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Dr Obert Mpofu

Pamela Shumba Senior Reporter—-
TRANSPORT and Infrastructural Development Minister Dr Obert Mpofu met the new National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) board in Bulawayo yesterday and affirmed the government’s commitment to revamp the giant parastatal. Coming out of the closed door meeting with the Engineer Alvord Mabena-led board, Dr Mpofu said the revival of NRZ was vital for the revival and growth of Bulawayo’s economy and challenged the new leadership to respond to the urgent problems bedevilling the ailing firm.

“The parastatal is facing quite a cocktail of challenges, which include recapitalisation, the general welfare of personnel and management issues,” said Dr Mpofu.

“I came here to have a brief meeting with the board as they hold their first board meeting and they’ve assured me that things will soon change at NRZ.”

He added: “I therefore want to assure the country, especially the people of Bulawayo that NRZ will soon be back on track and will retain its status as the biggest employer in the city.”

Dr Mpofu said the new board made a commitment to uphold corporate govenance.
“I’m confident the board we selected will bring good results for the people of Bulawayo and the workers in general. The team is made up of professionals that were carefully selected and is geared to tackle all the issues affecting the parastatal,” said the minister.

He said when he was appointed Minister of Transport, he assured the public that he was going to work hard to revive the NRZ.  “I immedaitely instructed the parastatal to stop retrenchments and concentrate on revival efforts,” said Dr Mpofu.

Responding to proposed hiring of retired managers, Dr Mpofu said it was a management issue that he also expected the board to deal with.
The state-run firm is in the process of introducing post-retirement contracts for workers aged 60 years who have skills and experience critical to its operations.

In October last year Dr Mpofu set himself a target of 12 months to turn around operations at NRZ and said government was finalising talks with potential investors on the recapitalisation of the parastatal.

The NRZ has been facing many operational challenges blamed mainly on loss of business which has seen it failing to pay its workers. The challenges at NRZ have not only affected workers and their dependants but the entire industry which depended on it for bulk movement of goods.

Mabena could not be reached for comment on his mobile phone.