The President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa has allegedly offered Air Zimbabwe to Ethiopian Airlines due to the airliner’s rising debt. Air Zimbabwe has been in debt for years now. An airplane that belongs to Air Zimbabwe was recently impounded by one of its creditors.
According to James Hall, a veteran journalist, President Mnangagwa offered his country’s airliner to Ethiopian Airlines which they owe about $18 million. Zimbabwe cannot pay Ethiopian Airlines the $18 million because there is currency shortage in the country.
“Ethiopian Airlines is still interested in running Air Zimbabwe even though Harare owes it $18 million and can’t pay because of Zimbabwe currency shortage. President Emmerson Mnangagwa says if Ethiopian Airlines wants money the best way is to take over Air Zimbabwe,” Hall said.
President Mnangagwa recently had a meeting with the executives of Ethiopian Airlines over the $18 million debt. The Zimbabwe leader met with the CEO of Ethiopian Airlines Tewolde GebreMariam in Addis Ababa. Zimbabwe’s ambassador to Ethiopia and Zimbabwe’s permanent rep to the African Union Albery Chimbindi was also present at the meeting.
“They touched on that and that it is worth about $18 million which is stuck in Zimbabwe but that was not so much of an issue because they believe that if they establish a partnership with Air Zimbabwe they will be able to get that money without any problems and in a very short space of time. His Excellency has also promised that my counterpart the Minister of Finance is going to take a serious position in terms of reducing that debt,” Retired Lieutenant General Dr. Sibusiso Moyo, Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister said.
The partnership will reportedly include Ethiopian Airlines bringing planes and training pilots to make Air Zimbabwe a giant in the South African Development Community (SADC).
“They are also prepared to support the organization for maintenance so that Zimbabwe becomes a hub for maintenance of aircraft just like Addis is. They would do that together with maintenance people of Air Zimbabwe and so that we can get a clear partnership which would then fly the Air Zimbabwe routes in code, sharing with Air Zimbabwe colours and they will fly all over the world using that particular agreement,” Dr. Sibusiso added.
Air Zimbabwe is not the only airliner owing Ethiopian Airlines millions. South African Airways reportedly owes Ethiopian Airlines about $10 million.
