Air Zimbabwe’s UK return earned on merit: Minister Mhona

Source: Air Zimbabwe’s UK return earned on merit: Minister Mhona – herald

Senior Reporter

TRANSPORT and Infrastructural Development Minister Advocate Felix Mhona has hailed the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) for its rigorous and impartial approval process that culminated in Air Zimbabwe being granted a Foreign Operator Permit (FOP), saying the national carrier earned the certification on merit and is committed to maintaining those standards as it resumes direct flights to London after a 16-year hiatus.

Addressing guests at a welcome dinner held at The Cumberland Hotel in Marble Arch, London, to celebrate the inaugural Harare–London Gatwick service, Minister Mhona said the restored route represents one of the clearest expressions of Zimbabwe’s re-engagement policy.

He said this will strengthen trade, investment, tourism and people-to-people ties between Zimbabwe, the United Kingdom and the rest of Europe.

Minister Mhona urged Zimbabweans living in the UK, British investors and the wider business community to embrace the route, describing it as a strategic link that reconnects Zimbabwe with the world.

He said the inaugural flight, which landed at Gatwick Airport at 8:10am, carried more than passengers.

“It carried renewed friendship, restored confidence and reciprocal opportunity,” Minister Mhona said.

He attributed the return of direct flights to the Second Republic’s deliberate re-engagement agenda under President Mnangagwa.

“This occasion is the fruit of the Second Republic’s deliberate and sustained re-engagement agenda, a foreign policy posture led with consistency and conviction by His Excellency, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Cde Dr E.D. Mnangagwa. His Excellency has declared, and demonstrated through action, that Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none,” Minister Mhona said.

He said the UK route holds special significance because of the long-standing historical, commercial and cultural ties between the two countries, as well as the large Zimbabwean diaspora resident in Britain.

“To us, the United Kingdom route is not one of those routes. It occupies a place of particular importance to Zimbabwe, given the depth of our shared history, the breadth of our commercial and cultural ties and the size of our diaspora on these shores.

“Therefore, the arrival of Air Zimbabwe at Gatwick is the most visible expression of that re-engagement, manifested in the skies,” Minister Mhona said.

The Minister said the resumption of the service follows significant investments by the Second Republic in aviation infrastructure, regulatory oversight and compliance with international safety standards.

He commended the UK Civil Aviation Authority for conducting a thorough and professional assessment before granting Air Zimbabwe the Foreign Operator Permit.

“Allow me to extend our deepest appreciation to the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority for the thorough, professional and equitable process that has culminated in the granting of the Foreign Operator Permit to Air Zimbabwe.

“Air Zimbabwe and Zimbabwe at large sought this permit on merit, and we intend to keep it on merit,” Minister Mhona said.

He said the direct service would offer greater convenience for Zimbabweans living in the UK while opening new opportunities for tourism, investment and trade.

“The Zimbabwean diaspora in the United Kingdom is big and it is our hope that this direct flight will bring a lot of convenience to them.

“Equally, this route will carry British visitors, many of them sharing a deep history with Zimbabwe, returning as tourists, investors or simply as visitors to rediscover a country whose warmth has never dimmed,” Minister Mhona said.

He added that the Harare-Gatwick route would facilitate British investment into Zimbabwe’s transport, energy, mining, agriculture, manufacturing and ICT sectors, while providing a faster and more reliable export channel for fresh produce, horticultural products and manufactured goods.