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Michael Magoronga, Midlands Correspondent
ZIMBABWE Chemicals Refineries (Zimchem) has appointed a new management team following the sacking of its previous executive over among other allegations, awarding themselves hefty perks while the company was underperforming.

The previous management, which was axed in August, allegedly awarded themselves $30 000 in salaries, 200 litres fuel and $50 airtime allowances per month while the middle management and other general work force went for close to a year without salaries.

Among those that were sacked was the then acting chief executive officer, Mr Ngonidzaishe Moyo, production manager, Mr Aaron Chamboko and Finance and Administration Manager, Mr Isaiah Banda.

In the new appointments, operations manager Mr Tendai Shoko has been elevated to the position of general manager.

Ms Julian Ngezi is now head of production and purchasing, Mr David Mutizwa is now the human resources and administration manager and Mr Mugove Mujaya is now safety health and environment (SHE) officer.

Mr Shoko refused to comment citing professional reasons.

However, our Harare Bureau has it on good authority that the company had appointed new management and there were still vacancies for an accountant and a plant engineer.

“The board appointed a new executive and the previous one has been fired. The appointments were actually elevations as most of the new appointments were done within the circles of what we have at the moment,” said the source.

“We have since advertised the vacant positions that of accountant and plant manager in a local weekly.

“The positions are expected to be filled before year end,” added the source.

The company produces refined benzol, benzene and coal tar, using mainly products from the now defunct giant steel maker — Ziscosteel.

Sources say Zimchem has been operating at about 20 percent capacity after being adversely impacted by the collapse of Zisco which used to provide the bulk of its raw materials.

The workforce has since been reduced to less than a hundred owing to the meltdown the company is going through.