Business / Companies
NRZ workers told to bank on drought for cash
24 Apr 2015 at 10:33hrs | Views
National Railways of Zimbabwe acting General Manager Lewis Mukwada on Wednesday told disgruntled workers that they should pin their hopes of getting their salaries on drought as that would give the parastatal contract to transport maize to hunger stricken areas.
Mukwada addressed workers under heavy guard of riot police.
He said the firm was in talks with Grain Marketing Board.
Mukwada also said the sale of wagons was not enough to meet the employees' salaries and were working hard to increase traffic volumes by marketing the parastatals as it is faced with stiff competition from road traffic operators.
Addressing disgruntled NRZ employees Mukwada said with the current drought he hoped that the parastatals will win a tender from GMB that it transport maize around the country so that employees' salaries may be paid.
"We have been talking to them (GMB ) to secure a tender to move around available maize to drought affected areas.
"if we get the tender that would result in us getting cash and be able to pay you," he said.
His statements attracted jeers from workers who told him that they have no faith in him.
Workers have not been paid for months.
The once-thriving massive railway station in Bulawayo is now surrounded by rusty, smelly and run-down coaches and wagons scattered all over the place - a confirmation that the parastatal is in the doldrums.
The State railway firm currently has about 65 locomotives, 3 271 wagons, nine cabooses and 158 coaches against the optimum average requirement of 83 locomotives, 4 262 wagons, 17 cabooses and 145 coaches to run the company viably.
The decline in industry capacity has also seen a reduction in business volumes for NRZ.
In the long term, NRZ needs $2 billion to fully recover, but has been failing to attract financiers largely due to a weak balance sheet and huge debts.
Mukwada addressed workers under heavy guard of riot police.
He said the firm was in talks with Grain Marketing Board.
Mukwada also said the sale of wagons was not enough to meet the employees' salaries and were working hard to increase traffic volumes by marketing the parastatals as it is faced with stiff competition from road traffic operators.
Addressing disgruntled NRZ employees Mukwada said with the current drought he hoped that the parastatals will win a tender from GMB that it transport maize around the country so that employees' salaries may be paid.
"We have been talking to them (GMB ) to secure a tender to move around available maize to drought affected areas.
"if we get the tender that would result in us getting cash and be able to pay you," he said.
His statements attracted jeers from workers who told him that they have no faith in him.
Workers have not been paid for months.
The once-thriving massive railway station in Bulawayo is now surrounded by rusty, smelly and run-down coaches and wagons scattered all over the place - a confirmation that the parastatal is in the doldrums.
The State railway firm currently has about 65 locomotives, 3 271 wagons, nine cabooses and 158 coaches against the optimum average requirement of 83 locomotives, 4 262 wagons, 17 cabooses and 145 coaches to run the company viably.
The decline in industry capacity has also seen a reduction in business volumes for NRZ.
In the long term, NRZ needs $2 billion to fully recover, but has been failing to attract financiers largely due to a weak balance sheet and huge debts.
Source - Byo24News
