Harare, (New Ziana) –The Zimbabwe government has agreed to accede to the Protocol Incorporating Article 3BIS into the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention), which seeks to ensure enhanced aviation safety and security through the protection of lives, a Cabinet Minister has said.
The objective of the Protocol Incorporating Article 3BIS into the Convention on the International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention) is to ensure the non-use of weapons against civil aviation aircraft in flight so that in case of interception, the lives of persons on board and the safety of aircraft must not be endangered.
Briefing the media on the Cabinet meeting highlights, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Jenfan Muswere said Cabinet had approved the accession under the Legislative Program.
Benefits of the Protocol Incorporating Article 3BIS into the Convention on the International Civil Aviation, also known as the Chicago Convention, include enhancement of aviation safety and security through protection of lives, ensuring smooth aircraft operations, guaranteed prevention of unlawful interference, and maintenance of public trust in the sector and airspace.
“By acceding to the Protocol, Zimbabwe’s legal framework will conform to the obligations of the Chicago Convention which most progressive nations of the World are Party to,” said Muswere.
Meanwhile, Muswere said the Cabinet also received a report on the second virtual joint East African Community (EAC) and Southern African Development Community (SADC) summit of the Heads of State and Government, which adopted a report on the Joint EAC-SADC Ministerial Meeting held on March 17 in Harare, on efforts to restore peace and security in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The Report contained among others, a detailed roadmap, outlining the short, medium and long-term activities to be jointly implemented, for the establishment of sustainable peace in the eastern DRC and the appointment of five facilitators to lead the mediation processes to find lasting peace in the eastern DRC.
The five include former Presidents Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Kgalema Motlanthe of South Africa, Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia, Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria and Catherine Samba-Panza of the Central African Republic.
New Ziana
