Maputo, Sept. 15, 2025 (Lusa) - Mozambique's flag carrier airline (LAM) announced on Monday the renewal of its exclusivity contract with the chairman of the company's management committee, Dane Kondic, for four years, following controversy over his hiring by a competitor in Botswana.
At a press conference today in Maputo on the restructuring of the airline, the chairman of the board of directors of the Mozambique Ports and Railways Company (CFM), Agostinho Langa, who is a member of LAM's non-executive board of directors, said that the contract had been renewed for four years, pointing out that the manager will be dedicated exclusively to LAM.
"In addition to his commitment to LAM, there was that much-publicised commitment to Botswana Air, which he had to terminate, but he also had other commitments in Australia," so he was told that "he had to terminate those other commitments," said CFM chairman Agostinho Langa.
"This also meant that he had to give up some earnings, some of his own income, and in the negotiations we also had to take this into account. It took us a few days, but the contract has been signed," he added.
Dane Kondic was appointed chairman of the LAM management committee in May, but at the end of June, his appointment as chairman of the board of directors of Air Botswana was also announced, according to the Botswana carrier.
Dane Kondic has dual nationality (Serbian and Australian) and, among other positions in airlines in various countries, he was previously chairman of the board of directors of the Portuguese airline euroAtlantic.
In May, the appointment of a non-executive board of directors was also approved, composed of representatives from the three state-owned companies that became shareholders of LAM this year: the Cahora Bassa Hydroelectric Company (HCB), Ports and Railways of Mozambique (CFM) and the Mozambican Insurance Company (Emose).
The Mozambican company LAM has been facing operational problems for several years related to a reduced fleet and lack of investment, with some non-fatal incidents reported, which experts attribute to poor aircraft maintenance. It is currently undergoing a profound restructuring process.
Mozambique's President, Daniel Chapo, said on 28 April that there are "foxes and corrupt individuals" within LAM, with "conflicts of interest" that prevented the restructuring of the company in the first 100 days of government, including the goal of acquiring three aircraft during that period.
The crisis has led the company to virtually cease international flights this year, focusing on domestic connections.
To minimise recurring problems with flight cancellations, the company plans to acquire five Boeing 737-700 aircraft and, while awaiting this process, has moved forward with a tender to lease another five.
On average, LAM currently has a total of 915 daily passengers for domestic and regional destinations.
PME/AYLS // AYLS
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