UPDATED: Air Zimbabwe fires 200 workers

Bloomberg reports that Air Zimbabwe is retrenching a third of its employees this month as part of measures to cut down on costs.

Part of the letters given to affected employees reads:

In light of the huge financial challenges which the company is faced with, a decision to compulsorily retrench employees with immediate effect has been made.

The affected workers will receive 3 months salary as well as two weeks pay for every year worked. Bloomberg could not get an official comment from Air Zimbabwe COO Ripton Muzenda and Transport Minister Joram Gumbo. The Herald reports that only 12 out of 28 managers were left while others who were in acting capacities were returned to their rightful positions. The finance department was downsized to 17 from 36 while all 30 pilots employed by the airline were not affected. Airzim board chairperson Professor Chipo Dyanda told The Herald that the airline has hired a private consultancy to do a staff audit in terms of checking qualifications.

More: Bloomberg, Herald