What’s wrong with that?“

There was drama when Transport Minister Joram Gumbo was Monday grilled on why he dished the office contract for the new Zimbabwe Airways company to his own brother’s daughter.

Gumbo who already has the flames of controversy flickering on him after recently blowing millions of dollars on snow graders for Zimbabwe, was quizzed on the local radio ZIFM and he said Zimbabwe Airways had been operating from Air Zimbabwe offices and the plan was that they use another premises so as not to cause confusion.

He said, “…In order to separate this deal at that time – when we had not come to this situation where we are at today, they had to move out.

“So they looked for accommodation all over and they were impressed and liked to have the accommodation at Mavis Gumbo’s house.”

Minister Gumbo said this was, “a purely business deal that was done through estate agents and why Zimbabwe Airways took up the premises as I understand, is because it is spacious, it has got offices and they are using it as accommodation for their staff. So it’s accommodation and offices.”

As he continued Gumbo then said, “I don’t think anybody who is a Gumbo or related to a Gumbo or related to somebody in any position will be barred to do any business because there is a relationship. It’s not by me, it doesn’t benefit me, it’s her house, it’s being rented out, it’s taken from estate agents. What’s wrong with that?”

When grilled on what procedure was used to decide that Mavis Gumbo’s house must be be used as Zimbabwe Airways offices, he replied saying, “Government is people and institutions or corporates are run by people and offices are for corporates.

“Those running Zim Airways were looking for offices. I don’t know where they could get offices other than houses and that’s what they did.”