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Source: Fastjet adds Airbus A320 to meet peak travel demand – herald

Nelson Gahadza, nelson.gahadza@zimpapers.co.zw

FASTJET Zimbabwe will introduce an Airbus A320-200 to its fleet from August 1, 2026, under a short-term lease agreement to increase capacity in response to rising passenger demand during the peak travel season, August to September.

The larger aircraft will primarily serve the airline’s high-traffic Harare-Johannesburg and Victoria Falls-Johannesburg routes, where demand traditionally surges as tourists, business travellers and members of the

Zimbabwean diaspora travel across the region.

The deployment marks a significant milestone for the airline as it also assesses the Airbus A320-200 as a potential permanent addition to its fleet from 2027, in line with its long-term expansion strategy.

Fastjet Zimbabwe business chief executive and country head, Mr Donahue Cortes, said the temporary introduction of the aircraft would enable the airline to accommodate growing passenger volumes while maintaining operational reliability.

“The August and September peak travel period presents an ideal opportunity for us to introduce the Airbus A320.

“This additional capacity enables us to meet the increased demand on our busiest routes while maintaining the reliability and service standards our customers expect,” he said.

Mr Cortes said the exercise would also provide the airline with an opportunity to evaluate the aircraft’s operational performance across its network before making a long-term fleet investment.

“Beyond supporting our immediate operational requirements, this deployment is an important strategic step. It allows us to evaluate the Airbus A320 within our network as part of our longer-term fleet development strategy.

“Subject to the outcome of this trial, we see the Airbus A320 becoming a permanent part of the fastjet Zimbabwe fleet from next year, supporting our continued growth and strengthening connectivity between Zimbabwe and the region,” he said.

The Airbus A320 offers a substantially higher seating capacity than the Embraer regional jets operated by fastjet Zimbabwe, enabling the airline to carry more passengers on high-demand routes while improving operational efficiency during peak travel periods.

The move comes as Zimbabwe’s aviation and tourism sectors continue to recover and expand, supported by increased regional travel, stronger business activity and renewed international interest in the country’s tourism destinations.

Victoria Falls remains Zimbabwe’s flagship tourism destination, attracting thousands of regional and international visitors annually, while Johannesburg continues to be one of the country’s busiest international gateways for both business and leisure travel.

The tourism sector has increasingly become an important pillar of Zimbabwe’s economy, benefiting from

Government initiatives aimed at improving air access, promoting destination marketing and encouraging investment in tourism infrastructure.

Improved airline connectivity has been identified as a critical enabler for growing tourist arrivals, facilitating trade and supporting regional economic integration.

The introduction of additional airline capacity is also expected to complement efforts to position Zimbabwe as a competitive regional tourism destination, particularly as demand for intra-African travel continues to strengthen.

Fastjet Zimbabwe operates domestic services linking Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls, while its international network connects Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls with Johannesburg.

The airline also operates flights from Victoria Falls to Mbombela and Nelspruit in South Africa’s Kruger Mpumalanga region.

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Source: Venice Biennale experience boosts CIMAM Preps – herald

Nyore Madzianike recently in Venice, Italy

SPORTS, Recreation, Arts and Culture Minister Anselem Sanyatwe says Zimbabwe’s participation in the 2026 Venice Biennale has provided valuable lessons that will help the country prepare to host the International Committee for Museums and Collections of Modern Art conference in Harare later this  year.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of the 2026 International Art Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, where he accompanied Vice President Dr Kembo Mohadi.

During the visit, VP Mohadi and his delegation toured the Giardini Central Pavilion, the Arsenale Pavilion and the Zimbabwe Pavilion, gaining first-hand appreciation of how countries showcase their cultural heritage and contemporary artistic expressions on the global stage.

Minister Sanyatwe said the visit exposed the delegation to international best practices in the presentation of culture and heritage, while reinforcing Zimbabwe’s readiness to host the prestigious global museums conference at the National Gallery of Zimbabwe in November.

“Also, as a learning experience, it offered me an opportunity to see for myself what other countries have to offer regarding their individual cultural stories that they need to showcase to the world,” he said.

“Equally, I am very grateful that our delegation was led by Honourable Vice President Mohadi, who came as the head of our delegation to witness and see what we, as a country, can showcase to the international community.

“I was so impressed that we, as a country, started participating on this platform to exhibit, display and promote our cultural diplomacy in 2011.

“Precisely, we are now marking 15 years of participation in the Venice Biennale, despite the exhibition being held once every two years.”

