Zimbabwe’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Felix Mhona, has announced plans for Air Zimbabwe to acquire new aircraft and resume flights on the Bulawayo route, alongside a major upgrade of Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo International Airport in Bulawayo.
Mhona made the announcements in Parliament on Thursday while responding to questions about the state of the country’s aviation infrastructure and the national carrier’s role in supporting tourism.
He said Air Zimbabwe, working with the Mutapa Investment Fund, is actively engaged in a fundraising programme to purchase new planes. He added that the national objective is for local airlines to effectively service both domestic and regional routes.
Related Stories
Mhona assured the Senate that the national carrier is preparing to resume flights on the Bulawayo route “in the following week” and is in the process of procuring smaller aircraft to strengthen local and regional connectivity.
“In the coming year, we are going to see many of these developments happening,” Mhona said, confirming that government is engaging Treasury to secure funding for the new fleet.
Responding to concerns over standards at JM Nkomo International Airport — a key gateway for the Matobo and Victoria Falls tourism hubs — Mhona confirmed that the facility is due for significant infrastructure upgrades.
The primary focus will be the runway, which will be widened, extended, and resurfaced with an asphalt overlay to meet improved operational standards.
While acknowledging that the airport’s current condition “is not bad,” the Minister stressed the need for maintenance and upgrades in light of a “massive increase in traffic.”
Leave Comments