Harare, May 18, 2011 - Several passengers were on Tuesday left stranded at Harare International Airport after Air Zimbabwe failed to fly to Johannesburg while one of its Chinese made aircraft developed a technical fault.

Air Zimbabwe could not service its Harare-Johannesburg flight after Zambezi Airlines, which had been leasing its Boeing 737-500 aircraft to the national airline ended its lease agreement.

Sources disclosed that Zambezi Airlines which had been leasing one of its Boeing 737-500 aircraft to Air Zimbabwe ended its lease service on Monday in protest over the non payment of monthly lease fees amounting to US$400 000.

The national airline had been leasing the Zambezi Airlines aircraft after the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe (CAAZ) advised against the continued operation of its aged B737-200 which have been operational for more than 20 years.
The sources also revealed that some passengers bound for Bulawayo and Victoria could not travel to their destinations after an MA60 aircraft developed a technical fault.

Air Zimbabwe uses mostly obsolete technology and equipment while nearly all its planes are between 18 and 22 years old.
In addition pilots and other skilled staff have deserted the airline for greener pastures and in pursuit of good working conditions better.