Air Zimbabwe Sued for $210K Over DRC Grounding Costs

Air Zimbabwe is facing a USD210,000 lawsuit filed by South African-registered aviation services firm Jetex (Private) Ltd, which claims it advanced funds to the national carrier after one of its aircraft and crew were stranded in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) earlier this year, NewsDay Zimbabwe reported.

According to court documents, Jetex says it provided financial support in May 2025 after Air Zimbabwe’s B767-200ER and 14 crew members were grounded in Goma in January due to fighting between DRC soldiers and M23 rebels. The aircraft had been operating under a wet-lease to startup Mont Gabaon Airlines but the contract was cancelled after the grounding.

Jetex alleges it paid for crew accommodation, per diems, handling, maintenance, logistics, and parking fees at Air Zimbabwe’s request, with an agreement that the airline would reimburse the expenses once the aircraft returned to Zimbabwe. ADS-B data shows B767-200ER Z-WPF has been parked at Harare International since June 28, 2025, after being ferried from Kinshasa.

The services company also claims Air Zimbabwe previously asked it to cover pilot training costs in Brussels and to advance funds for fuel but has failed to repay despite repeated demands. Jetex, represented by Gumbo-Venge Law Attorneys, is seeking a court order to force Air Zimbabwe to settle the debt with interest and cover legal costs.

Air Zimbabwe has yet to publicly respond to the lawsuit. The case highlights the financial and operational challenges facing the state-owned airline as it attempts to rebuild its network.

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Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, ch-aviation.com