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14 December 2011<\/p>\n
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GOVERNMENT yesterday managed to raise US$1,2 million needed to stop the impending auction of an Air Zimbabwe plane that was impounded in London on Monday<\/p>\n
Airzim acting chief executive Mr Innocent Mavhunga said Government, through the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development, had secured the money and hoped to complete the transfer of the money today.<\/p>\n
The Boeing 767-200 was impounded by a US company, American General Supplies on landing at Gatwick International Airport.<\/p>\n
This left scores of passengers stranded and the national airliner had to reroute or reimburse some of them.<\/p>\n
Airzim gets the bulk of its spares from the US-based company.<\/p>\n
“Our parent ministry has mobilised all the money needed to clear the debt and what is now left is to transfer the money,” Mr Mavhunga said.<\/p>\n
“If all things be equal, the money should reach them (AGS) tomorrow (today) and we get our plane back.”<\/p>\n
Commenting on disturbances by restless passengers reported at Gatwick, Mr Mavhunga said: “Naturally passengers have a reason to complain, but we urge them to be patient as efforts are being made to normalise the situation.”<\/p>\n
Earlier in the morning, Transport, Communications and Infrastructural Development Minister Nicholas Goche had expressed optimism the money would be raised by the end of day yesterday.<\/p>\n
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