Gumbo says deal to revive Air Zimbabwe to signed in a month or two

Q & A

*HON. SEN. CHIEF CHISUNGA:  Thank you Madam President.  My question is directed to the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Hon. Dr. Gumbo.  I would like to know what measures is the Government taking to resuscitate the two companies which are the National Railways of Zimbabwe for the enablement of easy transportation of goods and also Air Zimbabwe so that our aeroplanes would be competitive with airlines from other countries in that business.  I thank you.

*THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO):  Thank you Madam President and I would want to thank Hon. Sen. Chief Chisunga for the question.  I want to start by saying that last week, I answered that question on the National Railways of Zimbabwe but since you have allowed the question to be asked again, I will respond.

The National Railways of Zimbabwe – Government has plans that are in place.  Last week I said that we presented our strategic paper on what plans we have in the resuscitation of the National Railways of Zimbabwe and it was accepted by the Cabinet and they have plans on how to implement it and see how we can resuscitate it.  We are all in agreement that if the National Railways of Zimbabwe is functioning properly, it will help us so that we will not burden our roads in the transportation of heavy goods, which is what also is worsening the state of our roads.

On Air Zimbabwe – the Government is doing something in the resuscitation of Air Zimbabwe at the moment.  We were given a go ahead by the Government, its Cabinet Committee, for us to look for people to partner us so that we work together in the resuscitation of our airline so that it would go back to where it was long back.  I also want to tell the Senators that we are at an advanced stage in carrying out the work on the resuscitation of the national airline of Zimbabwe.  In a month or two, I think that we would have signed agreement papers with those people whom we are negotiating with.  I am not yet in a position at the moment to mention who we are negotiating with to help us in the resuscitation of our national airline.  We would get more aeroplanes and also to resuscitate the other air routes that we had lost, for example, routes to places like London.  So, the Government has plans which are now at an advanced stage on the resuscitation of the National Railways of Zimbabwe and Air Zimbabwe.  Thank you.

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