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Cde Obert Mpofu

Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu has appointed an interim board for Air Zimbabwe, chaired by principal director in his ministry Mr Valentine Sinamane.Mr Edmund Makona is the new acting chief executive officer.

“We have appointed an interim board for Air Zimbabwe which is composed of directors from line ministries of Energy, Labour, Office of the President and Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.

“We have also restructured the top management. Mr Edmund Makona will be the acting chief executive and Captain Edward Lancar, who was a service captain, will be in charge of operations on an acting basis,” he said.

Former Comptroller and Auditor-General Mr Eric Harid will sift through the finances of the national airline. Dr Mpofu said a Mr Mukarakate, who had retired, has been recalled and is in charge of passenger and cargo services on an interim basis.

He said his ministry was working flat out to come up with a substantive board. The national carrier, whose senior managers were implicated in serious corruption in an alleged insurance scam, was operating on an “unsustainable shoestring budget” and urgently required a dose of fresh capital, Dr Mpofu noted.

Former Airzim bosses are appearing in court for allegedly siphoning €5 175 593 and US$502 748 from Air Zimbabwe in an insurance scam.

An Airzim disciplinary tribunal recommended the dismissal of company secretary Grace Pfumbidzayi (49) and acting group CEO Innocent Mavhunga (53).

A third accused is former group CEO Peter Chikumba (59), who was succeeded by Mavhunga.