Three Chinese experts arrived in Harare yesterday to examine the MA60 aircraft which experienced an engine failure in Victoria Falls last week. The three experts from China Aero Technology Import and Export Corporation (Cactic) and the China Aviation Industry Corporation 1, are also visiting other African countries where they have sold at least 17 planes. The experts, led by vice president and director-general of the China Aviation Industry Corporation 1, Mr Li Ping, paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Transport and Communications, Cde Christopher Mushohwe. Air Zimbabwe board chairman Mr Jonathan Kadzura and acting chief executive officer Captain Oscar Madombwe and other senior Government officials were also present. Speaking at the brief meeting, Mr Ping said the Chinese government was concerned with the reports and wanted to establish the cause of the technical fault. “We pay attention to our customers and we came to establish the problem and discuss, especially on this particular issue. We are going to do our best with our partners in Canada to solve this problem,” Mr Ping said.

Cde Mushohwe also said the relations between China and Zimbabwe, which date back to the liberation struggle, should be strengthened. He said China was one of the first countries to assist Zimbabwe after being slapped with illegal sanctions by some Western countries. “When we were experiencing problems and we launched our Look East Policy in 2004, China stood by us and even during the liberation struggle. We continue to strengthen the relations,” Cde Mushohwe said. The minister said the MA60 was being attended to and a full report was yet to be made. “As soon as I get the full report on the problems of the plane, I will disclose it to our customers and the public after the team determines the cause of the fault,” he said. An MA60 plane last week burst two tyres while making a precautionary emergency landing at Victoria Falls Airport following an engine failure. The Harare-bound plane was forced to make an emergency landing at the airport after it developed a technical fault mid-air just after taking off. There were no injuries and Air Zimbabwe engineers and Chinese experts in the country are attending to the aircraft.

From The Herald, 4 July
Source: WWW.ZwNews.Com