Zimbabwe eyes export boom on London route

CLOUDINE MATOLA AND TANAKA FETINANDI

The restoration of Air Zimbabwe’s direct flights between Harare and London is expected to provide a major boost to Zimbabwe’s export sector, particularly horticulture, by opening a faster and more efficient cargo route to one of the country’s key international markets, Business Times can report.

The Harare-London service was suspended in 2012 after financial constraints and regulatory challenges forced Air Zimbabwe to withdraw from one of its most strategic international routes.

Speaking at the launch of Air Zimbabwe’s Airbus A330-300 aircraft, Mutapa Investment Fund chief executive officer Dr John Mangudya said the reinstated route would significantly enhance exports by enabling farmers to ship fresh horticultural produce directly to the United Kingdom.

“Beyond passenger convenience, this direct flight service provides immediate cargo capacity of about 30 tonnes for transporting products between Zimbabwe and London,” Dr Mangudya said.

“It will promote trade and expand Zimbabwe’s exports because the country produces a substantial volume of vegetables and horticultural products, many of which are organic and among the best in the market.”

Dr Mangudya said the route is underpinned by strong commercial demand, with research showing that more than 110,000 passengers travelled between Harare and London last year, despite having to rely on multiple connecting flights.

“This route is fundamentally driven by robust commercial numbers. Our research shows that over 110,000 passengers travelled between Harare and London last year alone, and they were forced to navigate exhausting multi-stop regional transit. Air Zimbabwe is now stepping in to capture that market,” he said.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona said the restored route would strengthen tourism, hospitality, trade, investment and broader economic ties between Zimbabwe and the United Kingdom.

“It is our expectation that this enhanced connectivity will stimulate tourism, hospitality, cultural and business exchanges, unlock new economic opportunities and strengthen people-to-people relations between our two countries,” Mhona said.

He revealed that market response had been overwhelmingly positive, with bookings already exceeding initial expectations.

“I am informed that Air Zimbabwe has already recorded 1,489 confirmed passenger bookings, accompanied by overwhelming expressions of support. The Zimbabwean market has responded very positively,” he said.