Air Zimbabwe is selling two Boeing 777 aircraft that have been sitting unused at Harare airport since being bought from Malaysia Airlines several years ago. The struggling state-owned airline has invited international bids for the planes, with a deadline of 25 July.

The sale highlights the financial difficulties facing Zimbabwe’s national carrier, which has debts of more than $30m (£24m) and has struggled to maintain regular services.

The two Boeing 777-200ER aircraft were acquired as part of an ambitious plan to revive the airline’s fortunes and restore long-haul flights. However, they have remained grounded since arrival due to the carrier’s financial problems and regulatory issues.

Air Zimbabwe chief executive Edmund Makona said the sale was part of a “four-pillar strategy” to modernise the airline.

“We have adopted a four-pillar strategy focusing on corporate governance, air transportation services, human capital development, and aircraft maintenance and engineering,” he said.

The airline says it wants to focus on expanding regional routes rather than holding onto assets it cannot use.

Only companies registered with Zimbabwe’s procurement authority will be eligible to bid for the aircraft, which are being sold “as is” from Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

Air Zimbabwe was once considered one of Africa’s more reliable carriers after Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980. However, decades of economic turmoil, political interference and alleged mismanagement have left it a shadow of its former self.

The airline has faced repeated groundings due to unpaid debts to fuel suppliers and maintenance issues. It has also been hit by scandals, including the mysterious disappearance of three aircraft worth $48m, for which no documentation has been found.

The Boeing 777s were originally part of the “Zimbabwe Airways” project launched in 2017, which was intended to signal a fresh start for the country’s aviation sector. However, the initiative failed to get off the ground.

The aircraft sale comes as Zimbabwe grapples with a debt crisis that has left it isolated from international financial markets.

The southern African nation owes $21bn to creditors – equivalent to 97% of its economic output – and has been unable to access funding from institutions like the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s government is now trying to negotiate a debt restructuring deal and has been holding talks with the IMF about implementing economic reforms.

The country introduced a new gold-backed currency in April 2024 in an attempt to restore confidence in its monetary system after years of hyperinflation and currency instability.

The sale is expected to attract interest from cargo airlines, aircraft leasing companies or firms that specialise in aircraft parts.

However, the condition of the planes after years of being parked will be a key factor in determining their value.

Air Zimbabwe says it has been making progress in other areas, reopening some regional routes and increasing flight frequencies. The airline has also revived its pilot training school, which had been closed since 2017.

But industry experts say the carrier needs fundamental restructuring and transparent management before it can hope to compete effectively in the aviation market.

For now, the sale of the Boeing 777s represents another step back for an airline that once connected Zimbabwe to the world.