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

Transport Minister Joram Gumbo today issued a statement on Zimbabwe Airways and the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Harare Road but legislators dwelt on Zimbabwe Airways and why it was purchased secretly.

They appeared to have readily accepted the minister’s statement on the dualisation of the Beitbridge-Harare Road but quizzed the minister at length on what role Simba Chikore, the husband of former President Robert Mugabe’s daughter Bona, played in the new airline.

Below is the full debate on the two projects.

MINISTERIAL STATEMENT

THE ZIMBABWE AIRWAYS AND THE BEITBRIDGE-HARARE-CHIRUNDU ROAD

THE MINISTER OF TRANSPORT AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT (HON. DR. GUMBO): Thank you Mr. Speaker. I wish to make a Ministerial Statement as has been requested by Hon. Members of Parliament through a request by Hon. Maridadi, on the Zimbabwe Airways issues and the Geiger International issue on the Beitbridge-Harare-Chirundu Road.

1.     Zimbabwe Airways (Pvt) Ltd

A.    Background

Mr. Speaker Sir, at its meeting on 20th October 2011, Cabinet constituted an Ad hoc Cabinet Committee to look into the revitalisation of Air Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd. This decision was occasioned by the fact that operation had been halted.  The Committee comprises of Ministers responsible for Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development, Finance and Economic Development, State Enterprises and Parastatals, Tourism and Hospitality, Environment and Natural Resources Management and Industry and Commerce.

Mr. Speaker Sir, on the 28th of February 2012, the Committee presented its recommendations and the Cabinet, among others, made the following decisions;

                               i.            A new State owned company known as Zimbabwe Airways (Pvt) Ltd be formed;

                            ii.            that an Interim Board of Directors be established; compromising of Senior Government officials, to manage the Airline’s affairs pending appointment of a substantive board by the responsible Minister; and

                         iii.            an external/financial consultant be engaged to come up with a report bearing proposals on the business model and other issues pertinent to the successful turnaround of air Zimbabwe.

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