14 November 2023, Harare, Zimbabwe. The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) today joins the African civil aviation community in celebrating the 24th Anniversary of the Yamoussoukro Decision Day (YD Day), as set aside by the 29th Assembly of the Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 project, for the liberalization of scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services within Africa and with an overall aim of removing restrictions on traffic rights, capacity and frequency between city airports.
The Single African Air Transport Market – Pilot Implementation Project (SAATM-PIP) initiative was launched during the 23rd YD Day Anniversary Event on the 14th of November 2022 in Dakar, Senegal, under the theme “ACCELERATION OF AIR TRANSPORT LIBERALIZATION IN AFRICA TO IMPROVE CONTINENTAL CONNECTIVITY AND INTEGRATION”.
The goal of SAATM-PIP is to improve 5th Freedom Traffic Operations across Africa from the current level of 14.5% to 30% by 2025 and increase inter-sectoral collaboration and synergies between air transport institutions and other sectors of the economy.
Zimbabwe, through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, is among the 37 member States that have subscribed to the Solemn Commitment to unconditionally implement the YD and SAATM, and this cluster represents over 80% of the existing aviation market in Africa.
In line with the government thrust that “Zimbabwe is Open for Business”, CAAZ has operationalized the Open Skies Policy which has seen liberalization of the skies in several aspects. In December 2022, four new Air Service Agreements (ASA) compliant with YD were initialled with SAATM member States namely Benin, Chad, Cote d’Ivoire, and Mali allowing for multiple airline destinations, unrestricted frequencies for both passenger and cargo services as well as unrestricted 5th freedom traffic rights on intra-Africa traffic points.
Foreign Operator Permits (FOPs) have been granted to several African Airlines for direct flights into the three international airports – R.G Mugabe, Victoria Falls and J.M Nkomo international airports. In 2023 alone, the following Airlines have commenced operations: FlySafair, Eswatini Air, Zambia Airways and CEMAIR while Ethiopian Airlines is operating direct flights to all three international airports and in other instances frequencies have been increased for existing airlines.
Key infrastructure upgrades have been funded by the Government to improve airspace and air traffic management and these include:
- The Doppler Very High Frequency Omni Directional Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (DVOR/DME) – commissioned on 29 May 2023.
- Air Traffic Control Communications system – which is being installed and expected to be completed by December this year.
- Secondary Surveillance Radar system – which is being installed and scheduled for completion by end of Q1 2024.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe Board, Management and Staff wish to thank and appreciate the Government and stakeholders including Airlines, Charter Operators, Airport and Aerodrome operators, Handling Companies, Freight Forwarding Companies and Agents, Aircraft Maintenance Organizations and tourism industry for the continued support in the operationalisation of SAATM and the expectation of positive prospects and enormous benefits at its full implementation across the entire value chain of travel and tourism.
Open Skies Policy – Leaving no one and no place behind. Happy YD Day to you all!!
Dr. Eng Elijah Chingosho
Director General
BACKGROUND
The Yamoussoukro Decision (YD) came into force in July 2000, having been endorsed by the African Heads of State and Government in Lomé, Togo. The main objective of AU leaders was to improve the continent’s connectivity and integration through the liberalization of scheduled and non-scheduled air transport services in Africa, and the removal of all restrictions on traffic rights, capacity, tariffs and frequency between city-pairs for all African airlines. Despite the slow implementation of the Decision and the limited successes achieved by member States, the launch of Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) as the first flagship project of the AU’s Agenda 2063 on January 28, 2018, became a watershed for the full liberalization of African air transport.
ABOUT CAAZ
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe was established in 1999 by an Act of Parliament, the Civil Aviation Act [Chapter 13:16], and took over the functions of the former Department of Civil Aviation under the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development. Pursuant to International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) recommendations and best practices, the Authority was hived off Airport operations to a new entity through the Civil Aviation Amendment Act, 2018 [No. 10 of 2018].
In its new mandate, the Authority regulates the aviation industry and provides oversight of aviation safety and security, development of air transport and provision of air navigation services within Zimbabwe. The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe also advises the Government of Zimbabwe on all matters relating to domestic and international aviation.
On the 4th of October 2022, at the 41st International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly in Montreal Canada, Zimbabwe was elected as the SADC representative, into the ICAO Council under Part III category, giving Zimbabwe an opportunity to sit as part of the Council’s 36 member states, the highest decision-making body in aviation.
Our Vision
To be a regional centre of excellence in civil aviation regulatory and air navigation services by the year 2030.
Our Mission
To offer commercially viable civil aviation safety and security regulatory, air navigation
services and related training.
Our Core Values
Continuous Learning
Team Work
Results Oriented
Integrity (Hunhu, Ubuntu)
Accountability
Safety, Security, Quality and Efficiency
Level 3, Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport Terminal Building,
P Bag CY 7716 Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263(242) 585073-80
Email: pr@caaz.co.zw
Twitter: @caaz_online | Instagram: @caazonline
Facebook: Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe
www.caaz.co.zw
