Dua
01-03-2009, 01:34 PM
The government has released 2.2bn/- to bail out Tanzania's national flag carrier Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL) from its current financial crisis. Infrastructure Development minister, Dr. Shukuru Kawambwa announced the government's bail-out package yesterday when speaking to journalists in Dar es Salaam. ATCL has for years now been facing financial and operational problems.Its planes were recently barred from flying for what were described as safety reasons.
According to Kawambwa the money is intended to help the air carrier to solve capital problems and enable it resume operations, which stopped months ago due to lack of money and necessary equipment to keep it going. Dr. Kawambwa said that the government decision was part of its strategy to reinstate the operations of the national airline and later strengthen the company`s businesses. The minister further explained that the money was part of the 3.3bn/- that was earlier assessed and approved by the government as a requirement for resumption of the company`s operations.
Early last month, the airline was banned from operating any flight within and outside Tanzania by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) also revoked the national airline`s operations certificate. The airline was found not to be airworthy after a number of discrepancies and operational failures were discovered within its management. This forced the airline to ground its planes, leaving the monopoly of the local routes to the successful privately-owned Precision Air and air charter companies. Most noted shortcomings ATCL faced were poor inspection of its aircraft, lack of pilots and aircraft engineers.
Along with the government`s bail-out plan, the minister said that a seven-member task force under the chairmanship of Prof. Idris Msolo, the Vice Chancellor of the Ardhi University College, has been set up to undertake critical analysis of the problems that ATCL faced. He said that the task force has among other terms of reference been assigned to find out ATCL`s problems which caused the company to reach where it is now; the root cause of the problems; and later suggest measures to be taken to ensure the problems did not reccur.
``The task force was formed on the 29th December last year and would be working for the next 21 days before presenting their report to the Minister,`` he said. The government efforts to bail out the ATCL follow the suspension of the company`s flying license on August 8, last year requiring it to abide by all Aviation regulations of 2006. Some of the regulations included updating of 12 documents such as the safety management manual; list of spare parts the Planes have; Risk Management manual and security manual.
Others were five operational programmes including pilot and aircrew trainings which had to be approved by the TCAA. He said his ministry ordered the ATCL management to give explanations within seven days which they fulfilled. However, he said the management`s report was not satisfactory, because it lacked basic information which the government and general public expected prompting formation of the independent task force. Dr. Kawambwa reiterated that although the government has taken responsibility to bail out ATCL, after the report by the just formed independent task force, those responsible for the problems as well as financial losses from ATCL\'s suspension would be severely dealt with.
The operations of the ATCL have been uneven since the government moves to privatize it through a strategic partner began with the first partner being the South African Airways (SAA) who owned 49 against the government`s 51 percent shareholding. The marriage of the SAA and ATCL did not last long and broke down, leaving the government owing SAA some USD 4.2 million. Currently the government is engaged in discussions with a Chinese investor for a partnership for ATCL.
With 300 workers, ATCL has 3 aircraft, a situation which the minister described as unsatisfactory, saying that the number of workers may have to be reduced to enable the company operate profitably.
Sasa conditions za bail out ni nini? Wasipewe pesa tu za walipa kodi kama vile kuna kisima cha kuchota. Jingine wamewawezesha vipi au watawawezesha vipi ili kununua ndege mpya za kisasa? Kuweza kufanya ushibdani kwenye safari ambazo zina faida kubwa? Kwa sababu wanakurupuka kila baada ya miaka miwili watakuwa wanatoa pesa nyingine - Hivi kweli hatuna walio na uchungu na hii nchi?
According to Kawambwa the money is intended to help the air carrier to solve capital problems and enable it resume operations, which stopped months ago due to lack of money and necessary equipment to keep it going. Dr. Kawambwa said that the government decision was part of its strategy to reinstate the operations of the national airline and later strengthen the company`s businesses. The minister further explained that the money was part of the 3.3bn/- that was earlier assessed and approved by the government as a requirement for resumption of the company`s operations.
Early last month, the airline was banned from operating any flight within and outside Tanzania by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). The Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) also revoked the national airline`s operations certificate. The airline was found not to be airworthy after a number of discrepancies and operational failures were discovered within its management. This forced the airline to ground its planes, leaving the monopoly of the local routes to the successful privately-owned Precision Air and air charter companies. Most noted shortcomings ATCL faced were poor inspection of its aircraft, lack of pilots and aircraft engineers.
Along with the government`s bail-out plan, the minister said that a seven-member task force under the chairmanship of Prof. Idris Msolo, the Vice Chancellor of the Ardhi University College, has been set up to undertake critical analysis of the problems that ATCL faced. He said that the task force has among other terms of reference been assigned to find out ATCL`s problems which caused the company to reach where it is now; the root cause of the problems; and later suggest measures to be taken to ensure the problems did not reccur.
``The task force was formed on the 29th December last year and would be working for the next 21 days before presenting their report to the Minister,`` he said. The government efforts to bail out the ATCL follow the suspension of the company`s flying license on August 8, last year requiring it to abide by all Aviation regulations of 2006. Some of the regulations included updating of 12 documents such as the safety management manual; list of spare parts the Planes have; Risk Management manual and security manual.
Others were five operational programmes including pilot and aircrew trainings which had to be approved by the TCAA. He said his ministry ordered the ATCL management to give explanations within seven days which they fulfilled. However, he said the management`s report was not satisfactory, because it lacked basic information which the government and general public expected prompting formation of the independent task force. Dr. Kawambwa reiterated that although the government has taken responsibility to bail out ATCL, after the report by the just formed independent task force, those responsible for the problems as well as financial losses from ATCL\'s suspension would be severely dealt with.
The operations of the ATCL have been uneven since the government moves to privatize it through a strategic partner began with the first partner being the South African Airways (SAA) who owned 49 against the government`s 51 percent shareholding. The marriage of the SAA and ATCL did not last long and broke down, leaving the government owing SAA some USD 4.2 million. Currently the government is engaged in discussions with a Chinese investor for a partnership for ATCL.
With 300 workers, ATCL has 3 aircraft, a situation which the minister described as unsatisfactory, saying that the number of workers may have to be reduced to enable the company operate profitably.
Sasa conditions za bail out ni nini? Wasipewe pesa tu za walipa kodi kama vile kuna kisima cha kuchota. Jingine wamewawezesha vipi au watawawezesha vipi ili kununua ndege mpya za kisasa? Kuweza kufanya ushibdani kwenye safari ambazo zina faida kubwa? Kwa sababu wanakurupuka kila baada ya miaka miwili watakuwa wanatoa pesa nyingine - Hivi kweli hatuna walio na uchungu na hii nchi?