HEADS have started rolling at the State-run National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) after government demanded a management restructuring exercise in an effort to turn around the fortunes of the loss-making parastatal.
NRZ spokesperson Nyasha Maravanyika confirmed to NewsDay last week that the restructuring programme had taken off, with three directors being forced into early retirement.
A senior manager was also sent on forced leave pending investigation into his conduct.
“As you are aware, the Minister of Transport (Joel Biggie Matiza) visited Bulawayo on the 7th and 31st of July 2020 to meet with the NRZ board and give it a new direction which the parastatal should take,” Maravanyika said.
“That direction has naturally become a directive on the board to restructure management and give it new impetus, new thinking and new approach to the affairs of the company.”
He said following the meetings and consultations between government and the new board, several officials had been asked to take up early retirement alongside former general manager, Lewis Mukwada.
“Stakeholders would need to appreciate that since the July 31 meeting, the board and ministry have since finalised on the appointment of board member, Joseph Mashika as acting general manager.
“. . . We have also seen three substantive directors, that of marketing, operations, and corporate affairs also going on early retirement effective August 5, 2020. All the stakeholders need to appreciate that the process which has led to the aforementioned former officials going on early retirement was not a witch hunt. It was not targeting anyone. It was a process that is meant to ensure that the organisation revitalises and revamps so as to be able to tackle the challenge that lies ahead of it,” Maravanyika added.
The new NRZ management has been tasked with, among other things, dealing with space barons that are leasing out NRZ premises without management’s knowledge.
