HARARE – National carrier Air Zimbabwe has appointed pilot, Captain Ripton Muzenda, as the new chief executive officer.The new CEO assumed duties yesterday.Captain Muzenda has been an airline pilot for 25 years, holding the posts of senior training captain and examiner at Air Zimbabwe.
Muzenda, who is son to the late Vice President Simon Muzenda, takes over from Edmund Makona who has been in an acting capacity since September 2013.
He also worked for Singapore Airlines and held the posts of Boeing 747- 400 Captain, management pilot line operations and crew resource management facilitator.
He holds an MBA (with distinction) in Aviation Management from Coventry University (UK) and numerous mandatory qualifications for his profession.
Earlier this year, the Zimbabwe Flight Crews Association (ZFCA) told a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee that it was critical that the national airliner appoint a pilot of former pilot who has technical know-how on the day-today operations of an airliner.
Said Air Zimbabwe in a statement today:
“The board has confidence that Captain Muzenda comes with a strong vision and belief that the airline can make a positive contribution to the nation’s economic growth and development.
‘Under his stewardship the airline is expected to embark on an ambitious journey to reclaim its place in the skies.”
Air Zimbabwe has been operating without a substantive CEO since January 2011 after previous CEO Mr Peter Chikumba decided not to renew his contract.
The position has been held in an acting capacity by Mr Edmund Makona since 2013, and prior to that Mr Innocent Mavhunga had also been leading the airliner in an acting capacity since 2011.
