Air Zim pax fork out for tax issue

THE Civil Aviation Authority
of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) has
implemented a policy
whereby passengers flying
with Air Zimbabwe must
now pay airport taxes
separately, in cash, before
departing Zimbabwe, due to
the airline failing to remit
its taxes.
This is according to
Memory Siyanata, accounts
manager at CAAZ.
The policy, which came
into effect on November
10, requires international
travellers to pay US$50
(R560) and domestic
travellers US$15 (R168)
prior to departure. The
taxes are the Passenger
Service Charge (PSC) and
Aviation Infrastructure
Development Fund (AIDEF)
and must be paid directly to
CAAZ at offices at Harare,
Bulawayo, Victoria Falls and
Kariba airports.
Tilly Leteane, Air
Zimbabwe travel consultant
in South Africa, told TNW
the new requirement would
not result in a reduction of
Air Zimbabwe airfares.
CAAZ representative,
Candie Banda, said those
passengers who did not
want to pay the amount
in cash could purchase
a tax coupon from the
airline when purchasing
their ticket. These coupons
have been pre-purchased
by the airline from the
civil aviation authority on
behalf of passengers and
will be collected at Air
Zimbabwe boarding gates
on departure.
Travel agents can also prepurchase
coupons on behalf
of their clients from CAAZ
offices or, if based in South
Africa, through the post.
It’s unclear how, during the
recent SA Post Office strike,
agents would receive the
coupons timeously.