Air Tanzania ditches Chinese firm and partners with Air Zimbabwe

[BAK]

Air Tanzania ditches Chinese firm and partners with Air Zimbabwe

An Air Tanzania airplane. The airline was privatised in 1998, when South African Airline bought 49 per cent shares Photo/FILE
By MIKE MANDE
THE EAST AFRICAN

Posted Monday, July 5 2010 at 00:00

Tanzania may sever ties with China’s Sonangol International Ltd over failure by the company to invest and take over 49 per cent shares in the ailing Air Tanzania Company Ltd (ATCL) as agreed four years ago.


The inaction by the company has prompted the government to fund the airline to the tune of $540 million to rescue it from collapse.


And in a move to increase capacity and reduce operational expenses by servicing selected routes, Tanzania approached the government of Zimbabwe and the two are now finalising details for a major partnership between the countries’ state airlines.


Strategic

This move is aimed at saving Air Zimbabwe and Air Tanzania Company Ltd from total collapse, while creating one of the biggest commercial agreements on African routes which are not serviced by other major airlines.


A team of experts from the two countries is working on the partnership proposals which will pave the way for the strategic partnership.

The purpose of the discussions, according to information made available to The EastAfrican, is to outline terms of the partnership and the implementation of the two airlines turnaround strategy.


The two governments said that they recognise the fact that partnerships are a viable means of success.

The two airlines are also apparently on the look out for a strategic partner because of the challenges that they have faced in the past when they operated as single ventures, while other continental airlines thrived through strategic partnerships which allow for bigger catchment.


Dr Peter Chikumba, the group chief executive officer of Air Zimbabwe, told The EastAfrican from Harare that the partnerships were necessary to make the operations of the two airlines proceed smoothly.


Dr Chikumba said that successful airlines worldwide were pursuing strategic partnerships because of their viability and bail out options when things go wrong for one.

“There have been challenges with the operationalisation of the two airlines and we feel if the two governments can see a need to correct things to finance and clear the debt, then the partnership will assist in running the operational costs,” he said.


According to Dr Chikumba, the two governments are following in the footsteps of the few African countries in international partnerships, and want to tap into their experience.

If realised, the partnership — which also includes joint aircraft spare parts purchase and exchange training programmes — will be the first major venture the airlines have collaborated in.


The pooling of resources will also help absorb unit costs and increase the airlines’ revenue base.

 

[Diana-DaboDiff]

Sasa hawa wagonjwa wawili watasaidiana vipi?

 

[DMussa]

ATCL!!!?? Damn no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[Abdulhalim]

Wakiacha politiking, watafanikiwa, kuliko kuungana na hawa kunguni (nyang'auz).

 

[Abdulhalim]

Sasa hawa wagonjwa wawili watasaidiana vipi?

Mi naona asavali wakiachana na hao vimburu(Wachina), they are the worst employers ever in this planet. Hata makampuni ya kiamerika yaliyonunuliwa na Wachina, wafanyakazi wanajuuuuuuuuta kuwajua.Maana wamepunguza benefits na hata wages.

 

[Bulesi]

Hata kama mpango huo utakwenda mbele kati ya hawa wagonjwa wawili, Zimbabwe inae huyo Dr. Chikumba anaeelekea kujua anafanya nini; ngojea sasa usikie Air Tanzania itawakilishwa na nani!! Sintashangaa kama mkwere atamchagua mmoja kati ya marafiki wa Ridhwani waliotembeza nae fomu ya kuomba ufadhili kuwa ndio kinara wa ATCL. Matokeo yake itakuwa kuliwa tena kwani jamaa lazima atakuwa kilaza wa mambo ya ndege!! Waswahili husema n'gombe wa maskini hazai, akizaa dume!

 

[Utingo]

Wakiacha politiking, watafanikiwa, kuliko kuungana na hawa kunguni (nyang'auz).

remember; Air TZ na Air zimbabwe zote zito ICU heading to mochuari!!1nani wa kumbeba mwenzake?????

 

[Bulesi]

remember; Air TZ na Air zimbabwe zote zito ICU heading to mochuari!!1nani wa kumbeba mwenzake?????

Ningeishauri serikali kama kweli ina nia ya kulifufua shirika letu la ndege ni lazima ije na mkakati ambao utalilihakikishia shirika kuwa litatoa huduma za usafiri na kupata faida. Mkakati realistic ni wa kuanza na ndege ambazo zitafanya safari za ndani tu mpaka hapo shirika litakapoimalika ndio lianze kufanya safari za nchi jirani na hapo baadae mungu akijalia shirika linaweza kufanya safari za masafa marefu. Huu mkakati wa partnership na air Zimbabwe hautafanikiwa kwani hauna tofauti na ule wa awali wa SAA!!

