Air Zimbabwe's last plane grounded

Pilots are the ones on strike

Air Zimbabwe’s last remaining plane has been grounded since last Saturday.

The airline cited “operational challenges”, but sources said it is because pilots are striking after not receiving their full salaries for two months.

“Pilots are the ones on strike. They are demanding payment of their salaries in full because they were only paid half of their salaries for October and November,” said an insider at Air Zimbabwe, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Air Zimbabwe spokesperson Firstme Vhitori confirmed the airline has suspended flights, but said she was not at liberty to disclose the operational challenges it is experiencing.

“About the strike, that’s not something I can confirm. We would have to be served with a notice first and we don’t have that. We don’t have flights operating for the moment, but we are making alternative arrangements for our passengers,” she said.

But a leaked memo written to Air Zimbabwe’s workers by the airline’s acting CEO, Joseph Makonise, reveals that flights were suspended due to a work boycott by pilots.

“As you are aware, November 2019 and December 2019 have been periods where the airline has experienced several operational disruptions. As of the seventh of December 2019 to date, the airline has had to suspend all operations due to crew constraints,” reads the memo, seen by the Sunday Times.

In October, the Airports Company SA (Acsa) in October stopped the airline using its airports in SA due to outstanding debt incurred from landing and parking fees and passenger service charges.