By Paul Nyathi| Minister of Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joram Gumbo says that it is mere coincidence that the controversial Zimbabwe Airways’ head offices are at his daughter’s private premises.

Speaking in an interview on ZiFM Stereo on Monday evening Gumbo battled to convince program director Larry Kwirirayi why the airline business is operating at his brother’s daughter Mavis Gumbo’s Gletwin house.

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

Gumbo said that he had no influence at all in the deal claiming that the company was referred to her by estate agents and they liked the premises.

“It was all purely a business deal that was done through estate agents and why Zim 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,” said Gumbo.

“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?”

Gumbo said Zimbabwe Airways were operating from Air Zimbabwe offices and they had to leave so as not to cause confusion.

“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,” said the Minister.

Asked what procedure was used to decide that Mavis Gumbo’s house should be used as Zimbabwe Airways offices Gumbo said:

“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.”

The new airlines has been in a cloud of confusion since its first aircraft was delivered from Malaysia last week.

There are suspicions of massive corruption in the setting up of the airlines with former President Robert’s family linked to the dealings on the plane.

The Mugabe son in law is the one who flew the the plane to Harare. Simba Chikore quit his job as Chief Operations Officer of Air Zimbabwe shortly before Zimbabwe Airways was founded.