Story by Wellington Makonese
THE national airline, Air Zimbabwe is exploring avenues to expand its operations, with its stakeholder citing partnerships and further capitalisation as key towards the target.
Air Zimbabwe appeared before Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee this Friday, amid revelations the company seeks to transform its operations.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, principal shareholder Mutapa Investment Fund chief executive officer, Dr John Mangudya spoke on the roadmap to recapitalisation of the national airliner.
“The board has done well in terms of the accounts and financials and plans are to make them current and to ensure that the serviceable aircrafts are working, right now the 4 working and 2 not serviceable. The more we put in more resources the more we go far in reaching new horizons. We are happy that after assuming shares of Air Zimbabwe, we have done a diagnostic assessment and we are happy with the board in terms of taking into account recommendations and how they are looking to increase the number of flights. We are also investigating means to take on new roots that include likes of London,” he said.
The public accounts committee noted that further assessments are required to arrive at requirements for the capitalisation of the parastatal.
“Today we have ordered them to bring in more books for the matter to be heard on Friday, but as of Tuesday, we will visit Air Zimbabwe to assess their assets to see if what they have requirements, tally. This is a public entity so we are taking due diligence,” said the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee’s chairperson, Honourable Charlton Hwende.
At present, Air Zimbabwe owns four air buses and is seeking to expand its reach.
