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Kiyapili Sibanda, Business Reporter
AIR Zimbabwe has moved to replace Mr Simba Chikore who resigned from his job as Chief Operations Officer (COO), recently and announced vacancies for four other senior posts.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Dr Joram Gumbo, said last week that Mr Chikore tendered his resignation letter on September 1 on his own will, a year after he was appointed Chief Operations Officer.

The minister said the departure of Mr Chikore from Air Zimbabwe had nothing to do with circumstances leading to the resignation of former President, Robert Mugabe, as insinuated by some media houses. Mr Chikore is married to former President Mugabe’s daughter, Bona, since 2014.

Air Zimbabwe has since advertised for the COO post as well as that of captain of B737 fleet, communications officer, programmer, systems analyst and data base administrator. Air Zimbabwe has not been performing well for some time having lost some of its prime routes to regional and international players.

The national carrier requires millions of dollars for recapitalisation including buying a new fleet.

In October this year, the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Infrastructural Development said they were seeking engagement with Treasury over the release of $4.5 million to settle Air Zimbabwe’s debt to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). IATA’s system settles accounts between the world’s airlines, airline-associated companies and travel agencies.

Air Zimbabwe was suspended from the international air transport body in 2012 after failing to meet its financial obligations to the institution.

@Kiyaz_Cool