Parliament asks Transport Minister to clarify Beitbridge–Harare road tender and who owns Zimbabwe Airways

Transport Minister Joram Gumbo should tell the nation who owns Zimbabwe Airways and the current status of the rehabilitation of the Beitbridge-Harare Road, Mabvuku-Tafara Member of Parliament James Maridadi said in Parliament yesterday.

He said there were a lot of things being said about the Beitbridge-Harare Road including the cancellation of the tender and tenders being awarded to people that had not submitted any bids in the first place.

“On Zimbabwe Airways, he should tell the nation issues like who owns it, how were the aeroplanes bought and the shareholding of that company.”

Gumbo said he was prepared to make the statement yesterday but acting Speaker Reuben Marumahoko said he should bring a written statement.

There have been reports that cabinet cancelled the Beitbridge-Harare road tender awarded to Geiger International but these reports have been refuted saying the company was given 60 days to own up.

On Zimbabwe Airways, people are interested in knowing whether it belongs to the former first family and if not what role former President Robert Mugabe’s son-in-law Simba Chikore plays.

It might be almost a month before the nation knows because Parliament was yesterday adjourned to 8 May.

Q &A:

HON. MARIDADI:  I rise on a point of order Mr. Speaker.  Seeing that the Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development is in the House this afternoon and seeing that there is a lot of talk about Zimbabwe Airways and the dualisation of the Harare-Beitbridge road and there are a lot of things that have been said pertaining to that road, cancellation of tenders and tenders being awarded to people that have not submitted bids in the first place;  I thought I would want him to favour this House with a Ministerial Statement on basically those two issues.   On Zimbabwe Airways, he should tell the nation issues like who owns it, how were the aeroplanes bought and the shareholding of that company.  So, Mr. Speaker I so submit and hope the Minister will favour us with that Ministerial Statement. 

THE ACTING SPEAKER:  Hon. Maridadi, the issue of the Harare-Beitbridge Road was discussed yesterday and I am sure the Minister was informed or will be informed about it.  However, let me find out from the Hon. Minister if he wants to commit himself.

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