INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR COMMEMORATING AIR CRASH VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES
20 February 2024 | Harare, Zimbabwe | Today, Zimbabwe through the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ), joins the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other international partners in commemorating the third anniversary of the “International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and Their Families”, and in standing with victims and families who were affected by air disasters both locally and globally.
The ICAO Council established the International Day Commemorating Air Crash Victims and their Families in 2022, in support of a proposal made by the Air Crash Victims’ Families’ Federation International (ACVFFI). Its objective is to provide governments and industry with a reminder of the responsibility upon them to improve the care, resources, and timely comprehensive information that accident victims and their loved ones need in post-accident circumstances.
Though aircraft accidents remain a harsh reminder of our accountability to the travelling public, safety continues to be a top priority for CAAZ and ICAO at global level, and significant progress has been made over decades of International Air Transport development. ICAO audits all 193 contracting States to verify their safety and security oversight capacity through checking compliance and Effective Implementation (EI) of the Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS). In June 2023, CAAZ scored an EI of 69.09% in the ICAO Coordinated Validation Mission (ICVM) up from 53.14% attained in the full scope audit of 2019.
The ICAO Council adopted Amendment 29 to ICAO Annex 9 on Facilitation, which elevated Recommended Practice 8.46 to a Standard, enhancing the Annex 9 regulatory framework on Assistance to Aircraft Accident Victims and their Families.
The Government, through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, established the Air Accidents and Incidents Investigation Department (AAIID) under Section 8 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 20) Act, 2013, as read with Section 55 of the Civil Aviation Act [CAP 13:16].
The mandate of AAIID is:
- To investigate and determine the causes of all aircraft occurrences (accidents and serious incidents) and to report thereon to the Minister; and
- To recommend to the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe and the Minister, regarding measures for preventing and dealing with aircraft occurrences; and
- To ensure the proper co-ordination of measures to prevent and deal with aircraft occurrences; and
- To conduct such inspections and carry out such investigations as may be necessary or desirable to ensure that measures for preventing and dealing with aircraft occurrences are being implemented; and
- To co-operate with authorities and agencies within and outside Zimbabwe in the exercise of functions of the Department.
The Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe Board, Management and Staff commiserate with all air crash victims, their families, and colleagues. CAAZ continues to work tirelessly to ensure safety and security across the Zimbabwean skies with every take-off and landing.
Dr. Eng. E Chingosho
Director General – Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe
_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________
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.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Level 3, R.G Mugabe International Airport Terminal Building, Harare, Zimbabwe
Tel: +263(242) 585073-80 | Email: pr@caaz.co.zw
Twitter: @caaz_online | Instagram: @caazonline
Facebook / LinkedIn: Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe
Safety, Security, Quality and Efficiency
