VICTORIA FALLS – Government has not approved any partnership deal between Air Zimbabwe and KLM Airlines, Transport and Communications minister Nicholas Goche has said.
REPORT BY RICHARD MUPONDE SENIOR REPORTER
Dispelling merger rumours as nothing but “dreams”, Goche yesterday said if there was any such proposal, it had not been brought to his office for consideration.
“There is nothing like that,” said Goche. “I just heard rumours about the deal, but the truth is there is no such deal. The ministry has not approved such partnership. The proposal has not been made to the ministry, so there is no partnership to talk about.”
He said the KLM Airways could not partner with Air Zimbabwe as the KLM Airways was already in partnership with another national airliner in Central Africa.
“I do not know how the airliner would want to partner with Air Zimbabwe when it is already in partnership. KLM Airways is in partnership with Kenyan Airways, so it is impossible for them to partner our national airline,” said Goche.
Last month, Economic Planning and Investment Promotion minister Tapiwa Mashakada appealed to Royal Dutch Airlines to partner with Air Zimbabwe. Goche, however, said the national airline was soon expected to resume international flights.
“In the next week I will be announcing that Air Zimbabwe will be resuming international flights. We are at the present moment servicing regional routes, but things are improving and we are gearing to resume international flights.”
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The minister also said the equally troubled parastatal NRZ was in dire need of about $350 million for recapitalisation.
“The funds are for the first phase to kickstart profit making. I have been looking at a presentation by the Development Bank of Southern Africa on the amount needed to recapitalise the parastatal and we are still looking into it so that the funds are injected into the organisation” Goche said.
He said the first phase would be to buy rolling stock which includes locomotives and wagons.
“Last week, I was talking to the Chinese ambassador about the locomotives we purchased from that country. He said they were ready for shipment.”
