Govt rejects ZETDC proposal

Government has dismissed a proposal by ZETDC to sack about 1 600 workers.  

The move appears to undermine efforts by the power company to cut costs and stem losses in line with government objectives to make parastatals profitable.

The ZETDC has a workforce in excess of 5 300, and this has been bleeding the parastatal through an unsustainable salary and wage bill.

ZETDC, a unit of integrated power group, Zesa Holdings, had cited huge operational costs, persistent losses and the fact that most electricity consumers were now being served directly by third party vendors as some of the reasons that necessitated the proposed downsizing of its workforce.

The company also wanted to create a learner structure, which is more cost effective.