The aviation industry in Southern Africa has been abuzz with the latest developments at South African Airways (SAA) and Air Zimbabwe. In a bid to revive the struggling national airline, the Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) has appointed a new interim board, effective from 15 April 2023, to oversee the operations of SAA until the Strategic Equity Partner, Takatso Consortium, takes over with a 51 percent stake.
The new board is comprised of experienced professionals in various fields, including finance, law, and aviation, to guide SAA through its restructuring process. Derek Hanekom, a former Minister of Tourism, has been appointed as the interim chair of SAA. However, the National Union of Metalworkers of South Africa (NUMSA) has raised concerns about the lack of transparency in the appointment process.
Meanwhile, Air Zimbabwe has appointed a new Acting CEO, Edmund Murambiwa Makona, effective from 12 April 2023.
Makona is an aviation expert with more than three decades of experience in the industry. He previously served as the CEO of Air Zimbabwe in 2013 and has also been the President of the African Airlines (AFRAA). He is expected to lead Air Zimbabwe’s recovery process and implement the airline’s six-year strategic turnaround plan.
The appointment of a new interim board at SAA and the new Acting CEO at Air Zimbabwe come at a time when the aviation industry in Southern Africa is grappling with the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
