In a statement yesterday, Airzim acting chief executive officer Mr Innocent Mavhunga, said they were served with application papers yesterday and vowed to "defend the matter most vigorously".

"The majority of the workers under the Applicant unions have distanced themselves from the court application which is clearly a mischievous but grievous assault on the interests of the workers. For this and other material reasons, the Airline will defend the matter most vigorously."

He said the national airline would inform the nation of the developments on the matter.

In their application, National Airways Workers' Union and Air Transport Union recommended Mr Shepherd Chimutanda of STC International Certified Chartered Accountants as provisional judicial manager.The Master of High Court confirmed that the applicants had met all legal requirements for the application.

The Master of High Court also said Mr Chimutanda was qualified to take up appointment as provisional judicial manager in terms of the Companies Act if the court grants the application.

Airzim is saddled with a US$140 million debt making it difficult for it to operate viably.

Management at the national airline say the only solution out of the operational challenges is to downsize staff from 1 200 to about 400. Cabinet has already approved the initiative and the task is now with the Treasury to find the packages. It also approved that Government takes over the debt to restructure the national airline.

By The Herald