We are not shocked as you are with revelations that Malawi Airlines has posted Zero Profits in five years but, at the same time, paid over K41 billion for Aircraft sub leases, management fees and other payments to its strategic partner Ethiopian Airlines.
We are not shocked because we know that the liquidation of Air Malawi was all a cover-up to mass fraud and corruption that grounded what was once Africa’s Friendliest Airline.
The liquidation which saw Ethiopian Airline claiming a 49% stake in our Airline and we retained a 51%, was all a hoax as it did not address the fundamental reasons why Air Malawi, suddenly got grounded.
What we know is that Air Malawi, because of poor leadership, was saddled with mountains of avoidable debts accumulated over years, billions of cash that went into voracious pockets of politicians.
One such country which Malawi government, through Air Malawi, owed so much is Morocco. Your government won’t tell you; but we can reveal to you that, at the point of liquidation, Air Malawi had a functional plane, an airbus which they will not tell you, its whereabouts.
What they will lie to you is that, at the point of liquidation, Malawi had no plane, as such, it had to get all planes from Ethiopian Airlines. Foolish lie.
We can reveal to you that Morocco took the functional plane that we had as punishment for Malawi’s failure to pay the debts we owed them. They won’t tell you this because it’s an embarrassment for a sovereign country but we will because you need to know.
What you, Malawians need to know is that at the point of negotiations and discussions, Ethiopian Airlines was furnished with all necessary details of our wretchedness and they acted cleverly but with strategy.
Despite having a 49% state which we know was all pseudo, Ethiopian Airlines new that it was a tacit 100% as Malawi as in a desperate state and couldn’t argue its case.
Well here we are: Are you surprised that we have posted zero profits in five years but, at the same time paid K41 billion for aircraft sub leases, management fees and other payments to Ethiopians?
Well Ethiopian Airline knows our weakness and it won’t stop milking us until our government makes tough decisions.
There are three things government needs to do right now, One, tell off Ethiopians and say goodbye. Two, engage other countries to have direct daily flights to Malawi. And three, engage rich Malawians and Institutions, give them good concessions, to start an Airline to serve and profit the nation.
If government doesn’t do that, well, we will remain chattels of Ethiopians, a kind of another systematic colonisaton.
