Grounded Dreams: Why Flying in Zimbabwe Remains a Luxury Few Can Afford

By Tafadzwa Nyamuzihwa – Hannover, Germany

n an era where air travel is seen as an everyday convenience in many parts of the world, Zimbabwe continues to treat flying as a privilege reserved for the few.

For the average citizen, the dream of hopping onto a domestic flight remains just that—a dream.

A one-way flight from Harare to Mutare costs USD 85, while a return journey is USD 150.

If you’re flying from Harare to Victoria Falls, brace yourself: the one-way fare is USD 175, and a return ticket is USD 310.

These prices are staggering, especially when compared with international airfares in regions with far greater flight distances.

In Europe, a round-trip flight from Germany to Spain can cost as little as USD 130, while a flight from Germany to Italy typically goes for around USD 190.

These are international journeys covering thousands of kilometers, and yet they cost less than flying within Zimbabwe—over far shorter distances.

Flying Should Not Be a PrivilegeThe problem isn’t just affordability—it’s accessibility.

Zimbabweans are not averse to flying; they simply cannot afford to.

In a modern world, flying should be a normal part of national transportation infrastructure, not a high-priced luxury.

Hundreds of schools between Harare, Mutare, and Victoria Falls could plan same-day educational trips by air if flights were priced reasonably.

Churches, which are among the most organized and mobile communities in Zimbabwe, could easily organize cross-city spiritual retreats or conferences via air—if it were affordable.

Imagine the economic and social growth if flights were priced so that even families, schoolchildren, and local entrepreneurs could travel quickly and safely across the country.

It’s not just about convenience—it’s about building a connected nation.

The Volume Argument: Lower Fares, More TravelersAirlines often cite “low passenger volumes” as a reason for high ticket prices.

But this logic is backward. If the fares were reduced, the volume would rise.

It’s a basic principle of supply and demand: make it affordable, and people will come.

Frequent, low-cost flights could lead to more revenue, not less.

Higher passenger volumes translate to more meals sold, more seats filled, and more luggage checked.

Instead of selling 30 seats at USD 150, why not sell 100 at USD 50?

Not only would this strategy promote local tourism, but it would also make domestic flying the preferred choice over long, tiring bus rides.

What Are Other African Countries Doing?

Let’s look across the border.

In South Africa, a one-way flight from Johannesburg to Durban can cost as little as USD 25, and a return trip is often below USD 60.

That’s less than half the price of a Harare–Mutare return ticket.

In Kenya, flights from Nairobi to Mombasa—a popular domestic route—can go for as low as USD 47 one way, with return fares averaging USD 160–200.

Again, this is a significantly longer route than Harare to Mutare, yet the costs are more reasonable.

So why are Zimbabweans paying so much for so little?

The Real Cost of High Prices

By keeping domestic air travel expensive, Zimbabwe is missing a golden opportunity to boost internal tourism.

Tourists might still fly in from abroad to see Victoria Falls, but locals are largely shut out of experiencing their own country.

We talk about promoting local tourism and building the national economy—but how can we do that when our own people can’t afford to explore Zimbabwe?

The infrastructure is there. The aircraft are there. The airports are there.

What’s missing is a pricing model that sees ordinary Zimbabweans not as a risk, but as a market.

Time to Rethink Domestic Aviation

It is time for airlines, government regulators, and tourism authorities to reimagine what local air travel could look like.

A Zimbabwe where flying is as normal as catching a bus is not only possible—it’s necessary.

It is important that we shift the thinking from exclusivity to inclusivity.

Let’s build a sky that welcomes everyone—not just the wealthy because in a country as vast, beautiful, and diverse as Zimbabwe, the ability to fly should not be a privilege.

It should be a right.