In a recent development, the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development has announced the appointment of Mr. Edmund Murambiwa Makona as the acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Air Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd, with immediate effect.
Mr. Makona, a seasoned aviation expert with over three decades of experience, takes over from Mr. Tafadzwa Zaza, who has been serving as the acting CEO for the past 16 months.
Mr. Makona’s appointment comes under the provisions of Section 14 (4) (b) of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act [Chapter 10:31] and is expected to last for the next six months, during which the board aims to recruit a substantive CEO. The Ministry expressed gratitude to Mr. Zaza for his service to the airline during his tenure as the acting CEO.
Described as a top-level aviation executive, Mr. Makona’s impressive background includes being a former CEO of Air Zimbabwe, where he successfully relaunched the airline in 2013. He has also served as President of the African Airlines (AFRAA) and worked as an independent consultant for IATA on various African airline missions. With his extensive experience in the aviation industry, Mr. Makona is expected to bring valuable insights and strategies to Air Zimbabwe as it seeks to turn around its business operations.
Mr. Makona’s immediate task will be to spearhead Air Zimbabwe’s recovery process, through the implementation of the airline’s six-year strategic turnaround plan (STP). The STP includes plans for procuring and deploying appropriate equipment for the current and planned route network, as well as achieving fleet commonality to contain maintenance and operational costs.
The Ministry and the board of Air Zimbabwe have expressed confidence in Mr. Makona’s ability to lead the team and execute strategies that will contribute to the significant business turnaround of the national airline. With his expertise and experience, Mr. Makona’s appointment as the acting CEO of Air Zimbabwe is expected to mark a new chapter in the airline’s journey towards recovery and success in the aviation industry.
