adminbasket into the urgent folder as we have already suggested.
I have deliberately kept the issue alive for three consecutive weeks because it’s an issue that requires throwing in of ideas and dealing with it decisively.
Any Mickey Mouse treatment of this subject would not do justice to the importance of Air Zimbabwe to the economy and the urgency with which a long-lasting solution should be sought.
I could understand the venom, they want their national carrier to fully functional and dependable. It is supposed to be a source of national pride and not national embarrassment.
The story in yesterday’s paper that scores of Air Zimbabwe passengers were kicked out of Hilton Hotel after Air Zimbabwe failed to pay the accommodation bill for the stranded passengers compounds an already embarrassing situation.
Air Zim is believed to owe the hotel US$300 000.
We cannot say we are relieved by Air Zim paying American General Supplies US$1,2 million owed because you can never be too sure who will seize the plane next.
The last time I checked, the Boeing 767-200 that had been impounded had not flown home yet.
These days the Johannesburg route yakaberekera shumba (it’s a no go area), so to speak.
The airline is literally on its knees presently. What we would want to witness are not these piecemeal efforts but a more sustainable debt repayment strategy.
Got a few calls from some Air Zim staff threatening to release certain information about the goings on at the airline but had not received the promised information by the time of going to print.
What I can safely say for now is that the chartered flights by the President’s Office have kept the airline alive because “the President always pays on time and we always look forward to his travels with us”, quipped one official at Air Zim a few weeks ago. This is contrary to views held by many that the President’s travels bleed the airline.
My heart bled when I was in Kenya last week to witness the tour of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
It was a magnificent occasion that would make anyone proud.
It got me thinking that when others, such as Ethiopian Airlines and Kenya Airways, are busy buying the latest machines, our own airline is struggling to keep its fleet of four planes.
When others are expanding their networks, locally we are contracting in terms of aircraft and routes covered. Kenya Airways in particular, has made a mark on Zimbabwean travellers as it connects them to Europe Asia and other parts of the globe. If Kenya did it. Why can’t we did (sic) it too.
Tapiwa Nyandoro wrote:
“Congratulations on your readership figures. It is no secret that the quality of your paper in particular, has improved noticeably, if not significantly, since competition was thrust upon you! In noting the inefficiency, or poor productivity of Latin American companies The Economist of 11th September 2010, in a special report on Latin America, noted that, “it is partly because governments have allowed them to be so by not doing enough to stimulate competition”.
It is ironic, isn’t it: that Air Zimbabwe has been brought down partly by lack of competition? Your editor’s argument advanced in his editorial of December 14, 2011, as regards critical mass is valid, as is his suggestion for geographical diversification, within the region, if not globally, to attain the needed critical mass. May the powers that be pursue the regional initiative with more vigour?
“Hopefully we mean what we say when talking about regional economic integration. The Air Zimbabwe board, however, should not be waiting for the politicians, but should run with your paper’s suggestions without further ado!
The chairman of the Air Zimbabwe Board of Directors cut a sad, if comic figure on Al Jazeera yesterday (last Wednesday). He blamed sanctions on the airline’s woes.
Has he forgotten that the problems, with their roots squarely in Cabinet, started long before sanctions? And how does he explain the viable going concern status of other companies such as Zimplats, Zimpapers, Econet, Delta and Innscor, to name but a few, in the same environment of the so called illegal sanctions?
Regards,
Chirorodziva
An anonymous reader said:
“Victoria it’s not my habit to respond to Press articles but I could not resist this one. Air Zimbabwe is an international player who played her part at the time our economy was in the doldrums. We were paying for our flight tickets in Zimbabwe dollars while Air Zim had to meet her obligation, that is, her debts in US dollars that’s why Air Zim is in this current financial state. Let all Zimbabweans join hands to help Air Zim at her time of need. I don’t know of a family that bothers itself to want to find out what got one ill when they are sick, all we do is look for the medicine.
“That is what needs to be done with Air Zim. We need to find the money to liquidate its debt, starting with Tendai Biti as he is the finance man of the country period.
Don’t bother about who I am.”
Another sms read:
“There is need for a complete overhaul of the management at Air Zimbabwe as well as the workforce. Visionary people and management need to be put in place, people who have a longer view of Air Zimbabwe like what Dr Gideon Gono did at CBZ. People who are ready to sacrifice now and enjoy later.”
In God I Trust.
Online Reporter