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Makongoro orders ATCL management to root out rumour mongers
2008-05-03 09:32:47
By Njonanje Samwel
The government has told the management of the national flag carrier, Air Tanzania Company Limited (ATCL), to take disciplinary action against dishonest elements who leak the company`s confidential information to unauthorized people.
Infrastructure Development deputy minister Dr Makongoro Mahanga said in Dar es Salaam on Thursday that the management should identify elements in their midst who engage in devulging confidential information to parties that could be hostile to both the company`s interests and the nation`s well-being.
Makongoro was speaking at a ceremony to mark the arrival of Air Tanzania`s leased Airbus 320 aircraft.
``Management should fish out and act against those who engage in this disgraceful and unbecoming behaviour. Such behaviour is contrary to work ethics and a serious breach of the company`s code of conduct which cannot be tolerated,`` said the deputy minister.
Mahanga decried recent widespread reports in some sections of the media attributed to ATCL staff that the national flag carrier had hired an aircraft which was not airworthy.
He said some of the documents used in the publications were official, genuine and confidential to the company, but purposely distorted to tarnish the good image of the leasing process.
Makongoro said no media house could have accessed such documents without the help of disgruntled elements within ATCL.
``You (management) have to ensure that you single out those few dishonest elements and take appropriate disciplinary action,`` he directed.
He denied to have informed the just-ended parliamentary session that ATCL staff were rumour mongers.
In his clarification, he said he told parliament that there were a few rumour mongers in the company and not all staff as was reported.
``I don`t want to get into a tug of war with ATCL staff. The arrival of this aircraft is testimony to the fruits by hardworking staff who deserve praise. I wish to reassure you today that I have no grudge with ATCL staff,`` he added.
ATCL chief executive officer David Mattaka said during the ceremony that the arrival of the aircraft had brought to an end malicious and unfounded rumours that ATCL had leased an aircraft which was not airworthy.
He said the 150-seater aircraft would be flying the Dar es Salaam-Johannesburg route and later on the Dar es Salaam-Dubai route.
``The aircraft will enhance efficiency in both passenger and cargo transport and increase domestic routes,`` the CEO said.
The leased aircraft landed at the Julius Nyerere International Airport at around 1530hrs on Thursday from El Salvador where it had been undergoing a C-check (technical check-up) to prove its airworthiness.
There were reports from some sections of the media that the national flag carrier had leased an aircraft from a French offshore company-Wallis Trading Inc - registered in Liberia, which was not airworthy.
The A320 plane, which has local registration no. 5H-MWH, brings to six the number of aircraft operated by ATCL. Three are leased.
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