eBusiness Weekly
As general manager is accused of frustrating the process
Tinashe Makichi
The unbundling of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (Caaz) into regulatory and operational entities which was scheduled to be complete by the end of this year is facing fresh challenges amid indications that senior management at the State entity are scuttling the process.
David Chawota, who is general manager at Caaz is at the centre of debate amid allegations he has managed to coerce some senior Government officials into sabotaging the process for self- interest. Sources say Chawota is trying to hold on to his current powers where he is the regulator and an operator of the aviation entity.
The unbundling is aimed at restructuring the authority based on international best practices in aviation. As it stands the unbundling will lead to the formation of an aviation and regulatory unit to apply the best standards and increase security, independence and transparency.
The Sunday Mail Business is informed that the International Civil Aviation Authority Organisation (ICAO) has since issued a compliance point against Caaz for lack of independence.
ICAO is a UN specialized agency, established by States in 1944 to manage the administration and governance of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago Convention). Contacted for comment, Caaz chairman Advocate Thembinkosi Magwaliba told Business Weekly that there might be difficulties and uncertainties around the restructuring.
“In as far as I am aware the issue of splitting Caaz was in the hands of the Ministries and it still has to pass through Parliament. But there has been some delays at the Attorney General’s office.
“Yes there might be uncertainties and difficulties with regards to the process but we are certainly going forward,” said Advocate Magwaliba. He could however not be drawn to shed light on the existing hurdles.
Chawota could not be reached for comment as his phone went unanswered while Transport and Infrastructure Development Minister Joram Gumbo’s mobile went unanswered.
A well-placed source said Caaz’s current set up does not comply with best practice and this unbundling initiative will pave way to compliance on world best practices.
“Caaz’s current set up does not comply with best practice as the regulator and the activities it overseas are in the same organisation which is not best practice. ICAO then issued a compliance point against the authority for lack of independence.
“Therefore this initiative is about best practice and good corporate governance yet there has been a culture to delay and frustrate the process by certain officials especially Chawota who has since won the hearts of certain Ministry officials,” said the source.
“They have ignored the World Bank and Board and they ended up submitting an Act which gives Chawota more of executive powers. He can hire and fire as well spend money as he pleases as the general manager without consent of the Board,” said the source. This publication is also informed that consultations for the unbundling were paid for by the World Bank as a donation.
It is believed that unbundling Caaz, which is among a raft of Government measures that are designed to restructure parastatals is part of international best practice to separate regulatory and aviation functions. The restructuring of Caaz will help to improve the entity’s aviation governance.
Among a raft of allegations being levelled against Chawota is his efforts to combine Navigation Services (Air Traffic Controllers) when the World Bank in its recommendations specifically advised that it should be 100 percent owned but completely independent of the regulator.
