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and throwing the national airline into turmoil as workers demanded payment of outstanding salaries.
Air Zimbabwe board chairman Mr Jonathan Kadzura described the industrial action as “unfortunate”.
The workers said they had reached an agreement with management for the dues to be paid this month but that had not happened.
“Sadly I do not have money to pay them at the moment,” Mr Kadzura said, adding that he was hopeful engagement would result in resolution to the stand-off.
Just three months ago a similar industrial action by disgruntled workers crippled the national carrier.
In September 2010 there was another strike with the grievances being the same.
Members of the National Airways Workers Union yesterday said the rest of Air Zimbabwe’s staff would join the strike today.
“At the moment only pilots and flight attendants have downed tools but the rest of the workers are joining the industrial action tomorrow (today) if their grievances are not addressed as a matter of urgency,” said a senior member of the union.
Air Zimbabwe, which is currently hunting for a new chief executive officer after Dr Peter Chikumba left the parastatal last year, is facing a number of challenges that could derail the national airline’s operations.
These include serious cash flow problems, an aging fleet and a ballooning debt believed to be now over US$93 million.