Air Nam suspends Zim flights
Air Namibia says the Zimbabwean family who are suing it were not permitted to board because the German border police had refused them entry.
Air Namibia has cancelled flights to Harare as an interim measure while a lawsuit in which a Zimbabwean family is suing the airline for US$1 million is being addressed.
The legal battle resulted in a leased aircraft of the airline being impounded in Zimbabwe last week Friday, and passengers stranded.
Air Namibia has therefore resolved to divert its flights between Hosea Kutako International Airport and Victoria Falls to Livingstone in Zambia from 6 to 27 October.
The Zimbabwean family filed a US$1 million lawsuit for inconvenience suffered after they were allegedly deported after being detained for two days by Air Namibia officials in Windhoek, while in transit to Turkey.
The applicants in the matter are Chenjerai, Fadzai, Rutendo and Tadiwanashe Mawumba and Juliana Magombedze, while the respondent is Air Namibia.
The family claimed to have been unlawfully detained by Air Namibia officials before being deported to Zimbabwe last year.
Air Namibia spokesperson Paul Nakawa says the airline's position is that the family's claim is baseless and that Air Namibia has done everything within the ambits of industry practice, standards and norms.
“As an airline, we reserve our right to refuse passengers on our flight if they fail to meet the immigration requirements of the countries we fly to, as we will be contravening international immigration laws.
“If the Zimbabwean system allows and supports such lawlessness, they are a risk to us, and we will be consulting our mandate holder on our future as far as flights in Zimbabwe are concerned.”
Nakawa says Air Namibia has invested significantly in Zimbabwe by having flights into the country, year in and year out.
“Even at a time when their country's economy was in tatters, we continued flying there, supporting them.”
Nakawa says Air Namibia remains one of the very few airlines promoting Zimbabwe as a tourist destination as part of SADC and in line with its mandate to develop the region.
According to Nakawa, Air Namibia has instructed the firm of Honey and Blanckenberg to represent the airline in the matter.
He says efforts are under way by the newly appointed law firm to reinstate an appeal to the Supreme Court that was previously dismissed.
ELLANIE SMIT
The legal battle resulted in a leased aircraft of the airline being impounded in Zimbabwe last week Friday, and passengers stranded.
Air Namibia has therefore resolved to divert its flights between Hosea Kutako International Airport and Victoria Falls to Livingstone in Zambia from 6 to 27 October.
The Zimbabwean family filed a US$1 million lawsuit for inconvenience suffered after they were allegedly deported after being detained for two days by Air Namibia officials in Windhoek, while in transit to Turkey.
The applicants in the matter are Chenjerai, Fadzai, Rutendo and Tadiwanashe Mawumba and Juliana Magombedze, while the respondent is Air Namibia.
The family claimed to have been unlawfully detained by Air Namibia officials before being deported to Zimbabwe last year.
Air Namibia spokesperson Paul Nakawa says the airline's position is that the family's claim is baseless and that Air Namibia has done everything within the ambits of industry practice, standards and norms.
“As an airline, we reserve our right to refuse passengers on our flight if they fail to meet the immigration requirements of the countries we fly to, as we will be contravening international immigration laws.
“If the Zimbabwean system allows and supports such lawlessness, they are a risk to us, and we will be consulting our mandate holder on our future as far as flights in Zimbabwe are concerned.”
Nakawa says Air Namibia has invested significantly in Zimbabwe by having flights into the country, year in and year out.
“Even at a time when their country's economy was in tatters, we continued flying there, supporting them.”
Nakawa says Air Namibia remains one of the very few airlines promoting Zimbabwe as a tourist destination as part of SADC and in line with its mandate to develop the region.
According to Nakawa, Air Namibia has instructed the firm of Honey and Blanckenberg to represent the airline in the matter.
He says efforts are under way by the newly appointed law firm to reinstate an appeal to the Supreme Court that was previously dismissed.
ELLANIE SMIT
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