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ALVORD MABENA

Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) board has finalised the selection of the candidate to fill the post of the parastatal’s general manager and is now awaiting government approval.

NRZ board chairman Engineer Alvord Mabena told Business Chronicle yesterday that the candidate, whose name has now been submitted to the government, was selected from five short-listed candidates who were interviewed last week.

There were three Zimbabweans from the Diaspora and two locals.

The board turned to the Diaspora after all the 40 candidates who had initially applied for the post failed to qualify.

The NRZ general manager’s position has been vacant since August 2013 following the death of Retired Air Commodore Mike Karakadzai in a car accident.

Lewis Mukwada is the acting general manager.

“NRZ can’t give a time frame as to when the new general manager would be announced but we hope as soon as the government approves our recommended candidate, we will make the announcement,” said Mabena.

The ailing parastatal decided to cast its net wide hence it opened the competition for the post to Zimbabweans in the Diaspora

The parastatal has since filled the positions of finance director and that of operations.

Resuscitation of NRZ, apart from appointment of key personnel, is also hinged on securing the required working capital.

Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Obert Mpofu has said the Development Bank of South Africa (DBSA) has agreed in principle to advance a $750 million loan to NRZ to fund the rehabilitation of the parastatal’s infrastructure.