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Mugabe’s in-law tipped for top ZimAirways post

10 Aug, 2018 - 00:08 0 Views
Mugabe’s in-law tipped for top ZimAirways post

eBusiness Weekly

Africa Moyo
Former President Mugabe’s son-in-law, Simba Chikore, is tipped to land a top post at Government’s second airline, Zimbabwe Airways, which has roped in a British consulting firm – Evan Consulting – to process its manuals as it seeks to get an Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC).

The AOC allows an aircraft to start flying on its designated routes.

Chikore, who is said to have wide experience or networks in aviation, has previously held the position of chief operating officer (COO) at Air Zimbabwe.

He stepped down as Air Zimbabwe COO with effect from November 1, 2017 as Government wanted to tap his aviation knowledge during negotiations for the purchase of Zim Airways’ planes.

Although it remains unclear which position Chikore would assume at Zim Airways, sources say he could take the COO’s post, particularly in light of the key role he has played in ensuring the company sets up structures.

Chikore also played a crucial role in the acquisition of Zim Airways’ four Boeing 777s from Malaysia.

Currently, Chikore is understood to be playing an active role in the background at Zim Airways.

He is believed to be the link between the new aviation company and American aircraft maker Boeing.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Joram Gumbo, told Business Weekly in December last year that Chikore, and other senior Government officials, were part of the Zim Airways negotiations.

“It is not only Simba (Chikore) who was part of the negotiations, but there are other Air Zimbabwe employees such as engineers and others who have also been assisting from Caaz (Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe), and so forth,” said Dr Gumbo.

“So it’s not only (Mr) Simba (Chikore), but I had made him the chief negotiator because of his expertise in the aviation industry. I then agreed that since he was having problems assisting Zimbabwe Aviation Leasing Company to negotiate and also with Air Zimbabwe, he should focus on one thing.

“So he resigned well in time, and what is wrong with that? I actually asked him to assist Zimbabwe Aviation Leasing Company and they can make their own considerations to give him a job when everything is set.”

As part of requirements to get an AOC, Caaz wants Zim Airways to get the manuals ready and to recruit key staffers to indicate that indeed, the company exists.

On Wednesday, Dr Gumbo told Business Weekly that the manuals were being worked on.

“At the moment we are working on the manuals and the company that is helping us is from Britain called Evan Consulting. It is sorting the manuals for us so that we get the AOC.

“Once they are done with the manuals, they give them to us and these will allow us to apply for the AOC from Caaz. Caaz’s other requirements are that they want us to have a certain threshold of staff, which is required when one is applying for an AOC,” said Dr Gumbo.

Caaz wants Zim Airways to have a group operations manager, maintenance manager, flight manager, chief pilot and COO.

Dr Gumbo said Government will be filling up the positions soon.

Once everything has been settled, Zim Airways will start flying its planes.

Boeing, the manufacturers of the planes, is helping Zimbabwe with information useful in ensuring that once the planes take to the skies, there will be no problems.

Zimbabwe purchased four second-hand Boeing 777s from Malaysia at a cost of $71 million.

So far, $41 million has been paid.

One of the four aircraft was commissioned recently in Harare but was flown back to Malaysia so that it gets routine maintenance as it awaits the AOC.

Unlike vehicles, aeroplanes require maintenance even when they are not flying.

Said Dr Gumbo: “The issue is that we are working very well with Boeing. We are consulting Boeing in everything we do so that we don’t get lost somewhere.

“They are the manufacturers of the Boeing planes so we talk to them and they give us advice and there is definitely no problem between us and them.

“What we are doing right now in order for us to start operating is complying with the requirements from Caaz so that they give us the authority to fly.”

Government will pay $27 000 to Evan Consulting on completion of the job.

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