There is a serious conflict of interest and gross abuse of the basic tenets of good corporate governance in this whole transaction. Put bluntly, this transaction is blatantly opaque, unjustifiable and downright corrupt. Parliament must immediately move in to get to the bottom of this scandal in our aviation industry. The full details of the Zimbabwe Airways transaction, chapter and verse, have to be disclosed for the benefit of the nation.
Why is Minister Joram Gumbo globe – trotting, at State expenditure, to cut deals on behalf of a privately – owned airline whilst our own national airline, Air Zimbabwe, is almost bankrupt? Whose agenda is Minister Joram Gumbo pushing? And why is the Air Zimbabwe de facto boss, Simba Chikore, consulting on behalf of a competing private airline, Zimbabwe Airways whilst he remains on the payroll of our national airline, Air Zimbabwe? Something is definitely not right here!
The MDC is thoroughly disappointed with the public disclosure that Zimbabwe Airways will soon be flying the highly lucrative Harare – London route whilst Air Zimbabwe remains virtually comatose. In fact, both Minister Joram Gumbo and Simba Chikore have to be thoroughly investigated by the Zimbabwe Anti – Corruption Commission. They have got a prima facie case of high level corruption that both men have got to answer to. We cannot just stand aside and watch whilst an important national asset, Air Zimbabwe Corporation, is being bled into bankruptcy and oblivion in order to privately benefit a few politically well – connected people.
The MDC has a zero tolerance policy towards corruption and as such, we demand that a no– holds–barred and exhaustive forensic audit be immediately instituted into the business affairs of Air Zimbabwe Corporation. More importantly, both Minister Joram Gumbo and Simba Chikore must give the nation a detailed and satisfactory explanation of the exact role that they are playing in the business affairs of a competing private airline, Zimbabwe Airways.
MDC: Equal Opportunities for All
Obert Chaurura Gutu
MDC National Spokesperson
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