The Sunday News
Roberta Katunga, Senior Business Reporter
AIRLINES continue to shun Joshua Mqabuko Nkomo airport in Bulawayo despite the facility having been upgraded to meet international standards with only two companies servicing the facility.
In an interview Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe chief executive officer Mr David Chawota blamed the little movement at the airport to low business activity in the city saying airlines prefer routes where people go.
“People go where there is business or attractions and interests to those people. In terms of the impact of the economic downturn of the country, Bulawayo was the most hit as it was the manufacturing hub and now those industries are nonexistent,” said Mr Chawota.
An estimated 20 000 workers lost their jobs in Bulawayo as several companies in the city either closed shop, downsized or relocated to Harare.
Since 2010, as many as 100 firms closed shop in the city once known as Kontuthuziyathunqa for the billowing smoke over its industrial districts.
Bulawayo at one point accounted for 75 percent of the country’s manufacturing output, but now has been dubbed a sadza economy with restaurants and flea markets accounting for most businesses.
Mr Chawota said when business is low in a certain area this in turn reduces the number of people visiting the resorts in and around that particular area.
He however, dismissed claims that JMN airport was turning into a white elephant despite only two airlines operating from there saying it was doing much better than it was two years ago.
“At one time we only had Air Zimbabwe landing at that airport but now we have an airline connecting directly to Johannesburg in South Africa. The traffic levels at JMN airport have almost doubled from what they were two years ago although this is not to say it is the best that we can have,” said Mr Chawota.
He said concerted efforts between all Government departments were needed to ensure that there is an uptake of the facility.
He said marketing of the destination was also needed.
“The problem does not lie with the facility but we need to promote tourism and ensure that the numbers to Bulawayo increase and this will subsequently lead to more activity at the airport. There is also a need to improve business in Bulawayo,” he said.
The issue of JMN airport turning into a white elephant was raised by Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi who used it as a case in point to show that despite being upgraded to international standards; it is still servicing two airlines.
Minister Mzembi said signing of new airline agreements was important since making the airport functional is connected to the business of Bulawayo, not just leisure tourism but business tourism.
“Airline agreements ensure the ability to access a destination through airline activity because 53 percent of the world’s 1,3 billion travellers arrive by air. We are no exception to the same model that should land our people speedily and quickly.
We must make commerce work, that is why Government has gone out of its way to declare Special Economic Zone corridors that can motivate businesses to come and invest in our country,” he said.
He said Zimbabwe could only attract investors through an integrated marketing approach of brand Zimbabwe instead of a fragmented approach.
JMN airport manager Mr Passmore Dewa said policies that open up skies were needed.
“In the first quarter of the year, we are expecting to bring Fly Africa back and Rainbow airlines is also about to launch. We expect to see more of low cost airlines coming into Bulawayo.
“The national carrier should be able to operate in a competitive environment and have an edge over its competitors,” said Dewa.
Airlines operating in Bulawayo are Air Zimbabwe which is servicing the Bulawayo-Harare route and Bulawayo- Johannesburg route as well as South African Airlink.
