Bernard Mpofu
Government has made a fresh bid to woo Germany airline Lufthansa back to Harare as Zimbabwe reengages the European Union powerhouse.
Lufthansa which plied the Frankfurt-Harare route, pulled out in 2008 citing viability challenges due to unprecedented inflation levels which officially reached 231 million percent.
Last week President Mnangagwa assigned Finance minister Patrick Chinamasa to Berlin as a special envoy to German chancellor Angela Merkel where he was tasked to push for the restoration of cordial relations between the two countries.
During the meetings, sources said, Chinamasa told German officials that re-opening the routes would be critical in boosting tourist arrivals as well as open new markets for the country’s horticulture industry.
Zimbabwe has stepped up its re-engagements efforts with Germany and other Western countries after nearly two decades of frosty diplomatic relations following the resignation of Mugabe.
“During the meeting with high level Germany officials, Minister Chinamasa discussed the need to consider recalling the excellent air services that used to link the two countries when Lufthansa Airlines used to fly from Frankfurt to Harare, a source said.
“He urged Germany to consider re-opening the routes. The direct flights would encourage increased tourist arrivals and transportation of goods and products between the two countries. The flight used to transport high volumes of horticultural products to the German market which was Zimbabwe’s biggest European trading partner.”
In 2016, the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe announced that government was courting Lufthansa so that it resumes the flights.
Since the year 2000, close to 20 international airlines have stopped flying into Harare, citing viability problems and poor country risk.
Zimbabwe has already upgraded its Victoria Falls, the third largest in the country at a cost of $150 million to attract tourist to the prime tourist destination. Official figures show that in the first quarter of 2018, the tourism sector reported a 3 percent growth compared to the same period last year.
The sector is expected to grow by more than 20 percent this year, with tourist arrivals surpassing 2,5 million due to renewed confidence in the destination.
Relations between Germany and Zimbabwe turned sour at the turn of the millennium when the latter embarked on the land reform programme which resulted in some Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreements (Bippa) were violated after white commercial farmers were evicted.
Germany, along with the European Union, suspended budgetary support to Zimbabwe in 2002 citing allegations of rights abuses by former president Robert Mugabe’s administration.
