DT Correspondent
HARARE – STRUGGLING national carrier, Air Zimbabwe has finally appointed aviation expert Edmund Makona as the new chief executive officer with effect from this month after spending several years without a substantive administrator to run its day-to-today affairs.
Makona was acting CEO since April this year, having taken over from Tafadzwa Zaza who had been at the helm in acting capacity for 16 months.
In a statement on Monday, Air Zimbabwe indicated that the new chief executive will be expected to turn around the national carrier and reposition it to become a strategic, competitive and viable airline for the country.
“The Air Zimbabwe (Private) Limited board of directors is pleased to advise all stakeholders that Mr Edmund Makona has been appointed as the Chief Executive Officer of the National Airline with effect from November 1, 2023.
“The Board is keen on unlocking value from Makona`s diverse expertise and vast experience. We are confident that he will complement the Board`s vision to turn around the national carrier and reposition it to become a strategic, competitive and viable airline for the country.
“Makona has been appointed in terms of Section 14 (4) (b) of the Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10:31) for an effective five-year term. At the time of his appointment, Mr Makona was the Acting Chief Executive Officer,” read the statement.
Makona is a top-notch regional and international aviation expert and consultant with over 38 years of experience. He has been an Aviation consultant with an aeronautical engineering background, a type–rated licensed aircraft engineer, aviation quality, safety and security expert and a trainer for the aircraft engineers and pilots ground school.
The new Air Zimbabwe CEO also served both as President and Executive Committee Member of the African Airline Association. He is currently the Ambassador of the Single African Air Transport Market for the Africa Southern Region on the African Union initiative regarding the liberalisation of the African skies.
Makona, a top-level aviation expert, was once the CEO of Air Zimbabwe, where he successfully relaunched the airline in 2013. He has also previously worked as an independent consultant for IATA on various African airline missions.
