BAK
JF-Expert Member
- Feb 11, 2007
- 124,790
- 288,005
This is just RUBBISH! I am so sorry to say so.
On Friday, South Africa impounded a plane belonging to Tanzania's national carrier over a so called the Namibian born farmer's $33-million compensation claim.
The aircraft was seized at Johannesburg's O Tambo International Airport after it landed during a scheduled flight from Tanzanian economic capital Dar-es Salaam.
Lawyer Roger Wakefield of Werksmans Attorneys said the seizure followed an order granted by the High Court in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Farm owner, who the lawyer refused to name, was awarded $33 million in compensation in the 1990s -- but the government only paid $20 million.
So, that left an outstanding balance of $16 million which has accrued interest over the decades and now stands at $33 million.
The farmer's lawyer, the plane was seized "to certify a long outstanding debt to the plaintiff which the government of Tanzania has always acknowledged was owing but they just breached their undertaking".
There are some unanswered questions which need to be clarified:
First, has the law firm made any attempts to contact ATCL via our embassy in Pretoria regarding the outstanding debts?
If so, when the attempts were made and when was the last communications between the parties dealing with the issue.
Secondly, was the seizure of aircraft necessary at this point considering it hampers the business of ATCL going about with all scheduled flights between Dar and Johannesburg?
This action also paints bad image and reputation to the carrier and the country in general considering the number of tourists who would have connected the flight from OT Airport and the efforts already been made to revive the national carrier
Impounding the aircraft only brought the chaos and inconveniences for the passengers who were forced to change their flight dates and hours.
After all the aircraft cost $90million which has the third of the outstanding amount disputed with its interests which now stands at $33million.
Why not finding other ways to resolve the matter considering the current administration has the capacity to sit down to talk issues?
The government of Tanzania will have the time and space to learn all about these all cases brought against it especially to this current regime.
This is a cynical move which can be seen as contemptuous with the intention of showing the mocking to the Tanzania government and its all state apparatus, which has to be dealt with accordingly.
But also be warned all saboteurs who are out there to try to destabilise the country which in many years thought she was looking after "good apples".