Source: Direct London flights give horticulture exporters major boost – herald
Sunday Mail Reporters
THE resumption of Air Zimbabwe’s direct flights between Harare and London after a 15-year hiatus is expected to unlock significant growth in Zimbabwe’s horticultural exports by cutting transport times, preserving the cold chain and making locally grown fresh produce more competitive in one of the country’s most lucrative export markets.
It also critically comes at a time when the ongoing conflict in Eastern Europe and the Middle East has disrupted global aviation, forcing airlines to reroute flights, reducing cargo capacity and driving up freight costs through war-risk surcharges and higher fuel prices.
Industry players say the restoration of the route removes one of the biggest logistical constraints that has hampered exports of highly perishable produce to the United Kingdom, where Zimbabwe enjoys duty-free and quota-free market access under the Eastern and Southern Africa-United Kingdom Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
Air Zimbabwe’s inaugural direct flight from Harare landed at London Gatwick Airport on Thursday morning carrying passengers and consignments of fresh produce, including mange tout and sugar snap peas, marking the airline’s return to one of its most important international routes.
Writing for The Sunday Mail, ZimTrade chief executive officer Mr Allan Majuru said horticulture was the sector best positioned to benefit immediately from the restored service because speed is a critical component of the product.
“Horticulture is the first sector that should respond because time is part of the product for exporters of perishable products,” he said.
“Zimbabwe already exports blueberries, citrus, peas, vegetables and other fresh produce to the UK. The country’s climate allows growers to supply during periods when British and European production is lower, particularly in autumn and winter.”
Among products with the greatest export potential, he said, are blueberries and other berries, citrus, avocados, fresh peas, fine beans, chillies, herbs and cut flowers, all of which require strict temperature control from harvest to supermarket shelves.
Mr Majuru said the absence of direct flights had forced exporters to route cargo through regional and international hubs, exposing consignments to multiple handling points, longer transit times and breaks in the cold chain that reduced freshness and commercial value.
“Demand is present, but access depends on quality, food safety and traceability.
“But what has been the challenge with no direct flight? Every additional hour spent at an airport, every unnecessary transfer between aircraft and every break in the cold chain reduces freshness and commercial value.”
He said direct flights would significantly reduce handling, improve delivery schedules and extend shelf life, enabling Zimbabwean exporters to command better prices while reducing the risk of rejected consignments.
Produce that reaches supermarket shelves a day earlier retains its freshness for longer, commands higher prices and is less likely to be rejected because of deterioration in quality.
By preserving the cold chain from harvest to the destination, the direct service is expected to improve profitability even where production costs remain unchanged.
Mr Majuru said Zimbabwe already has a natural competitive advantage because it produces fresh horticultural products during periods when production in the UK and much of Europe is lower.
According to Trade Map data cited by ZimTrade, Zimbabwe exported goods worth US$21,26 million to the UK in 2025, with edible fruit, vegetables, roots and nuts contributing almost 37 percent of total exports, underlining the importance of horticulture to bilateral trade.
Reclaiming status
Zimbabwe was once one of Africa’s leading exporters of fresh horticultural produce.
Historical records show that between November 1999 and October 2000, approximately 7,02 million kilogrammes of horticultural produce were airfreighted from Zimbabwe to the UK, averaging about 146 tonnes every week.
“When Air Zimbabwe increased its London operation to five weekly flights after British Airways withdrew from the route in 2007, farmers could harvest produce in Zimbabwe, pack it in the afternoon, place it on an evening flight and have it available to buyers in the UK the following morning. That speed protected freshness, shelf life and value.”
The extent of gains from the resumption of the route, he added, would depend on cargo capacity, freight charges, production volumes and exporters’ ability to secure long-term supply contracts.
However, it is believed that even modest growth in horticultural exports could translate into significant additional foreign currency earnings.
Competitiveness
Stakeholders in the horticulture industry also welcomed the return of the direct service, saying it could substantially reduce transport costs and improve the competitiveness of Zimbabwean produce.
Export Produce Growers Association of Zimbabwe chairperson and Kuminda chief executive officer Mr Clarence Mwale said exporters had long struggled with rising freight costs and limited cargo capacity after the suspension of direct flights and the withdrawal of other international carriers.
“We are happy with the direct route. This has the added advantage of reaching our market within 24 hours and is cheaper than the longer South African route we were previously using,” he said.
“The airline has capacity for belly cargo, which we have used for our peas. We are looking forward to a sustainable working relationship with Air Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwe is one of the UK’s major suppliers of off-season sugar snap and mange tout peas, with the EPA supporting about 5 000 small-scale farmers through skills development and market access.
The industry also provides employment for thousands of women involved in grading, packing and processing fresh produce.
Mr Mwale said geopolitical tensions in Eastern Europe and the Middle East had disrupted global aviation, forcing airlines to reroute flights, reducing cargo capacity and driving up freight costs through war-risk surcharges and higher fuel prices.
He said Kuminda’s freight costs to Europe had risen to about US$3,80 per kilogramme this year from between US$2 and US$2,20 last year, making it increasingly difficult for Zimbabwean exporters to compete with suppliers from countries such as Egypt, Kenya and Peru.
Fresh produce exporters had consequently appealed to the governments of Zimbabwe, the UK and Netherlands to facilitate direct cargo services to London and Amsterdam in order to reduce logistics costs and restore competitiveness.
Air Zimbabwe’s Airbus A330-300 resumed scheduled services between Harare and London on Wednesday.
The route received a strong market response, with the inaugural flights securing 1 479 passengers and more than 30 tonnes of cargo.
The airline will operate three weekly services, departing Harare on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays, with return flights from London Gatwick on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
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