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Harare Bureau
GOVERNMENT is working on liberalising air transport to enhance destination connectivity and ensure more airlines are attracted to the country, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu has said.
Speaking during the launch of Fastjet’s inaugural flight between Dar es Salaam, Tanzania and Harare at Harare International Airport last week, Dr Mpofu said government would continue to support the aviation industry.

He said the industry was of strategic importance to national development as enshrined in the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.

“Government is directly funding aviation infrastructure or mobilising the required resources by way of concessionary loans,” said Dr Mpofu.

“Secondly, government approved the introduction of an aviation infrastructure development levy on air travellers and the Fund is already operational.

“Government is also supporting the national airline within the limits of its resources so that it continues to play its strategic role of marketing and connecting Zimbabwe. We have also put in place the legal and institutional framework that assures the safety and security of aviation in Zimbabwe.”

Dr Mpofu said government was delighted that Fastjet was expanding its international route network and in so doing bringing its low-cost, reliable and safe service to Zimbabwe.

He said the move by Fastjet would help stimulate tourism between Tanzania and Zimbabwe.

Interim chairman and chief executive of Fastjet Mr Ed Winter said the airline responded to requests from Zimbabweans and Tanzanians asking for a direct flight between the two countries.

“We believe this will stimulate business and tourism in regions where citizens have had to depend on lengthy road transportation or have been excluded from air travel by the significant costs of flying an indirect route through Nairobi or Johannesburg,” he said.

Tickets for flights on the direct route went on sale in June, with fares starting as low as $50 one-way, excluding airport and government taxes.

Those travelling between Dar es Salaam and Harare used to spend at least three days on the road for the approximately 2,200 kilometres by road, or they had to fly via Nairobi, Kenya or Johannesburg, South Africa.

Fastjet is introducing two weekly flights between Harare and Dar es Salaam’s Julius Nyerere International Airport.

No visas are required for citizens of the two countries for visits of less than 90 days.