Royal Air Zimbabwe will fly to China

Royal Air Zimbabwe is planning to assume the Zimbabwe - China routes left vacant by struggling national carrier, Air Zimbabwe (UM, Harare Int'l), founder Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive, Karikoga Kaseke, has said. "Besides a daily Harare Int'l to Victoria Falls route, Royal Zimbabwe Airlines will fly to China's Guangzhou via Singapore Changi three times a week," Kaseke said. Operations were to have commenced in August this past year. Zimbabwe's Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Transport, Munesu Munodawafa, has confirmed Royal Zimbabwe Airlines' application for Chinese traffic rights and that his ministry had granted them the approval. "Yes, they have indicated the routes which they want to fly to. One of the routes is to China," Munodawafa said. Mr Kaseke's move to establish an airline, and its issuance of lucrative routes, has raised a few eyebrows given his former prominent position as head of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ).