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Chronicle Reporter

ONE of the region’s privately owned airlines which has over the years faced a number of viability challenges- Fly Africa Zimbabwe – has had questions raised over its ownership after it emerged that despite their challenges they have been awarded the status of Presidential Charter.

The budget airline got analysts talking when they introduced a $99 daily Harare-Johannesburg flight.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa on his first foreign assignment to South Africa chose to use the locally-owned private airline.

Fly Africa is the only locally- owned airline outside Air Zimbabwe which is owned by Government.

Fly Africa executive chairman Mr Cassidy Mugwagwa was quoted in the local media applauding the move by President Mnangagwa saying it would help to grow the local industry.

However, it has since emerged that Mr Mugwagwa was used as pone in the transformation of the company from being Fly Africa.com, a South African based entity to the current Fly Africa Zimbabwe, with the President said to be the majority shareholder in the company.

“Yes the President is the new owner, yes it might seem Mr Mugwagwa is in charge but it’s the other way round, ask yourself how an airline that was known to have faced a number of challenges suddenly becoming a Presidential Charter.

“Most of us senior personnel are aware of the arrangement because we have been with the company from the time it was South African owned to now that it moved to be headquartered in Harare,” said the source who declined to be named.

It has further been revealed that the airline has gone some period without paying its workers amid allegations of discrimination.

“It is sad that on the surface it might seem like all is okay but ever since the company became a Zimbabwean entity people are not being paid, some have gone for over three months without getting their salaries.

“Further, there is an unfortunate scenario where people from the Matabeleland region are being discriminated due to their ethnic background, a lot is happening but we have been silenced,” said the source.

Efforts to get a comment from Mr Mugwagwa on the ownership structure of the airline were fruitless as he did not respond to an email sent to him and his mobile phone went unanswered.

Also enquiries at the deeds office to draw up a list of assets owned by Mugwagwa drew a blank.