Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. ZIMBABWE is accelerating efforts to position aviation as a cornerstone of economic growth, tourism expansion and foreign investment, with Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Felix Mhona outlining a multi-pronged strategy emphasising policy reform, global engagement and infrastructure development.
“As the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, we will continue to provide progressive policies aimed at enabling and promoting the development of this goal through aviation,” Mhona told industry stakeholders in Harare.
“In the main this strategic direction will involve international re-engagements to establish partnerships and collaborations.
“It is for this reason that for the remaining part of the year, we will ensure participation at the AFCAC Yamoussoukro Decision Day which is jointly held with the ICAO Air Services Negotiation (ICAN2025) in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. It is at such forums where we will promote and advance this objective.”
He added: “ICAN is the international platform of paramount importance to the aviation sector and I am reliably informed that fastjet Zimbabwe attended ICAN 2024 in Malaysia and played a pivotal role in negotiations with other countries and airlines.
“With this in mind, I expect you to join us again this year for the continued development of Zimbabwe’s aviation landscape.”
Mhona described the country’s engagement at AFCAC Yamoussoukro Decision Day and the ICAN2025 forum as “critical platforms for negotiating bilateral agreements, attracting foreign investment, and strengthening our global aviation footprint”.
fastjet Zimbabwe’s involvement at ICAN 2024 in Malaysia was highlighted as a demonstration of Zimbabwe’s growing influence in regional aviation, with the minister calling for sustained collaboration between government and airlines to accelerate sector development.
Substantial capital investments have been directed toward modernising key airports, including Victoria Falls International, Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International and Robert Gabriel Mugabe International.
Regulatory reforms under the 2018 Civil Aviation Amendment Act separated oversight from operational management, creating the Airports Company of Zimbabwe (ACZ) to enhance transparency and operational efficiency.
Mhona also revealed plans to expand air connectivity to underserved cities such as Masvingo, Kariba, Buffalo Range, and the refurbished Grand Reef Airport in Mutare.
“I know you will agree with me that Zimbabwe is, indeed, a beautiful country and you will therefore allow me to call upon our two local airlines, fastjet Zimbabwe and Air Zimbabwe, to continue growing their footprint and to also introduce services to other cities like Masvingo, Kariba and Buffalo Range.
“We have recently refurbished Grand Reef Airport, and now require fastjet Zimbabwe to join Air Zimbabwe in the utilisation of this asset.
“I am, therefore, calling on all aviation players in Zimbabwe to collaborate for the betterment of Zimbabwe. It is our fervent hope, that moving forward, we will see both fastjet and Air Zimbabwe working very closely together.”
State-owned Air Zimbabwe is undergoing restructuring, co-ordinated alongside private carriers, with the government promoting collaboration over competition as the model for sector growth.
fastjet country head Donahue Cortes welcomed the government’s approach, citing the airline’s expansion as built on “trust, consistency, and a shared belief in Zimbabwe’s potential”.
International recognition of Zimbabwe as a leading emerging tourism destination, including accolades from Kayak and Forbes, underscores the commercial rationale for investment in aviation and ancillary industries.
For More News And Analysis About Zimbabwe Follow Africa-Press
