Africa Moyo in KARIBA
BUDGET airline, fastjet, made history yesterday when it launched flights from Harare to Kariba and Hwange, a move described as positive by tourism players in the area who have been struggling to stay afloat due to destination inaccessibility.
The flight leaves Harare at 9am and arrives in Kariba at 9:50am, while the return flight departs Kariba at 3pm and arrives in Harare at 3:50pm.
The routes shall be served by a fleet of Embraer EMB120 Brasilia aircraft.
Yesterday, expectant Kariba tour operators were at the airport to see, if indeed, their ages old plea for air connectivity had finally been heeded.
Travelling to Kariba along the Harare-Chirundu highway takes about five hours.
But with heavy rains experienced this season extensively damaging the Harare-Chirundu highway, it can take more than five hours to get to Kariba.
By air, it takes only 50 minutes, and it is hoped that tourists who had shelved Kariba holidays, can now fly to the destination.
Fastjet chief commercial officer Ms Vivian Ruwuya said the launch of flights was “a momentous occasion”.
“The successful landing of our fastjet flight FN6201 from Harare to Kariba is part of our joint official launches of flights to Kariba and Hwange National Park,” said Ms Ruwuya.
“This is the first time in our history as fastjet Zimbabwe that we have launched flights to two new destinations on the same day.
“After several years of no flight connectivity, today we are delighted to connect Kariba to one of Africa’s leading tourist resorts of Victoria Falls.”
But Ms Ruwuya called on Kariba tourism players and the rest of the population, to support the flight so they sustain the route.
Guest of honour, Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Felix Mhona, who was represented by Dr Loveness Masuka-Dumwa from his ministry, said he was “thrilled to be part of this historic moment” as fastjet officially launched new services to Kariba and Hwange.
“This is a momentous occasion for us and one that we have been eagerly anticipating for quite some time,” he said.
“These two destinations are not only popular tourist spots but also important economic hubs, and we are excited that they are now connected to the rest of Zimbabwe and the world.”
Minister Mhona said he was happy with fastjet’s growth, which has seen the airline introduce regional connections to Maun, Botswana and Nelspruit, South Africa.
Fastjet, a Zimbabwean owned airline, has been operating locally between Harare, Victoria Falls and Bulawayo, and the launch of the Kariba and Hwange routes will enable the airline to serve more customers and provide them with the best possible travel.
Minister Mhona said under the Second Republic led by President Mnangagwa, which seeks to grow Zimbabwe to be an upper middle-income economy by 2030, air transport is critical in enabling the vision as it opens and connects markets, facilitates trade and enables industries to link into global supply chains.
“It is our hope, therefore, that this connectivity will be facilitating tourism, cultural and business exchanges, economic opportunities and people-to-people relations will improve”.
The Government, he said, will continue implementing the Yamoussoukro Declaration concerning the liberalisation of access to air transport markets in Africa, which is in line with President Mnangagwa’s mantra, “Zimbabwe is open for business”.
He said there are plans to relocate Kariba Airport since the runway is restrictive in terms of expanding it due to its current geographical location.
A new site has since been identified for relocation of the airport and the new one will allow for a longer runway that will be able to handle wide-bodied aircraft.
Minister Mhona challenged fastjet management to consider introducing flights to Masvingo Airport and Buffalo Range Airport in Chiredzi.
Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Mary Mliswa-Chikoka, said connecting Kariba to rest of the world by air will “transform Kariba, Hwange and Victoria Falls”.
“Not only that, it will go a long way in boosting and encouraging the influx of tourists, hence increasing the GDP particularly of Mashonaland West in this era of devolution.
“We are proud and excited that fastjet has decided to establish these local routes. Zimbabwean solutions for Zimbabwean problems, nyika ichivakwa nevene vayo,” said Minister Mliswa-Chikoka.
Zimbabwe Tourism Authority chief executive Ms Winnie Muchanyuka said:
“As ZTA, we are happy to see this project come to fruition. It has been a long time that efforts to get flights into Kariba started.
“It takes 5 to 6 hours to travel by road from Harare to Kariba and some people found it to be too long. But by air, you do it in less than an hour.”
Ms Muchanyuka implored all tourism stakeholders in Kariba to play their part in ensuring that fastjet gets the necessary support to remain on the route.
An official with Cutty Sark Self-Catering Lodge, Mr Mark Lawrence, said the launch of flights by fastjet was greatly appreciated.
“It (business) has has been bad due to the state of the Harare-Chirundu highway,” said Mr Lawrence.
“But with flights now coming in, we hope the situation will improve.”
Mr Cephas Shonhiwa, who is the co-ordinator of the Kariba Tourism and Business Indaba, is equally hopeful.
Mr Conrad van Eyssen, a marketing official at Zambezi Cruise and Safaris, said he was optimistic that air connectivity will boost Kariba’s tourism fortunes.