existing ones,” Minister Mhona said.
The minister framed aviation as a core pillar of Zimbabwe’s foreign policy of “engagement and re-engagement.” As a testament to this commitment, he highlighted the country’s successful hosting of the prestigious ICAO Africa-Indian Ocean Aviation Week in Victoria Falls this past May.
He thanked the ICAO leadership for their support, which made the event “a huge success,” and reaffirmed Zimbabwe’s dedication to effective collaboration, which he said “gives birth to a unique ecosystem of aviation actors.”
