Joram Gumbo issues statement on Zimbabwe Airways and dualisation of Beitbridge-Harare Road

Now because of the re-engagement, we have been advised that it is an issue that has already been resolved because the Minister of Finance has now agreed on a process to pay those farmers their money from September. So, now the cat is outside the bag and I do not know why it becomes a case like we are hiding anything else and the reason for hiding, we have told you. I think in all honesty Mr. Speaker Sir, we should be applauded for doing that. Thank you.

HON. NDUNA: Mr. Speaker, I just have a few questions for clarity. What is the capacity of the outstanding aircrafts? We know we have a Boeing 777 or Boeing 707. The second one is the need to know the specialty of one Karonga. I know after the change of the department for Civil Aviation Authority, she is also on the board or in the company of Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe – [HON. DR. J.M. GUMBO: She is what?] – She is also either one of the board members. So, I seek to know the specialty of one Karonga. Why I say so Mr. Speaker, you have got a Bill that is before you, the Civil Aviation Authority Bill that is unbundling and she is also one of those people that are registered as the company owners of that company.

The third one, I would want on a footnote on the Air Zimbabwe to know from the Minister why it was not prudent seeing this debt was attached to Air Zimbabwe, to just transfer the people from Air Zimbabwe to this company. Also, what is happening to the CEO and the COO appointments of Air Zimbabwe, whether that is going to come in or it has died a natural death because they are currently on auto-pilot without a CEO and COO?

*HON. MUNENGAMI: My question to the Minister is that they has said he bought aeroplanes to run away from debts, which debts he has said are now being taken care of now. Since these debts are now being paid, is the name of the company and the directors going to change so that it goes back to Air Zimbabwe since the reason why they were hiding has been corrected.

In Malaysia, we know the types of aeroplanes that are made there and that they are not of good repute. One of the planes from Malaysia has not yet been found up to now and we do not know if it is under the ocean. Malaysian planes have a history of killing their passengers. The world-over no one is interested in buying Malaysian planes. What was the thinking behind the purchase of these planes at the same time endangering the lives of Zimbabweans? All parliamentarians are now afraid of using Air Zimbabwe planes because the planes that were bought are suspicious.  What guarantee is there that the Malaysian planes are not the ones that are renowned the world-over for not being good aeroplanes.  That is my question.  Thank you Hon. Speaker.

HON. MARIDADI:  Thank you Mr. Speaker.  As a matter of fact, the four aircrafts that Zimbabwe has bought were actually decommissioned by the Malaysian Government following the accident involving three aircrafts from Malaysia.  That is the reason why those aircrafts were decommissioned from the Malaysian fleet.  So, that is a fact and it is in the public domain, it is known and the Minister knows it as well as I do.  They were decommissioned following accidents.

          Secondly, it is important to know the individuals behind the company because the company does not run itself.  The reason I was asking about Simba Chikore is, because we want to know the background of people who are running an organisation.

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