By Sharon Tawuya
Harare, (New Ziana) —Zimbabwe expects two additional international airlines to begin operating flights into the country next year, as the government pursues improvements in aviation infrastructure and accelerates major road projects to improve connectivity and trade, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.
Delivering his State of the Nation Address, President Mnangagwa said the country’s transport sector remains a key economic pillar because of its role in facilitating domestic and regional trade, attracting investment and improving connectivity.
According to the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, 14 international airlines are currently servicing Zimbabwe, with joint marketing efforts underway to increase the number.
The 14 include Air Botswana, Airlink, Air Tanzania, Emirates Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Eurowings Discover, Kenya Airways, LAM Mozambique Airlines, KLM Cargo, MackAir, Malawian Airlines, RwandAir, South African Airways, and Qatar Airways.
Under the Open Skies Policy, the government has licensed more operators including domestic players and authorities said more airlines are now registered to operate in Zimbabwean airspace, covering scheduled, cargo and charter services.
Some existing carriers are already expanding through increased frequencies and use of larger aircraft following upgrades to the country’s major airports.
President Mnangagwa said the government will upgrade Kariba Airport in Mashonaland West province to international standards as well as expand cargo handling facilities at the Victoria Falls International Airport and the Joshua Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo.
He said the facilities will include dedicated Cargo Villages with cold storage, warehousing, customs clearance and handling for perishables such as horticulture produce and fish from Binga.
The Victoria Falls and J.M. Nkomo airports have already been upgraded to handle 1.5 million and 1.2 million passengers annually respectively, while the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport in Harare is being upgraded to increase capacity from 2.5 million to 6 million passengers per year.
The Airports Company of Zimbabwe has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China Jiangsu for full-scale refurbishment while the Hwange Airport is earmarked for a $10 million rehabilitation of its taxiway and apron.
President Mnangagwa said the government has unlocked a $400 million facility from local financial institutions, backed by ring-fenced collections from the Zimbabwe National Road Authority, to complete priority highways.
Projects earmarked for completion in 2026/2027 include the remaining 33 kilometres on the Harare-Beitbridge Road, the Harare-Chirundu Road dualisation valued at $900 million , the Beitbridge-Bulawayo-Victoria Falls Highway rehabilitation valued at $1.2 billion, the Harare-Kanyemba Road, Murambinda-Birchenough Bridge Road, Chipinge-Mount Selinda Road, Bulawayo-Nkayi Road, Gwanda-Maphisa Road, Plumtree-Maitengwe Road and the Harare-Nyamapanda Road scheduled for completion by 2029 with modernisation of Nyamapanda Border Post.
Construction has also commenced on the 240 kilometre Kwekwe-Lupane Highway and four new interchanges in Harare at the Mabvuku Junction, Harare Drive/Mutare Road, Liberation Legacy Way/Harare Drive and Liberation Legacy Way/Churchill Road, following completion of the Trabablas Interchange.
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