THE anti-corruption commission should investigate the appointment of President Robert Mugabe’s son-in-law, Simba Chikore, to lead the troubled national airliner Air Zimbabwe, an opposition party has said.
Bona’s husband, who is a pilot, was this week named Chief Operations Officer at Air Zimbabwe, making him the second in-charge at the struggling airliner.
The appointment outraged opposition parties and ordinary Zimbabweans amid concerns that Mugabe’s son-in-law was not qualified for the job.
In a statement Thursday, Welshman Ncube’s MDC party said they “could see President Robert Mugabe’s hand in the appointment of Bona’s husband”.
“Everyone linked to this corrupt appointment should be arrested,” said the party’s national spokesman Kurauone Chihwayi.
“The Air Zimbabwe board should further explain in detail the circumstances that led to the arrest, suspension, dismissal and incarceration of Peter Chikumba, Grace Pfumbidzai and many other executives since there is now reasonable suspicion that the board is on a mission to clear the way for Zanu PF-linked administrators and pilots at Air Zimbabwe.”
Chihwayi said Chikore’s professional qualifications should be made public if he was indeed fit for the job.
“The MDC is demanding the immediate release of Simba Chikore’s educational qualifications and employment history for public perusal with immediate effect and this will clear allegations of nepotism and corruption being raised by the nation.,” he said.
“We view the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer and that of the Chief Operating Officer for Air Zimbabwe as evidence of rampant corruption in the Robert Mugabe administration.”
He added: “We have noted with great concern the involvement of the President’s office in the appointment of Mugabe relatives to key positions in state controlled enterprises like Air Zimbabwe.”