Minister Sanyatwe said the country’s continued participation in the Venice Biennale had enhanced its visibility on the international arts scene and strengthened cultural diplomacy efforts.

He said the upcoming CIMAM conference would attract more than 300 high-level delegates, presenting another opportunity for Zimbabwe to showcase its cultural heritage and creative talent.

“Our artists are now being offered the opportunity to showcase what we are capable of doing as Zimbabweans,” he said.

“It allows us to speak to the globe with a view to marketing our identity, as well as pursuing our cultural diplomacy and, of course, extending it to tourism and cultural tourism.

“We, as a country, would like to believe that over the years our efforts have borne fruit. They have been well received by the international community, leading to us being identified and selected to host the international CIMAM conference in Harare.”

For Minister Sanyatwe, being selected to host the key event is a sign of confidence in Zimbabwe.

“The lesson, therefore, that we can draw, especially from this year’s exhibition, is that we must be fully prepared,” he said. Minister Sanyatwe said Zimbabwe should take pride in hosting the CIMAM conference, noting that it would be the first country in the region to host the event.

“It is a moment when we, as a country, should showcase exactly what Zimbabwe is. This may be followed by preparing and organising meaningful learning and tour programmes, preferably allowing visitors to tour the whole of Zimbabwe,” he said.

Zimbabwe has participated in the Venice Biennale since 2011, using the international platform to showcase the country’s contemporary art and strengthen cultural diplomacy.

The CIMAM conference is expected to bring together museum directors, curators and collections professionals from across the world, presenting Zimbabwe with another opportunity to promote its cultural heritage, creative industries and tourism potential.

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Source: Pump and Steel to revive heavy rail production – herald

Business Writer

LEADING local engineering firm Pump and Steel Suppliers is preparing to enter the heavy rail manufacturing sector as it plans to revive production capabilities formerly held by the defunct Zimbabwe Engineering Company (ZECO).

The strategic focus, confirmed by Human Resources Manager Eugene Jackson in an interview ahead of the inaugural Zimbabwe Industrialisation Conference and Expo 2026, is to build on inherited rail production infrastructure to eventually resume domestic manufacture of heavy railway equipment and components.

The move is anticipated to ease import reliance, boost local technical skills and provide a critical lift to the country’s transport and logistics sector.

The planned expansion represents a major shift for Pump and Steel Suppliers, which operates out of a sprawling industrial workshop in Bulawayo that previously functioned as a railway facility.

Established in 1989, the company has grown into a major anchor of the country’s steel value chain and currently employs between 300 and 500 workers, depending on seasonal demand.

However, expanding into rolling stock and rail components will require a massive step up in technical complexity and precision engineering.

To bridge this technical gap, the company has expanded its training programme in heavy steel fabrication.

“Looking ahead, we plan to revive rail manufacturing inherited from ZECO,” said Mr Jackson. He said building local expertise was a priority for the firm as it scales up operations to prepare for the heavy transport market.

The rail manufacturing initiative comes at a time when Pump and Steel is operating at high capacity across its existing product lines.

Its specialised lines yield about six tonnes of nails daily, divided equally across three-inch, four-inch and six-inch product runs.

The three- and four-inch lines dominate sales, driven by strong nationwide construction activity.

The structural division fabricates about 250 tonnes of heavy steel products monthly, including fuel tanks, mining tanks and roof trusses.

A single light-manufacturing production line produces 2 400 door frames and 1 200 window frames in a single eight-hour shift.

Under the national Buy Zimbabwe initiative, the company has also successfully localised its hinge manufacturing, completely replacing imports for this high-demand building component.

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Source: Heroes Day keeps liberation values alive – herald

Joseph Madzimure

ZANU PF National Secretary for War Veterans, Ex-Political Prisoners, Detainees and Restrictees, Cde Douglas Mahiya, has called on Zimbabweans to uphold the true meaning of Heroes Day.

In an interview, Cde Mahiya said the upcoming annual commemoration should be viewed as a solemn tribute to the sacrifices made during the liberation struggle.

He said it should also be a time to reflect on the values that shaped Zimbabwe’s history rather than being treated merely as another public holiday.

“These gatherings are not only symbolic but also functional, and they bring together communities, leaders, youths, war veterans and religious groups in a shared reflection on the past and a collective commitment to national progress,” said Cde Mahiya.

Cde Mahiya said the provincial approach to Heroes Day reflects inclusivity, allowing each region to recognise its local heroes and celebrate its unique contribution to the liberation struggle and post-independence development.

“The decentralisation also gives room to blend cultural pride, local history and patriotic symbolism,” he said.

