Air Zimbabwe, which has just one aeroplane, was already $300m (£237m) in debt before the coronavirus pandemic struck. At the end of March it grounded its flights altogether.

"This decision has been made after evaluating all the available and possible options," Air Zimbabwe said in a message to staff, according to Bloomberg News.

Air Zimbabwe is quoted by Reuters news agency as saying it will keep a skeleton staff for the time being, and that all empoyees will still receive their April salaries.