Ernst & Young Consultancy Probes Air Zimbabwe

Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development Minister, Nicholas Goche told Radio VOP that the consultancy firm began it work a fortnight ago.

“Ernst and Young will come up with recommendations after their investigations and the Cabinet will act accordingly on those recommendations to revive Air Zimbabwe,” Goche said in a telephone interview.

Goche said the ‘consultancy firm is looking at various problems facing Air Zimbabwe that need to be attended to ensure the success in reviving it.’

In October last year, the government was forced to engage accounting and consulting firm KPMG to probe financial irregularities at Air Zimbabwe.

The airline is on the verge of collapse.

Unending labour disputes, a grounded fleet and the inability to fly the lucrative London and South Africa routes, have epitomised government’s failure to run the airline.

Air Zimbabwe owes various creditors over US$140 million and also faces possible liquidation after restive workers – said to be owed US$35 million — sought to have the airline placed under judicial management.

Two of the company’s aircraft were briefly seized by creditors in South Africa and the United Kingdom late last year forcing the airline to pull out of the lucrative Johannesburg and London routes.