Own Correspondent|National Airline, Air Zimbabwe yesterday grounded Zimbabwe’s most famous plane officially called Mbuya Nehanda allegedly for mandatory maintenance.
The Boeing 737-200ER, was famous for transporting former President Robert Mugabe since its high profile delivery in December 1986 until he was removed in a military coup in November last year.
This leaves the airline with two planes — the 767-200 christened “Chimanimani” which was delivered in November 1989, and a leased one to service its routes.
Another aircraft has since been leased to service some routes due to Mbuya Nehanda’s grounding.
The grounding of the plane may just be the end of the flying life of the historic national asset as it has served for 33 years. Sources within the airline confirmed that the plane might not be returning to the skies.
“This plane was acquired in 1986 and it’s likely not going to come back into service. It is very old. It is likely going to be replaced,” said the source.
“Air Zimbabwe wishes to advise its valued passengers that our aircraft, B737 registration Z-WPA popularly known as ‘Mbuya Nehanda’ will be grounded for a mandatory maintenance check which is expected to be completed after 45 days with effect from midnight 30 December 2018, in line with aviation quality and safety standards,” said the airline in a statement.
“Mbuya Nehanda services the Harare/Bulawayo/Victoria Falls/Harare as well as Harare/Dar es Salaam routes. This check will be undertaken to enhance the operational efficiency of this aircraft which has dutifully serviced the airline and its passengers reliably.
“As Air Zimbabwe the safety of our operations is of paramount importance hence the adoption of this hard but necessary course. The maintenance of the aircraft is part of the broader scheme of reconstruction of the airline that is currently underway.”
In an interview, Air Zimbabwe corporate affairs manager, Tafadzwa Mazonde said the B737 was undergoing major maintenance works.
“We are just hoping that the Reserve Bank will be supportive of the maintenance programme in terms of availing foreign currency to purchase the necessary spares to undertake the maintenance. It is a major check because we have to update softwares, stripping the whole aircraft and replacing a number of components.
“It is like we are rebuilding the whole aircraft to extend its life. In the absence of foreign currency it may take longer but if payments are made we hope to finish in 45 days,” said Mazonde.
He said they had hired another aircraft to replace the B737 in order to avoid inconveniencing their customers and schedules.
Air Zimbabwe, which has been consistently underperforming in the last few years, was placed under reconstruction on October 4 this year in terms of the Reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act (Chapter 24:27).