By Nigel Pfunde
MASVINGO — The government has moved to address air travel costs and infrastructure bottlenecks constraining tourism growth in Kariba, with Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube pledging immediate interventions.
Speaking during the Tourism Investment Forum held Thursday at the Gymkana Events and Conference Centre on the sidelines of the 19th edition of the Sanganai/Hlanganani-Dzimbahwe World Tourism Expo, Minister Ncube said Government was responding to concerns raised by industry players.
Kariba Business Indaba chairperson Cephas Shoniwa had earlier highlighted the high cost of flying to the resort town and the short runway at Kariba Airport, which he said was deterring major commercial carriers and tourists.
Responding, Minister Ncube said:
“I will approach the relevant authorities like CAAZ and the Airports Company of Zimbabwe with that genuine concern, and we will definitely look at revising that cost of air travel.”
A one-way flight from Harare to Kariba currently averages USD 240 and takes less than 45 minutes, with limited scheduled commercial flights available.
On infrastructure, the Minister said:
“The government is aware of that runway issue and is seized with that matter. We are in the process of courting private contractors to rehabilitate the runway, and thank you very much for your valuable contribution.”
The commitments come on the back of regulatory reforms introduced earlier this year under Statutory Instrument 27 of 2026, aimed at improving the Ease of Doing Business in tourism. The measures included the scrapping of the US$600 annual Commercial Boat Permit, a 50 per cent reduction on Houseboat Permits, and ongoing road rehabilitation projects to improve destination accessibility.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa officially opened the premier tourism showcase on Wednesday at the same venue, expressing optimism over the continued growth of the tourism sector and its contribution to the national Gross Domestic Product.
The interventions are expected to enhance connectivity to Kariba, reduce operational costs for operators and position the resort town to attract more domestic and international visitors.
