CAAZ operates without radar system for 11 years

Zim Now Writer

The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe has been operating without radar and surveillance systems for 11 years due to the Zimbabwe Democracy and Economic Recovery Act-related economic embargoes.

The radar system is used at airports to detect and display the presence and position of aircraft in the terminal area, the airspace around airports. But the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport has been operating for 11 years without this system because international suppliers are reluctant to enter into business relations with Zimbabwe because of western-imposed sanctions.

This was confirmed by former Deputy Finance Minister, Clemence Chiduwa in Parliament on Tuesday.

“CAAZ has been operating without a Radar and Surveillance system for the past 11 years because potential suppliers are reluctant to enter into business relations with an entity where the Zimbabwean Government is the beneficial owner for fear of violating coercive measures imposed on the country. This resulted in a number of foreign airlines withdrawing services from Zimbabwe and these include Lufthansa (Germany), British Airways, KLM (Netherlands), Air France and Qantas (Australia),” he said.

“Therefore, air transport lost almost 50% of traffic movements at its airports and airspace. In 1997, a total of 2 280 153 passengers were registered in Zimbabwe, but the number of passengers dropped by almost 63% to as low as 834 269 in 2003. These figures demonstrate retarded growth, lost employment opportunities and revenues, which had a direct impact on the tourism industry.”

It was also noted that due to the suspension of Air Zimbabwe from the International Air Transport Association billing and ticketing system, the airline cannot sell interline tickets or international tickets via travel agents or other airlines.

“In 2019, the airline failed to comply with international airworthiness requirements and to access aircraft engineering maintenance services for an Embraer aircraft it had purchased due to Zidera related restrictions. Resultantly, the airline was forced to ground the aircraft for at least two years.

“Air Zimbabwe has, since the end of 2018, been unable to process payments in USD, Pound Sterling and the Euro to its suppliers and service providers due to ongoing de-risking activities by correspondent banks. The airline has also been affected by non-voluntary bank accounts closures by most international banks it has previously traded with such as Standard Chartered New York, Barclays Bank London and Dresdner Bank Germany,” Chiduwa added.