Staff Reporter

Rigorous and robust economic policies have resulted in ensuring that Zimbabwe is the only country out of 127 that Ethiopian Airlines now offers three direct flights to three different cities per week.

The flights will be destined for Harare, Bulawayo and Victoria Falls.

According to Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Engineer Theodius Chinyanga, Zimbabwe is poised to benefit immensely from the vast connectivity network that this giant company has to the rest of the world.

“Ethiopian Airlines’ vast connectivity network literally links us to the world markets. We are confident that this connectivity will add to our efforts to turn around the local economy which will translate into the rejuvenation of the City of Bulawayo to regain its yesteryear status of being a key industrial hub in the region,” said Chinyanga.

Engineer Chinyanga also said that the introduction of Ethiopian Airlines flights to these three cities of Zimbabwe come at a time when President Emmerson Mnangagwa and his Government are seized with modernising the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International (RGMI) Airport, Joshua Nkomo International (JMNI) Airport and Victoria Falls International Airport into world class airports that can handle any type of aeroplanes.

“On our part as the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe and through the wise leadership of His Excellency, the President, Cde Dr E D Mnangagwa, we are embarking on a programme to expand and modernise our international airports so that they will be able to handle big aviation players in the mould of Ethiopian Airlines,” he said.

Political commentators have expressed optimism towards this grand move by the Ethiopian Airlines. They have called it a bold declaration by the giant airline company that Zimbabwe is indeed fit and open for business. Zimbabwe will benefit from introduction of this airline as the country has doubled its efforts to export beef from Cold Storage Commission in Bulawayo, macadamia nuts in Chipinge amongst other products. Timeous deliveries of medicines and other vital goods will also be some of the benefits to come along with Ethiopian Airlines.

Introduction of flights by Ethiopian Airlines is a continuous and clear revelation that more and more business organisations in different sectors view Zimbabwe as a potential business destination that has an array of business to offer.