Air Zimbabwe has launched flights to Luanda and Kinshasa in a move that will see the national airline entering into strategic partnerships with other regional airlines as part of its turnaround program.

 

According to ZBC News on Tuesday, the program is aimed at boosting the competitive edge of the three airlines in Zimbabwe, Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) as well as cooperation on the economic front.

 

The national airline Air Zimbabwe continued to intensify its route expansion strategy both regionally and internationally through forging strategic alliances with other regional airlines as it seeks to reposition itself to effectively compete in the global village, the state media said.

 

Launching the new route which will connect Harare to Luanda and Kinshasa, Air Zimbabwe Board member Luxon Zembe expressed Air Zimbabwe's determination to make an impact on the region and its expansion to Angola and the DRC bears testimony to this.

 

DRC Minister for Transport Renny Henry Kuseyo Gatanga said the introduction of the flight will unlock the economic potential between the two countries and implored on the business community to effectively make use of the opportunity to enhance trade and investment.

 

He said while there is great potential for unlocking value among the three countries on the economic front the launch of the flight need to be complimented with the a business culture by stakeholders in the three countries.

 

Cooperation through strategic synergies is key to boosting African economies to allow them to effectively participate in the global village, said Zimbabwe's Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary Engineer Gorge Mlilo.

 

The flight which will be operating on Wednesday is set to add impetus to strategic sectors such as tourism and manufacturing.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 9, 2007)