Mugabe blows top over Air Zimbabwe stinker

Mugabe blows top over Air Zimbabwe stinker

MUGABE'S two sons, Chatunga (front) and Robert Jnr to his right in this file photo at his 80th birthday

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By Staff Reporter

AIR Zimbabwe will be carefully studying all its on-flight literature after four employees were suspended after a menu raised a stink with President Robert Mugabe's two sons, Robert Jnr and Chatunga last Friday.

Robert Jnr, 15, and Chatunga, 9, were flying business class to Singapore with President Mugabe last Friday when they were served with biltong (umhwabha/chimukuyu).

Sources say the two sons noticed that the biltong pack had been labeled "Chimukuyu and DODI", instead of "Chimukuyu and Dovi". In the Shona language of Zimbabwe, dodi, as a spoken word, can be interpreted as dhodhi which means faeces, while dovi means peanut butter.

Sources say both Chatunga and Robert Jnr found it "amusing", and pointed the typographical error to President Mugabe's staff who blew their tops at the discovery.

Mugabe never directly addressed Air Zimbabwe staff over the issue, sources said, but is believed to have been privately furious.

Chris Mushowe, Zimbabwe's Minister of Transport, said to be one of the closest people to the First Family after working for them since 1980, at one point as the director of state residencies, ordered an enquiry into the incident.

Four workers were put on suspension.

Air Zimbabwe officials were tight lipped on the incident, only referring to "operational issues" on the flight which was destined for China.

On Wednesday, Hubert Nyanhongo, the Deputy Transport Minister denied knowledge of the enquiry in an interview with New Zimbabwe.com. He parried all questions, insisting that our correspondent talks to Minister Mushowe instead. Mushowe was unavailable.

David Mwenga, the spokesman for Air Zimbabwe however told the Financial Gazette Thursday that the four employees had been suspended over "operational issues."

The paper identified the suspended workers as Masi Gambanga, the cabin services manager, Victoria Munzara, the acting flight services officer, Chipo Sikireta the secretary to the senior flight operations manager and an unnamed worker who is employed in the airline’s reservations section.

A disciplinary hearing is set for next week.

Mugabe, whose trip last Friday led to fears that his health was failing, told state television Wednesday that he had gone to Malaysia, via Singapore, to leave his children with his wife who had travelled to Thailand earlier on private business.
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