Travellers advised to allow extra travel-time as concerns around a coup situation mount in Zimbabwe.
(Twitter/@samirasawlani)
Cape Town — Travellers are being advised to allow extra travel-time as concerns around a coup situation mount in Zimbabwe.
Reports indicate that soldiers have taken over Zimbabwe’s ZBC state broadcaster, compounding speculation of a coup against President Robert Mugabe, 93. Those in the country have been advised to avoid the central Harare business district for now — Follow News24’s updates here.
Speculation is rife around the operations at the airport as video footage shared on twitter shows that entry to Robert Gabriel Mugabe (RGB) International Airport is currently being monitored by Zimbabwean military.
SEE: WATCH: Zim flight routes operational as military monitors access to Robert Mugabe Airport
Sources on the ground in Harare have tweeted «staff at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport (formerly Harare international airport) told to call it a day and go home. Impeccable sources just confirmed».
However two of South Africa’s main operators to Zimbabwe, SAA and fastjet have confirmed that for now flight operations are business as usual.
Fastjet has issued a travel advisory confirming that «current travel conditions between South Africa and Zimbabwe and in-country are operating as per their normal schedule.
Fastjet spokesperson Hein Kaiser says,»We highly recommend guests to allow extra time ahead of their flight for check-in and screening procedures, as those may take more time than usual.»
SEE: #AfriTravel: Harare Airport officially renamed to Robert Gabriel Mugabe
Kaiser says fastjet staff are at the airport and are «perfectly fine, with normal operations are continuing». Fastjet will update the advisory should circumstances change, with Kaiser saying «the comfort and safety of fastjet’s employees and guests are a priority for the airline.»
Similarly SAA spokesperson Tlali has confirmed to Traveller24 that flight operation between SA and Zim are continuing, with «SAA flight SA025 from Harare landing at 08h55 in Johannesburg».
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