BUSINESS REPORTER
ZESA Holdings has appointed George Manyaya as GM Stakeholder Relations, Communications and Welfare as the power utility accelerates its restructuring exercise which will culminate in the re-bundling of units to create efficiency and improve service delivery.
The appointment is with effect from October 1.
“In line with the Cabinet directive on the re-bundling of ZESA entities and our strategic plan, he is expected to formulate robust internal and external stakeholder relations initiative, including but not limited to, cultivating effective communications and media relations strategies, initiating rebranding, coordinating staff welfare issues and community welfare issues,” ZESA Executive Chairman Sydney Gata said in a statement.
Manyaya will join ZESA from POTRAZ where he is head Consumer Affairs and Publicity. The executive has over 17 years’ experience in state enterprises and the private sector at a senior level and is renowned for effective stakeholder engagement, reputational management and strategic communication acumen, Gata said.
The award winning executive is the vice chairman of the Airports Company of Zimbabwe. He has worked for NetOne, Mbada Diamonds and served on the board of the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe.
A trained journalist, Manyaya holds a doctorate in Business Administration, Master of Science degree in International Relations, Master of Commerce degree in Strategic Management and Corporate governance, among a host of qualifications.
Manyaya’s appointment comes as ZESA is beefing up its human capacity which has seen the power utility rehiring five former employees as it eyes a lean and efficient structure.
The return of the quintet comes as the power utility is filling positions after a recent forensic audit led to the departure of key personnel.
Among those that have bounced back at ZESA are Itai Utah who will be a consultant for Innovation Technical Services and Cletus Nyachowe to become consultant on the international business front. Tanda Chisi returns to ZESA from ZERA and will consult on power projects.
The power utility awaits implementation of the 2018 Cabinet directive rebundle ZESA and its units into a single entity. into one single entity. The government appointed Ernest and Young to carry out this exercise and the report will be presented to government and posts will be advertised.
The proposed rebundling of ZESA is part of government measures to arrest the high cost of running the business.
Apart from several board members and chief executives, all of the companies under ZESA Holdings have separate departments such as marketing, human resources, accounts and public relations, meaning there has been duplication of roles.
The unbundling of the power utility has also been blamed for exerting more costs on the company and the tariff, as all executives get huge salaries and obnoxious perks such as top-of-the-range vehicles.
ZESA was unbundled in 1997 and later in 2006.
The unbundling created five companies—Powertel Communications, Zimbabwe Electricity and Transmission Distribution Company, the Zimbabwe Power Company, Zesa Enterprises and Zesa Holdings.
