Zimbabwe ignores court order and takes over airport

Martin Rushmere
THE ZIMBABWE government has ignored a court order stopping it from taking ownership of Harare’s new international air terminal until an inquiry is complete into complaints over illegal tender procedures.
An official handover ceremony to the government has already been held and the official opening is due to take place shortly.
In theory, the government is supposed to wait until a complaint by Deutsche Aero Consult is resolved. The German company has alleged that the bid by the winning contractor for the finishing touches, Omega Alpha International of South Africa, equivalent to R5 million, was more than double its own tender.
High Court judge Michael Gillespie granted an application by legal firm Kantor and Immerman for the handover to be delayed.