News / National
Govt urged to deploy qualified personnel to run parastatals
13 Dec 2017 at 05:15hrs | Views
GOVERNMENT should deploy skilled personnel to run public enterprises and hold management to account instead of continuously pumping money where there are no returns.
Speaking during the 2018 National Budget Dialogue organised by The Chronicle Business in Bulawayo yesterday, Association for Business in Zimbabwe chief executive officer, Mr Victor Nyoni, said funding alone was not the panacea to turning around the economy and several State entities are not performing because of poor management and lack of skills.
He implored the Government to identify and mobilise qualified technocrats to champion economic development in the country.
Mr Nyoni said harnessing skills should include tapping into the diaspora market and bringing back skills that were lost through the brain drain experienced over the years as well as engaging experienced retirees.
"Our take as businesses is that not all problems require money. It is not always the case that organisations collapse because of lack of money. In fact, the tendency of throwing money at every business problem is in itself not the solution," he said.
"The issue of skills is part of the short comings of the budget presentation. The Minister (Patrick Chinamasa) has not spoken about how the Government seeks to mobilise the necessary skills and talent in the process of developing our economy.
"We must never down play the issue of brain drain in our economy. There is a need to mobilise skills and talent in the diaspora.
"The new Government may also mobilise all skilled and experienced retirees to be part of rebuilding the economy. Instead of letting the retirees sit at home and be grumpy, no doubt they would love to be brought in and make a contribution in various sectors."
In his budget presentation, Minister Chinamasa admitted that 70 percent of public state enterprises were technically insolvent having incurred millions in losses due to a weak corporate governance structure and ineffective control mechanisms.
He said many loss making firms would be weaned off or privatised.
Mr Nyoni also challenged the Bulawayo City Council to complement Government efforts by scrapping interest on clients with arrears and suspending court cases against owing businesses. He said this will give businesses breathing space for them to retire their debts as they risk losing their property.
"Some businesses in the city risk losing their properties due to debts owed to the city council. A number of businesses have pending court cases after having been sued by BCC.
"In line with what Government did, why can't our council scrap the interest component and also put on hold the court cases against these businesses in order to give them a chance to ride on the new Economic Order," said Mr Nyoni.
Speaking during the 2018 National Budget Dialogue organised by The Chronicle Business in Bulawayo yesterday, Association for Business in Zimbabwe chief executive officer, Mr Victor Nyoni, said funding alone was not the panacea to turning around the economy and several State entities are not performing because of poor management and lack of skills.
He implored the Government to identify and mobilise qualified technocrats to champion economic development in the country.
Mr Nyoni said harnessing skills should include tapping into the diaspora market and bringing back skills that were lost through the brain drain experienced over the years as well as engaging experienced retirees.
"Our take as businesses is that not all problems require money. It is not always the case that organisations collapse because of lack of money. In fact, the tendency of throwing money at every business problem is in itself not the solution," he said.
"The issue of skills is part of the short comings of the budget presentation. The Minister (Patrick Chinamasa) has not spoken about how the Government seeks to mobilise the necessary skills and talent in the process of developing our economy.
"The new Government may also mobilise all skilled and experienced retirees to be part of rebuilding the economy. Instead of letting the retirees sit at home and be grumpy, no doubt they would love to be brought in and make a contribution in various sectors."
In his budget presentation, Minister Chinamasa admitted that 70 percent of public state enterprises were technically insolvent having incurred millions in losses due to a weak corporate governance structure and ineffective control mechanisms.
He said many loss making firms would be weaned off or privatised.
Mr Nyoni also challenged the Bulawayo City Council to complement Government efforts by scrapping interest on clients with arrears and suspending court cases against owing businesses. He said this will give businesses breathing space for them to retire their debts as they risk losing their property.
"Some businesses in the city risk losing their properties due to debts owed to the city council. A number of businesses have pending court cases after having been sued by BCC.
"In line with what Government did, why can't our council scrap the interest component and also put on hold the court cases against these businesses in order to give them a chance to ride on the new Economic Order," said Mr Nyoni.
Source - chronicle
