Air Zimbabwe suspends three senior managers

NATIONAL airline, Air Zimbabwe reportedly sent three senior managers and several employees in its procurement and accounts departments on forced leave on Tuesday following preliminary results of an audit revealing some irregularities at the parastatal.

Sources at the airline, that has been facing viability challenges since the turn of the century, said the affected senior managers included the general manager for finance Mr Nicholas Munjeri, general manager technical services Mr Cephas Tarenyika and general manager Air Zimbabwe Passenger Mr Moses Mapanda.

"The three are the most senior that have been sent on forced leave but there are also junior staffers in the procurement and accounts departments that have also been suspended.

"There is an audit that is currently underway and we understand the preliminary findings have formed the basis of these people being sent on forced leave," the sources said.

Contacted for comment, Air Zimbabwe acting general manager Mr Innocent Mavhunga downplayed the issue.

"The airline currently employees 925 employees and at the peak of its operations this constituted the core of its workforce.

"In view of our limited operations, we have asked a number of our staff to go on leave pending restoration of a fuller route structure and business volumes," Mr Mavhunga said.Mr Mapanda and Mr Munjeri could not be reached for comment yesterday while Mr Tarenyika refused to comment on the matter.

The national carrier financial problems resulted in the suspension of regional and international flights last year due to debts it owed to various international bodies.

The company's new board chairman Mr Ozias Bvute recently said its debt had risen to US$188 million from US$140 million as the company defaults on payments and also picks up new bills from service providers.

The company has also been struggling to pay its employees' salaries for the past four years.