Air Zimbabwe has now suspended all flights indefinitely as of today. This was after workers vowed not to report for duty until they are given their outstanding salaries which it seems cannot be paid in any event. The workers have not received salaries since July last year and are owed over US$35m.
Air Zimbabwe acting chief executive officer, Innocent Mavhunga, yesterday confirmed the indefinite suspension of all flights blaming it on cash flow problems. "We failed to resume flights as planned on Monday as we still have challenges relating to payment of salaries. Part of our workers did not report for duty. We are now grounded indefinitely," Mavhunga said.
He said Government in its capacity as the shareholder was frantically looking for money to pay workers so that they resume work. But yesterday workers blamed management for failing to prepare for the resumption of flights. "We were not officially informed about the resumption of flights on Monday. We only read about it in the newspapers," said a member of the National Air Workers Union. "Primary preparation for the resumption of flights was not properly done by management. Passengers turned up but there was no staff and as a result planes failed to take off as planned," a source quoted in the local press stated.
The sad thing is that some members of the government have enough money in their overseas personal accounts to both pay the outstanding debt and sub the airline for at least 24 months if not for longer.