Under President Mnangagwa’s leadership, the meaning of heroism has been expanded.

While respecting traditional liberation figures, the Government recognises contemporary heroes, including medical workers, teachers, law enforcement officers, scientists and young entrepreneurs, who contribute daily to the nation’s survival and development.

This new approach links directly to the Government’s developmental trajectory through the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and the current NDS2, both of which serve as strategic roadmaps towards achieving Vision 2030.

Vision 2030 aims to transform Zimbabwe into an upper-middle-income economy by the year 2030.

Heroes Day is increasingly viewed as a motivational platform to drive the national agenda forward, inspired by the values of resilience, service and innovation.

Cde Mahiya emphasised that the genesis of the event lies in the liberation struggle.

“In earnest, that generation sacrificed. It sacrificed its youthfulness, dynamism and capacity to do what anybody else would not have been able to do for the nation,” he said.

“We remember everyone who participated in the liberation struggle, including those who continued to serve the nation afterwards. During the liberation struggle, a hero was defined as someone prepared to sacrifice their life for the freedom of the nation. That is what made them a hero.

“It wasn’t necessarily about outstanding performance because that is broader and more general. People all have different capacities; what you know best may not be what I know best.

“So, ultimately, everyone can become a hero. But what defines the hero’s origin in that era is the willingness to sacrifice one’s life.”

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Source: 600 000 artisanal miners set for safety training – herald

Debra Matabvu

Around 600 000 artisanal and small-scale miners are to be trained and licenced under a Government programme aimed at improving safety and reducing the growing number of fatal mining accidents caused by the failure to observe basic mining protocols.

The initiative, which is expected to professionalise the artisanal and small-scale mining sector, will equip miners with technical skills, safety awareness and operational discipline while linking mining licences to formal training.

Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Dr Thomas Utete Wushe, said the programme forms part of a broader strategy to formalise the artisanal and small-scale sector, which now accounts for more than 60 percent of Zimbabwe’s total gold production.

The Government, Dr Wushe said, was determined to make mining safer while improving productivity and curbing illegal mining.

In recent years, Zimbabwe has recorded fatal mining accidents, many involving artisanal miners operating in unsafe shafts, abandoned mines and unstable excavations without adequate training or proper safety equipment.

To reinforce compliance, the Government is considering a proposal by the Zimbabwe School of Mines to make its Certificate in Principles of Responsible Small-Scale Mining a statutory requirement for obtaining and retaining a small-scale mining title.

Dr Wushe said this would embed safety training into the country’s mining laws and ensure that only trained miners are licenced to operate.

The Government, he added, has also developed an Artisanal and Small-Scale Gold Mining Strategy that prioritises mine safety, environmental rehabilitation and financial inclusion.

“This strategy focuses on environmental rehabilitation, mine safety enforcement and financial inclusion for miners,” he said.

Apart from the training initiative, the authorities are also reviewing legislation to simplify compliance for small-scale miners.

“A major part of the formalisation drive is the overhaul of the legal framework to make compliance easier and more accessible for artisanal and small-scale operators. The ministry has gazetted the new Mines and Minerals Bill to modernise the mining regulatory framework.

“This includes proposals to streamline claim registration and dispute resolution, potentially by removing pegging procedures from the Act and placing them under ministerial regulations.”

To curb illegal mining and mineral leakages, the Government is intensifying operations against gold and lithium smuggling by strengthening surveillance at border posts, improving co-ordination between law enforcement agencies and imposing stiffer penalties on offenders.

Police have also been deployed to protect rivers and other environmentally sensitive areas from illegal riverbed mining, while equipment used in such operations has been confiscated.

Dr Wushe acknowledged that the current number of mining inspectors remained inadequate and said efforts were underway to strengthen the inspectorate and improve monitoring of mining operations across the country.

“In a decisive move, State authorities have deployed police to protect rivers and other environmentally sensitive areas from illegal riverbed mining, a practice that has been costing the country up to US$1 billion annually,” he added.

The Government is working closely with Fidelity Gold Refinery to improve market access for artisanal miners through an expanded network of gold-buying centres.

Policies allowing small-scale miners to retain 100 percent of their foreign currency earnings have also helped support growth in the sector.

Dr Wushe said the overall objective was to transform artisanal and small-scale mining into a safer, more productive and fully formalised sector capable of making an even greater contribution to the economy.

“The ministry’s approach is a holistic one, seeking to bring a vital, but often dangerous sector into the formal economy by creating a supportive regulatory environment, providing the skills miners need and enforcing the law against those who operate outside it.”

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