Air Zimbabwe fires top pilot

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By Lebo Nkatazo

ZIMBABWE’S national airline has fired its top pilot and one time acting chief executive Oscar Madombe after 18 years of loyal service amid revelations of wide-scale worker discontent, Transport and Communications Parliamentary Committee chairperson Leo Mugabe revealed Monday.

The MP suggested that an outside hand was responsible for the pilot’s axing saying the Air Zimbabwe board was not responsible.

Mugabe, who is the MP for Makonde (Zanu PF) made the revelation during a committee hearing with officials from the Ministry of Transport that was led by the permanent secretary in the transport minbistry, George Mlilo.

Mlilo expressed surprise on the development saying he had not been briefed.

However, Mugabe said Madombwe approached the committee, which tasked two members to enquire into the matter.

Mugabe said the two members had stumbled on sensitive information that may result in “so many people being fired” at Air Zimbabwe.

He did not give reasons for the Madombwe’s sacking.

He added that the committee wanted Mlilo to resolve the issue, and if he fails, the committee would take the unprecedented decision to table a report in Parliament on Madombwe’s treatment.

Mugabe said Madombwe had been loyal to Air Zimbabwe when many other pilots were leaving it for greener pastures.

Mugabe said, the top pilot who was made acting CEO following the sacking of Tendai Mahachi, had been promised a post as the airline’s managing director in charge of one of its subsidiaries, National Handling Services.

“He was not given the job and even now they have said they don’t want him as a pilot. He is at home,” said Mugabe.

“I am pleading with you to resolve the matter. You cannot abuse people like that.”

He added that Air Zimbabwe had foreign pilots who could abandon it anytime whereas Madombwe had “proved to be patriotic” by sticking with the airline.
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