 

[Semilong]

Hata kama mpango huo utakwenda mbele kati ya hawa wagonjwa wawili, Zimbabwe inae huyo Dr. Chikumba anaeelekea kujua anafanya nini; ngojea sasa usikie Air Tanzania itawakilishwa na nani!! Sintashangaa kama mkwere atamchagua mmoja kati ya marafiki wa Ridhwani waliotembeza nae fomu ya kuomba ufadhili kuwa ndio kinara wa ATCL. Matokeo yake itakuwa kuliwa tena kwani jamaa lazima atakuwa kilaza wa mambo ya ndege!! Waswahili husema n'gombe wa maskini hazai, akizaa dume!

hawa watu wanaoitwa dr/prof kuwa mwangalifu nao sana
kweli huyu jamaa anajua anafanya nini, mhhhh.......

hizi ni habari zake kutoka google

Windhoek - Air Namibia's former acting CEO Peter Chikumba, a Zimbabwean citizen, was summarily dismissed on Friday night on charges of alleged fraud which could lead to his being kicked out of the country.

Chikumba will be remembered for the prayer sessions he held in management meetings during which he "asked God to help him and his team to rid Air Namibia of fraud and corruption".

Central to the charges is the alleged manner in which Chikumba as foreigner managed to acquire an extended work permit by means of which he obtained a new contract with Air Namibia.

Reliable sources say other charges relate to the huge losses incurred in the Gambia, the issue of flight tickets for night flights and the acquisition of Fokker F.28 parts.

New acting Air Namibia CEO Gernot Riedel at the weekend admitted that the Chikumba's services was suspended late on Friday. He said he could not comment on the issue, and that the matter would receive attention on Monday.

'Bright-eyed boy'

Chikumba was to be formally charged on Monday. A disciplinary hearing would then follow to determine Chikumba's future.

Chikumba at the end of last year took over from Dr Jafaar bin Ahmad in a controversial manner after the latter was suspended under strange circumstances. Chikumba from the onset organised prayer sessions in which all managers had to take part so that "God would save Air Namibia".

Chikumba's contract would have come to an end early this year, but it was extended when the present temporary management plan was extended by two months until the end of June. He was appointed special advisor for the new Air Namibia management team during this period.

Meanwhile it was also determined that Chikumba managed to have his residence/work permit extended by two years, thereby also ensuring another two-year contract with Air Namibia.

By Sunday it was not clear how he managed to do so, but persons in high places are being fingered in the alleged fraud. Some circles are of opinion that Chikumba could be kicked out of the country this week if fraud can be proved.

Night flights

Chikumba's suspension relates to night flights with the Fokker F.28 in the Gambia and huge losses incurred with the plane.

The acquisition of spare parts for the Fokker ordered by Chikumba as chief engineer of Air Namibia will also be probed. The parts were bought at exorbitant prices. The issue of flight tickets in the Gambia would also be investigated.

Apparently Air Namibia had been warned as early as 2000 that the Gambia agreement would be risky. According to the agreement with the bankrupt Gambia International Airways, Chikumba was in control of the operation for three months. The period was extended to a year, and although several members of management tried to stop the Gambia operation, Chikumba proceeded with the blessing of Dr Jaafar. Documents referred to Chikumba as Jaafar's "bright-eyed boy".

The documents warned that Air Namibia was in fact operating the Fokker illegally because it failed to obtain landing rights and because it still owed Gambia International Airways a huge sum of money.

The documents also warned that the agreement with the Gambia was concluded on a wrong footing. Air Namibia stood no chance of making a profit, while it still had to carry most of the costs.

Huge losses

Air Namibia eventually withdrew from the operation after suffering huge losses. At one stage the Gambia threatened to seize the Fokker, which was then returned to Windhoek, where it has ever since been standing idle at Eros airport.

Vekuii Rokoro, chairperson of the Air Nambia board of directors, said he could not react to the allegations. He has been out of town since Friday and would only hear the facts on Monday, he said. - Republikein

 

[Mtazamaji]

Hivi kwa nini wasiche HIiyo ATCL ife kifo kitakatifu na wapeleke fwedha nguvu na akili zao kwenye kufuafua shirika ;;a reli amabalo hasa ndiyo inaweza Kujenga prestige ya tanzania. Nakubaliana na wanaosema Hizi ni siasa.

• reli inaziunganisha tanzania na RWANDA, BURUDI na UGANDA. Kwa nini gharama ya kusafiri bidhaaa kutoka kigali/bujumbura kupitia mombasa via Uganda. ni nafuu au haina usumbufu kama kupita tanzania .Kwa nini tusirekebishe hili iwe rahisi from kigali/bujumbura to dar . tumejitayarisha vipi kuwa na influnce kwa nchi za buruidni rwanda na uganda.

Reli ina ajiri watanzania wengi zaidi kulko hata iyo ATCL

• ATC inasafrirsha abiria wangapi witin tanzania? ATCL inaleta watalii wangapi .tanzania na hata wakiwekeza maximum investment sioni kitakachobadilika.

Kifupi ATCL haina na haiwezi kuwa na economic impact kama ilivyo kwa shirika la reli.

Sitashangaa hawa wachina wananyimwa shirika la ndege wanakuja kupewa Shirika la REli. Wich corporation is or can be a real backbone to tanzania economy.

Kwa kweli binafsi nasikia kero nikiona ATCL twiga inalelewa kama mtoto isidondke huku reli inachezea na haipewi priority. nakereka kusikia ATC inapewa ruzuku kuliko Shirika la reli.

Wizara ya Miundmbinu RELI RELI RELI Can bring the difference. mambo ya hewani wapeni wachina au waachieni Precission Air