A top Bulawayo-based arts group, Siyaya Arts, has failed to travel for an international festival in Scotland due to the ongoing pilots’ industrial action at Air Zimbabwe, which has seen the national airline’s fleet grounded since July 29.
Siyaya Arts spokesperson Simon Mambazo last week said they were still waiting for Air Zimbabwe to resume flights to enable the 30-member group to travel for the festival, which started on August 4.
“We are still waiting for Air Zimbabwe to come back on air. We can’t use any other airline as we were not given any refund. We were supposed to have left nearly two weeks ago for the Edinburg Festival Fringe in Scotland, but we are still stuck here,” said Mambazo.
Air Zimbabwe pilots downed tools last month, demanding payment of their outstanding salaries, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded. They have vowed to continue with the strike action until their demands are met.
The national carrier acting chief executive officer Innocent Mavhunga said: “We are re-routing some of our passengers. Some are still in hotels and those who have places to stay, we continue to talk to them to stay home while we try our best to get the flights back on.
“We have no solution as yet and we are still trying to source money through the Ministry of Transport. We are keeping our fingers crossed so that we get something to have the flights back.”
