adminMartin Kadzere Harare Bureau
ALLIED Timbers Holdings chief executive Dr Joseph Kanyekanye has fallen out with the board over differences on operational issues, a situation that may force him to resign.Insiders told our Harare Bureau that the new board, chaired by Emmanuel Fundira and Dr Kanyekanye, failed to agree on “critical operational issues” but the exact nature of the differences could not be immediately established at the time of going to print.
Other board members are Conrad Gotora, Tendayi Mavhunga, Itai Ndudzo, Anne Mutsa, Mazita Madzara, Mahommed Orma, Eve Mkondo, Caleb Garura and Charity Moyo.
Dr Kanyekanye, former Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president, is on paid leave with the board still to decide his fate.
“The fallout resulted from sharp differences in opinions on critical operational issues,” said one source, without specifying the nature of the differences.
“It’s most likely they’ll negotiate for his exit package.”
Dr Kanyekanye said he applied for leave prior to the last board meeting and which was granted.
“But if there are any sinister moves (to be taken while he is away), I’ll not be bothered,” he said.
Contrary to speculation that he could have been suspended, Dr Kanyekanye said “there’re no charges.”
Allied spokesperson, Veronica Gutu said the matter was being handled by Fundira who could not be reached for a comment at the time of going to print yesterday.
In his absence, group marketing director Francis Chinyani is the acting chief executive.
Apart from Allied, Dr Kanyekanye also served as chairman of Rainbow Tourism Group Limited and chairman of Capital Bank Corporation. He also served as a non executive director of Starafricacorporation Limited. He has a BSC (Hons) degree in wood science from the University of Wales and an MBA from the University of Zimbabwe.
Allied Timbers is wholly owned by the government. Its operations involve plantations, harvesting, processing and marketing of timber such as teak. The company’s operations are highly concentrated in the Eastern Highlands, Midlands and Matabeleland areas. The company is currently exporting its products to Zambia, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa and plans to expand its export market.
In a recent interview, Dr Kanyekanye said treated pole exports had grown by 80 percent on the back of increased supplies into the Zambian market. He said the company had also started exporting sawn timber into the lucrative market. Dr Kanyekanye said the surge in exports was expected to translate to improved production on the domestic front by moving most of the country’s timber products into the Zambian market.
Online Reporter