The disgruntled workers gathered at the national airline's offices at the Harare International Airport to protest non-payment of their salaries for seven months now.

Minister Goche is, however, reported to have assurance letters written by their human resources department, which they would take to institutions, they owe money assuring them that Air Zimbabwe would "eventually give them salaries".

Prior to meeting Minister Goche, the delegation held a meeting with airline board chairman Mr Jonathan Kadzura.

They were referred to the ministry's permanent secretary Mr Patterson Mbiriri and Minister Goche.

Mr Martin Samson Meki, who has served the airliner for 49 years, led the delegation.

Mr Meki said they were shocked when Minister Goche told them to have assurance letters written by their human resources department.

"The minister said we would take the letters to institutions we owe money as individuals, including Zesa, schools and City of Harare," said Mr Meki.

"The letters would be assurance to the institutions that Air Zimbabwe would eventually give us our salaries."

The workers, however, questioned the minister's stance saying no institution would accept such an arrangement.

"You cannot use a letter to buy groceries in a supermarket. They cannot accept the assurance letters to enable us to purchase groceries," said Mr Meki.

He lamented that they had no electricity in their homes and no water, while the medical aid deductions on their pay slips were not being remitted to Cimas Medical Aid Society.

"People are dying due to lack of medical care. Every week we are burying colleagues, with the company only providing a coffin and transport," said Mr Meki.

Efforts to get a comment from Minister Goche were fruitless as his mobile phone went unanswered.

However, the management reportedly left the offices as soon as the news of the angry workers filtered through. Contacted for comment Air Zimbabwe acting chief executive Mr Innocent Mavhunga confirmed the incident.

He said management had since presented the case to the shareholder.

"Yes there were employees siting in at the offices demanding to be paid," said Mr Mavhunga.

"We certainly appreciate the difficulties and challenges of school fees they are facing. The position is that we have presented the case to the shareholder and we are awaiting a response."

When the Herald arrived at the offices around 1:30pm the disgruntled workers accused management and board chairman Mr Kadzura of "gross mismanagement".

However, when confronted on the allegations, Mr Mavhunga said: "I cannot comment on that. I did not see the workers waving placards. I have no comment."

National Airways Workers Union vice president, Mr Elijah Chiripasi said they received news of a demonstration and the union was still to establish what transpired.

"We are still trying to establish what is happening, but from a brief we have we understand workers are demanding unpaid salaries," said Mr Chiripasi.

He said the union has already won a court case against Air Zimbabwe and it should pay workers their dues.

"We went to court with about 409 workers but 80 people opted out of the case and volunteered to retire but all the others have remained employees of the airline.

"From a legal point of view they are still employees of Air Zimbabwe and should be paid their outstanding salaries," he said.

The angry workers spent the greater part of yesterday gathered outside the Air Zimbabwe headquarters at the Harare International Airport.

Some workers interviewed said they had been dismissed from work without any justification and accused management of nepotism.

"We feel used, how can you go for seven months without a salary. How do you pay your bills? I have served the airline for 30 years as senior flight attendant and I travelled with the President all over the world and this is what I get," one of the demonstrators Mrs Lawrence said.

She accused the management for forcing her to retire in 2009 with no justification, but later employed unqualified personnel.

"There is too much nepotism at Air Zimbabwe. This is heavily burdening the operations of the airline," the 53 year-old Mrs Lawrence added.

An engineer who also said he had served the airline for 24 years was also dismissed without any notice.

"I just received a letter saying employment had been terminated. We need our packages and salaries. People are dying but have worked and served the company for many years," he said.

Mr Samuel Nhira also blasted the management for failing to pay salaries but were busy employing relatives.

The workers had placards inscribed, "Gushungo pindirai panyaya iyi", "Board and management should go" and "Goche you have let us down. Zero percent".

The workers vowed to remain at the offices until their grievances were addressed despite attempts by some police officers to disperse them.

In November last year Air Zimbabwe bosses were held hostage by some of the airline's 700 workers demanding payment of

their outstanding salaries amounting to nearly US$6 million.

The airline's management recently appeared before a Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on State Parastatals and Enterprises Management and admitted that poor corporate governance was affecting its operations.

The airline claims it was making a loss of US$3,3 million per month, a claim that the National Airways Workers Union has dismissed as false.

According to Nawu the salary bill as of June 2011 stood at less than US$500 000.

Air Zimbabwe needs about US$40 million to clear some of the debts. The airline has been crippled by relentless problems, among them strikes that at some point forced the company to hire planes to take care of its travellers.

Recently, Airzim planes were grounded as pilots went on strike demanding to be paid outstanding salaries.

By The Herald