News / National
Zesa to retrench hundreds of workers
04 Mar 2013 at 04:24hrs | Views
ZESA will retrench hundreds of workers countrywide following the adoption of new technologies which has made some jobs redundant.
In Bulawayo, about 500 Zesa employees are set to lose their jobs in the coming months.
A number of meter readers and sales managers will be retrenched due to the recent shift from fixed meters to prepaid meters.
A total of 91 000 pre paid meters have been installed in the country so far. The service provider aims to install 650 000 pre paid meters by the end of the year.
Workers at the parastatal bemoaned the introduction of pre paid meters saying it would leave many jobless.
"I heard that Zesa will retrench about 500 its workers in Bulawayo, I would not know of the nationwide figure. I feel sad for the meter readers and sales managers who will be laid off all in the name of technology and development," said a source.
Another source said workers should be redeployed within the organisation instead of retrenching them.
Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira confirmed the impending retrenchments, saying they were inevitable with the increased use of pre paid meters.
"As management we strive to improve service delivery for our customers by making sure that business remains viable through improved technologies introduced.
"Such technologies come with strategies that require changes in manning levels. Our target is to install 650 000 pre paid meters across the country and 91 000 have been installed so far," he said.
Mr Gwasira, however, said it was too early to elaborate further on when the retrenchment exercise would be done.
"For now, let us wait on Zesa to make a position regarding the speculations circulating in the country on the issue. We will make it public when we start retrenching," he said.
In Bulawayo, about 500 Zesa employees are set to lose their jobs in the coming months.
A number of meter readers and sales managers will be retrenched due to the recent shift from fixed meters to prepaid meters.
A total of 91 000 pre paid meters have been installed in the country so far. The service provider aims to install 650 000 pre paid meters by the end of the year.
Workers at the parastatal bemoaned the introduction of pre paid meters saying it would leave many jobless.
"I heard that Zesa will retrench about 500 its workers in Bulawayo, I would not know of the nationwide figure. I feel sad for the meter readers and sales managers who will be laid off all in the name of technology and development," said a source.
Zesa spokesperson Mr Fullard Gwasira confirmed the impending retrenchments, saying they were inevitable with the increased use of pre paid meters.
"As management we strive to improve service delivery for our customers by making sure that business remains viable through improved technologies introduced.
"Such technologies come with strategies that require changes in manning levels. Our target is to install 650 000 pre paid meters across the country and 91 000 have been installed so far," he said.
Mr Gwasira, however, said it was too early to elaborate further on when the retrenchment exercise would be done.
"For now, let us wait on Zesa to make a position regarding the speculations circulating in the country on the issue. We will make it public when we start retrenching," he said.
Source - TC
