Zim re-opens its skies

Harare, (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe will on Friday re-open its skies to domestic flights under strict health guidelines as the country gradually opens up to the world in the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak.

International passenger flights, on the other hand, will resume on October 1st, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa said.

“Standard Operating Procedures have been put in place for the re-opening of international and some domestic airports,” she said.

Strict measures to ensure safety of passengers, which include production of PCR Covid-19 certificates valid 48 hours before the flight, as well as mandatory wearing of masks, social distancing, sanitization and temperature checks will be required for all flights.

Zimbabwe closed its borders and skies to international passenger flights except those flying returning citizens and cargo planes from the beginning of April as it sought to minimize the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic which has to date killed 218 people and infected 7 388 others as at September 8.

Most of the infections recorded in the early stages of the outbreak in the country were imported.

The re-opening to both domestic and international passenger flights follows a decision made last week to allow the tourism sector to resume operations.

The country’s tourism sector, which is expected to contract by -7.4 percent this year, was hardest hit from the coronavirus outbreak.
New Ziana