TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
Government has come out in support of the embattled National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) general manager, Respina Zinyanduko.
Zinyanduko, who was appointed the substantive general manager of the NRZ last December, has been under fire from former NRZ employees, who have been demanding her removal from the powerful post.
They accused Zinyanduko of gross corruption, incompetency, favouritism, deception, regionalism and patronisation.
Permanent secretary for the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development, Theodius Chinyanga expressed confidence in Zinyanduko and her management team saying former workers have no influence on the policies of the organisation.
“They don’t have any influence on our policies. We don’t listen to ex-workers. It goes without saying those are ex workers. They have a history with NRZ. They do not have any policies that the general manager must pursue,” Chinyanga said.
He said the former employees should allow Zinyanduko to run the institution peacefully.
“They are a non-issue. They are ex-workers. We thanked them for the services rendered and they must retire in peace and leave us to run the institution in peace. We are in full support of our general manager,” Chinyanga said.
The former NRZ employee alleged that over 400 workers including senior managers were fired by Zinyanduko and were replaced by her relatives.
In June, the former employees petitioned President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Transport and Infrastructural Development minister Felix Mhona, Bulawayo Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution Judith Ncube, NRZ board chairman Martin Dinha, Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Transport and Bulawayo ZANU PF provincial Chairman Jabulani Sibanda demanding the removal of Zinyanduko.
Mhona recently told Business Times the government is focusing on the bigger picture of reviving NRZ and believes the future looks bright for the parastatal once it procures equipment.
