African Pilot Magazine Editor Phillippa Dean spoke with Eng. Joy Makumbe, Zimbabwe’s Permanent Secretary for Transport and Infrastructural Development, during the inaugural African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 in Lomé, Togo.
Eng. Makumbe outlines the importance of regional collaboration, harmonised regulations and coordinated infrastructure investment in improving the movement of air cargo across Africa.
She explains that financiers are showing growing interest in regional corridor projects where participating countries develop coordinated proposals supported by feasibility studies and demonstrable bankability.
Eng. Makumbe also highlights the need for consistent cargo documentation and recognised regulatory standards across Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi and Zambia. Repeated inspections, incompatible paperwork and duplicated charges increase costs, delay cargo at borders and weaken the competitiveness of regional trade.
The discussion covers Zimbabwe’s plans for a privately financed cargo village using a build-operate-transfer model, as well as efforts to strengthen the national ground handler through investment in storage, cargo-handling equipment and fleet capacity.
Eng. Makumbe further addresses competition under the Single African Air Transport Market, noting that local airlines must prepare to grow, compete and pursue partnerships, including codeshare agreements with airlines entering the Zimbabwean market.
The inaugural African Air Transport Convention & Expo 2026 was organised by the African Civil Aviation Commission in partnership with the African Union Commission, the AfCFTA Secretariat and AUDA-NEPAD.
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