admininvestment was aimed at enhancing communication as well as minimising losses of grain and other important resources. He said this at the commissioning of a Very Small Aperture Terminal at the GMB Concession depot on Wednesday.
“At least 19 depots in urban areas have been connected to GMB’s wide area network using optic fibre and 11 via VSAT. Nineteen more are scheduled for connection via VSAT by June this year,” he said.
Mr Mandizha noted that limited connectivity in the country posed a great challenge to the GMB as most of its depots were situated in remote areas.
VSAT uses satellite technology to transfer internet signals. While Zimbabwe is migrating from satellite to fibre optic, this is still limited to urban areas and therefore VSAT remains the most viable alternative for companies with operations in outlying areas.
Governor and Resident Minister for Mashonaland Central province Advocate Martin Dinha who was officiating at the event, said Government should expedite the commercialisation of parastatals to enable them to be self-sufficient instead of relying on fiscus support.
He added that parastatals should be weaned from Treasury support.
“I would like to call upon Government to expedite the commercialisation of public enterprises such as GMB in order to unlock value for the benefit of Zimbabweans. Commercialisation will take the pressure off the fiscus as public enterprises will surely return to profitability and become able to sustain themselves,” Advocate Dinha said.
VSAT technology allows all GMB depots to be connected to each other and to the head office. To date, nine are connected using the technology while 30 others are connected through the wide area network.
Advocate Dinha said the VSAT technology will improve the connectivity of the parastatal’s 84 depots located mostly in remote areas.
“Your effort over the years to come up with this project will reap a lot of benefits to the organization and communities that you are diligently serving,” he said.
The improved connectivity of GMB’s depots, he said, will play a pivotal role in the company’s operational efficiency and contribute to achieving its mandate of ensuring food security.
He also commended the parastatal for its grain loan scheme meant to alleviate hunger.
“As a province we will continue to support the work that GMB is doing in implementing government programs like the Grain Loan Scheme that you are currently undertaking despite the challenges of slow disbursement of funds from Treasury to pay transporters,” Advocate Dinha said. – New Ziana.
Online Reporter