Air Zimbabwe in Intensive Care Unit

million debt owed to American General Supplies, from where Airzim gets the bulk of its spares.

This comes hardly a week after another plane – a Boeing 737-500 – was grounded by a South African firm, Bid Air, for an outstanding debt of US$500 000.
The situation at Air Zimbabwe has ceased to be funny. In the case of American General Supplies, Air Zimbabwe failed to meet the November 30 deadline by which it was supposed to have paid off. Acting chief executive Mr Innocent Mavhunga on Monday said they were negotiating for the release of the plane.
It certainly can’t get any worse!

We are made to understand that Treasury could not help. The question that then beckons is whether Air Zimbabwe is considered a priority or it’s just one of those inconveniences in the economy?
When faced with such danger, desperate measures need to be taken to salvage the little that is left of the airline while parallel efforts are being made to return the national carrier to viability.
The situation at Air Zimbabwe is complicated but certainly not irredeemable. Can we please see some serious action from the shareholder!

Zimbabwe certainly can do without such kind of embarrassment. The world is flooded with too much negative sentiment on Zimbabwe so we should not go out of our way to keep feeding them with such stories as are coming out of Air Zimbabwe.

Why should this drown the great developments, accolades and recognition the country has been receiving in tourism and other sectors of the economy?
If the latest incident at Air Zimbabwe does not nudge someone into serious action then we wonder what will.

We implore the authorities that something significant be done to get things right at Air Zimbabwe. This country is awash with expertise to get things right. The management, board and shareholders need to please do something about Air Zimbabwe expeditiously.

Mr Mavhunga sir, just pleading for more time with those you owe is just not on because at this rate even if you are given six months to pay, you will still fall short unless a more holistic approach is taken to salvage the situation.

Air Zimbabwe is supposed to be a national pride. My heart bleeds to see business being taken over by other airlines who certainly have the wisdom and expertise to run airlines successfully.
Of course, such airlines as SAA have their own problems but they are flying! What needs to be done at Air Zimbabwe should be done. The options are well documented so let’s see some action being taken.

In 2013, the country hosts the UNWTO General Assembly and this will need a viable and reliable airline.
Please Air Zimbabwe let’s have the current mess sorted out. We certainly do not need the chaos that seems to be reigning supreme at Air Zimbabwe.

Mr Mavhunga said US$40 million is required to clear some of the debts so can this be provided or can a partner be sought who has the wherewithal to inject funds into the ailing parastatal?

Feedback
The feedback on last week’s instalment has been phenomenal with almost all responses exhibiting Zimbabwe’s desperation to get its national airline back in the skies.
The Air Zimbabwe issue has conjured so much debate with some blaming management while others feel there is more to the problems than meets the eye.

Hie there. Hope I find you in good health.
Airzim is a problem child for sure. Your article did rightly come at a good time. I say so because I believe the nation is now on a path to greatness hence the need for the airline to be revived to sustain the high volume of business flow.

Allen Choruma is right. The rot is just too much and the most important thing to do now is to reduce or remove those so-called benefits/beneficiaries until such a time the airline can sustain them.
However, I believe opening a debate on the airline will surely get us going as a country as failure by Airzim affects the whole smooth flow of business. As Minister Mzembi noted “tourism can get much better growth if and only if Air Zim gets in line”. Indeed, God is with Zimbabwe! – J. K. Chagonda.

Another said:
Thank you Victoria for your story about Airzim. I hope the Government will charge some managers with sabotage. Ethiopian Airlines is the best revenue collector in Ethiopia.
SA flies three times daily on the Harare-Jo’burg route and British Airways flies once daily, just to name a few. There are guys who want to buy Air- zim but they want to buy it cheap after running it down, they are crooks. Thanks. – MuZimbo at heart.

Another SMS said:
Thanx Vic for your concern at what is happening at Airzim. I want to make it clear to Mr Choruma that it’s an international practice that airline staff travels for free or on discount. It’s not unique to Airzim. With some airlines, staff get this privilege for life just as much as Zinwa or Zesa staff do not pay for bills. I am sure you also get a free copy of The Herald. Staff at Airzim travel subject to load. No passenger has been denied travel because of staff.

These are ridiculous allegations, that some staff members haven’t been paid for half a year. How do you want them to survive? How do you explain management getting US$500 as day travel allowance? The bottom line is that Air Zimbabwe has been mismanaged and looted beyond belief, especially by the immediate past and present management.
We need a thorough investigation of what happened at Air Zimbabwe in the last three years. You will be shocked. There are some people who really want Air Zimbabwe to collapse. – Anonymous.

This one had this to say:
Just recently SA has just introduced the fourth flight and they are expensive. Why can’t Air Zimbabwe have at least three flights daily and they are cheaper?
It pains me a lot. Can you not plead with His Excellency (President Mugabe) to stop this rot at Air Zimbabwe. Thank you. – MuZimbo at heart.

Another said:
Bailout of Air Zimbabwe by Government without using a professional business model of management will only perpetuate the cycle of failure that we are currently enduring. So the question is, who is appointing the management? Looks like someone is shooting themselves in the foot!
In God I trust!