Chronicle Editor
Nqobile Bhebhe
OVER six million passengers passed through the country’s airports between 2018 and last year with Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport and Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport recording the highest increases in the past year.
Additionally, last year, 50 640 flights were registered reflecting a percentage increase of 52,3 percent when compared to 33 254 flights in 2021.
Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport saw 146 628 passengers using the facility, up from 80 290 in 2021 and 37 594 in 2020.
Between 2018 and 2022, the cumulative number of passengers was 569 244.
Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport registered 1 156 836 passengers last year, a 97,3 percent increase from 586 320 in 2021.
Victoria Falls International Airport had 234 609 passengers in 2022 up from 68 370 passengers recorded in 2021.
Realising the 2018-2022 transport statistics report yesterday, Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (Zimstat) director-general, Mr Taguma Mahonde across all airports had a combined 1 560 170 passengers last year up from 747 404 in 2021 noting that there were more flights in third quarter 2022 than they were in the fourth quarter.
“Percentage declines in flights between the two quarters ranged from -5,5 for Robert Mugabe International Airport to -24,9 for Victoria Falls International Airport. The number of flights in 2022 was 50 640, reflecting a percentage increase of 52,3 when compared to 33 254 flights in 2021.”
The steady increase in passengers is largely attributed to the opening up of the global tourism post Covid-19 pandemic that forced a worldwide shut down.
The Government is expanding airport infrastructure to increase capacity utilisation as Zimbabwe’s “Open Skies Policy” also continues to attract more airlines into the country and sees airlines increasing the frequency of their flights.
The Government is accelerating the momentum by enhancing aviation infrastructure modernisation in line with global standards.
Open skies means that any foreign airline can make arrangements to open routes into Zimbabwe or increase the frequency of their flights into Zimbabwe.
Developing an efficient air transport system is critical in enhancing economic growth in line with the country’s aspirations as expressed under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
The Government is upgrading airport infrastructure countrywide in an effort to meet international standards and attract more airlines.
This has seen the country attracting international airlines such as Qatar Airways, Eurowings Discover, Emirates, Ethiopian Airways, South African Airways, Kenyan Airways, South Africa’s Airlink and Fastjet, Zambia Airways and Royal Eswatini National Airways Corporation (RENAC) among others.
The 2018-2022 Transport Statistics report was compiled using administrative data obtained from the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Central Vehicle Registry (CVR), Zimbabwe Republic Police Headquarters (ZRP), Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) and the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ).
Mr Mahonde said going forward, the report will be produced on a quarterly basis.
On motor vehicles, Mr Mahonde said as at 31 December 2022, there were nearly 1,5 million registered motor vehicles in the country.
“As at 31st December 2022, there were 1 467 955 registered motor vehicles in Zimbabwe, resulting in a percentage increase of 1,2 when compared to 1 449 973 vehicles registered as at 30th September 2022.
“A year-on-year comparison shows the stock of registered vehicles in the country, increasing by 6,9 percent from 1 373 431 as at 31st December 2021 to 1 467 955 as at 31st December 2022,” Mr Mahonde said in the report.
Light motor vehicles accounted for 80 6 percent of registered motor vehicles in the country as at 31 December 2022. There was an increase in proportion of newly registered light vehicles from 76,2 percent in 2021 to 78,1 percent in 2022.
A continual increase was recorded on the proportions of newly registered heavy vehicles of 2 301-4 600kgs, from 2,8 percent in 2018 to 5,4 percent in 2022.
Mr Mahonde said 13 815 road traffic accidents were recorded during the fourth quarter of 2022, resulting in a 4,3 percent increase from 13 246 accidents reported in the third quarter of 2022.
The number of deaths due to road traffic accidents declined by 4,5 percent from 553 in the third quarter 2022 to 528 in the fourth quarter.
“A year-on-year comparison of total road traffic accidents reported reflects a 16,1 percent increase in the numbers from 45 307 in 2021 to 52 585 in 2022,” he noted. — @nqobilebhebhe
Online Reporter