NEW REGIME NEW BALL GAME AS AVIATION CARDS IN #ZIMBABWE ARE BEING RESHUFFLED
(Posted 19th December 2017)
Information is emerging from Zimbabwe that national airline Air Zimbabwe, almost sidelined during the waning days of the Mugabe rule, may make a comeback as the new government is taking a fresh look at the challenges the carrier faces.
Rival Zimbabwe Airways, which has reportedly leased four Boeing B777 aircraft from Malaysia Airways, in contrast seems almost out of luck to take over as ‘new’ national airline, now that the godfather of the venture has been replaced in what can best be described as a bloodless coup by leading army officers supporting the new President Emmerson Mnangagwa during the days he had gone into exile for his own safety.
Air Zimbabwe, once a well respected African national airline, went into decline over the political appointment of at times completely inept managers and board members, as well as other reasons of course and ended up on the notorious EU blacklist.
Information from usually well informed aviation sources in Harare now suggests that the government may procure more new Chinese built aircraft to boost the capacity of Air Zimbabwe and seek ways and means to absorb losses and debts to give the carrier a new lease of life.
Should that happen will upstart Zimbabwe Airways, closely linked to the former first family, no doubt face an uncertain future and possible closure before even taking to the skies.
Watch this space for breaking and regular aviation news from across Africa.
