Zim govt slashes salaries of parastatal bosses

Government has slashed the salaries of parastatal bosses amid concerns that some of them were being overpaid despite under-performing. 
The move also comes when the Ministry of Parastatals and State Enterprises is investigating several State enterprises for abusing tender procedures. 
The slashing of salaries will see parastatal chief executives taking home an average of US$5 000 compared to the US$15 000 they have been pocketing. 
Parastatals and State Enterprises Minister confirmed the development, describing the salaries some senior parastatal managers were getting as "abnormal and unsustainable."
"It's a scandal to pay a person US$20 000 in this kind of environment where the majority of Zimbabweans are struggling to make ends meet. It becomes more shocking when one notes that most of the people who are getting such unsustainable salaries are heading loss-making entities," he said.
Minister Moyo added that his ministry was now exploring ways of aligning parastatal salaries.
"We want to make sure that we standardise the salaries and have already ordered some entities to review downwards some of these abnormal and scandalous salaries.
"We will not name these entities because our aim is not to embarrass them but to do the right thing," he said.
Minister Moyo noted that State enterprises are required to seek the green light from Government to increase salaries. Most parastatal bosses last night hinted that they will be taking home less starting from next month but were reluctant to comment on the matter further.
However, Grain Marketing Board general manager Mr Albert Mandizha said his organisation will not be affected by the Government directive as its salary structure was in line with the regulations.
"We have always been compliant. Our salaries, even those of the board, are cleared by the responsible authorities in the ministry," he said.
Turning to the probe into the abuse of tender procedures, Minister Moyo said Government will announce its findings as part of measures aimed at promoting good corporate governance.
"We are probing a number of companies which we cannot name as at the moment these are still allegations.
"We are waiting for the final reports and will make sure that the public becomes aware of who did what and when," he said.