I Was Supposed To Be Air Zim CEO, Mugabe Called The Minister Before Appointment, Told Him No Favouritism - Simba

Former president Robert Mugabe’s son-in-law Simba Chikore has denied claims that he was appointed Air Zimbabwe Chief Operating Officer because of his relationship to the president. He said that Robert Mugabe had called Minister of Trasport Joram Gumbo ahead of the interviews to instruct him to cut no corners and to be impartial. Said Simba

After the assessment of maybe three or four weeks, they came back with the results and I was number one out of 134 people. Out of 134 candidates, they were trying to find the CEO, COO and the executive manager…And in his wisdom, the Honourable Minister of Transport [Joram Gumbo] assigned me to the post of COO, which was the second position…I imagine if people knew that I was supposed to be the CEO, but that is in his wisdom and we were happy because what we wanted was the expertise

One of the things that he said to the honourable minister was that you cut no corners, no favouritism but I know that he is good at what he does, so go ahead and go through the interview processes, but you will cut no corners.

That was our mandate even from the beginning. That was his way of management, but I know the honourable minister did not even need to hear that he is a very honourable man, he is a wise man and he is a professional.

More: Read Full Interview On The Standard