Kudos to recovering African aviation despite COVID-19 second wave

AIR traffic on the continent is recovering faster than other regions around the world despite a devastating second wave.

While a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases in several more developed markets has sparked a return to lockdowns, most African countries have kept their borders open, even as the continent suffers from a second wave and a death rate above the global average.

South Africa returned to stricter lockdowns after being hit by a more transmissible strain of the virus which has spread to at least three other African nations.

Despite mounting concern over the severity of the second wave, travel within the region has continued albeit at a reduced rate.

The demand remains high and intra-Africa traffic is starting to recover at an even quicker rate than other regions in the world.

Domestic markets have been at the forefront of this recovery as local flights take up an increasing share of overall air travel.

From January to November, domestic travel in Africa accounted for 43,7% of total capacity and 52,8% of total traffic.

Europe’s aviation industry is feeling the burden of the coronavirus crisis more than other regions, with seat capacity down by 55% this year, a rate that is worse than in any other region.

While large festive celebrations were impossible for many European and North American families over Christmas, Africans continued to travel within the region during the same period.

However, international flights remain far below pre-pandemic levels, despite showing slight recovery. In January, the African Airlines Association recorded that African airlines had resumed 68,4% of international routes, while passenger numbers were around 50% less than before 2020.

Earlier in January, the United Kingdom banned passengers coming from or via any southern African country, including Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Zambia, Malawi, Lesotho, Mozambique and Angola — as well as Seychelles and Mauritius.

With the continent’s inadequate healthcare infrastructure unable to support a comprehensive vaccine rollout, Africa’s aviation recovery will likely be short-lived if cases rise rapidly and South Africa’s virus variant becomes more widespread.

THE positive response for Austria-based, renowned Zimbabwean imbube musician Vusa Mkhaya (pictured)’s version of the song Dem Loot by award-winning journalist Hopewell Chin’ono that denounces looting of public resources, has inspired the singer to release a full version of the tune.

Chin’ono, one of the prominent critics of corruption and human rights abuses in the country, has taken to music to amplify his voice on government corruption which he says has impoverished citizens and exposed many to COVID-19.

Since its release last week, the song Dem Loot has taken not only Zimbabwe’s digital space by storm, but inspired a host of follow-up versions under the banner #DemLoot challenge.

Mkhaya, who is among the artistes who partook in the #DemLoot challenge, told NewsDay Life & Style that his song, a twist to Dem Loot, would be released next week if everything went according to script.

“The inspiration for Dem Loot came from Hopewell’s challenge that I posted on his Facebook page singing. At first, I did not want to do it, but a few people who know that I usually play around with songs by a cappella groups and record myself in my home studio persuaded me to take on the challenge and I gave in to record my 30 seconds clip,” he said.

“The re-tweets and the reception were good and I am busy working on the full song now. I don’t want to say much now, this is a surprise, but all I can say is that we are done with the recording and we are now in the mixing stage. If all goes according to plan it will be ready by the end of next week.”

Meanwhile, Mkhaya has bemoaned the COVID-19 pandemic for stalling some of his local projects as he could not travel back home like he traditionally does.

“I usually come to visit the family between January and February and also work on some projects that include my Bulawayo gig that I have been doing for the last three years, but this year things changed. We are in our third lockdown here and this time it’s longer than the previous lockdown. It started in November,” he said.

“I have been busy working on recording projects and also learning new tricks of the trade. I have enhanced my home studio so that I manage to work with artistes all over since working from home is becoming our new normal.”

Mkhaya recently collaborated with Bulawayo artistes on the track Masiyephambili, which has topped music charts on Hala Radio in eSwatini. The track brings out unity and resilience of people in the City of Bulawayo.

SYDNEY — An emotional Gael Monfils (pictured) exited the Australian Open in anguish yesterday after a shock five-set loss to Finnish tyro Emil Ruusuvuori and said he felt trapped in a “nightmare” as he battles through a form slump.

Tenth seed Monfils, who last tasted victory in Dubai nearly a year ago, crashed to his seventh successive loss and only his second first-round defeat at Melbourne Park.

“I lost, I have zero confidence, I played badly,” Monfils told reporters, his voice breaking as he held back tears after the 3-6 6-4 7-5 3-6 6-3 loss.

“I cannot serve, I make mistakes ... I do not feel right and it shows.

“I know that I have lost a lot and it hurts me. I would like to wake up and tell myself that this nightmare is over, but I don’t know when it will stop.

“I have no confidence, I have no confidence.”

Monfils, a former quarter-finalist at Melbourne Park, converted only six out of 23 break points against 21-year-old Ruusuvuori, the world number 86 who was in his main draw at the tournament.

The 34-year-old Monfils’ last first-round exit in Melbourne came in 2006.

Ruusuvuori was Monfils’ practice partner during their mandatory twoweek quarantine after arriving in the country.

“I think he was just playing his game ... It was way enough to beat me today,” said Monfils.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka reached the Australian Open second round for a 16th straight time yesterday as the Swiss star looks to better his quarter-final run last year.

The 35-year-old, whose preparations were set back when he contracted Covid-19 late last year, was in full control against Portugal’s Paulo Sousa in a workmanlike 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win.

Wawrinka, who won the first of his three Grand Slam titles in Melbourne in 2014, defeating Rafael Nadal, is aiming to be just the sixth man in the Open era to win three or more Slams after turning 30. “It’s always amazing and special to come back here, winning my first Grand Slam was something unbelievable, amazing memories,” he said.

“I always have a lot of emotion when I come on court and it’s always a pleasure to be back a place where I won my first Grand Slam.”

Seeded 17, he will play either Australian wildcard Marc Polmans or Hungary's Marton Fucsovics next.

“It's never easy to play your first match here. I was playing well today, playing aggressive, hitting some good balls, so really happy to be through to the second round.”

Wawrinka made the last eight in 2020, where he fell to Alexander Zverev in four sets.

US Open champion Dominic Thiem was given an unexpectedly tough test as he kicked off his bid for a maiden Australian Open title Monday, pressed hard by Kazakh veteran Mikhail Kukushkin before racing to the finish line.

The third-seeded Austrian, a narrow loser to Novak Djokovic in last year’s Melbourne final, came through his match on Rod Laver Arena 7-6 (7/2), 6-2, 6-3, but was made to work for it. —