GMB retrenches 749

Wednesday.
GMB this year set aside US$6,3 million as retrenchment packages for about 2 000 workers who are set to voluntarily exit the grain marketing company.

As of May this year, GMB had retrenched 706 employees.
GMB general manager Mr Albert Mandizha told New Ziana that all the retrenchees had been paid.
“To date, 749 GMB employees have been retrenched, voluntarily and due to a financial arrangement that we made, all have been paid. The exercise is progressing well, but at the moment we cannot disclose the amount of packages that have been paid to the 749,” he said.

GMB is one of the 10 Government companies earmarked for privatisation and commercialisation to restore viability.
The parastatal has over the years battled to pay farmers on time for grain deliveries.
As a result many of the farmers are shunning the utility, scuttling efforts to rebuild and maintain the strategic grain reserves at desirable levels. Over 500 000 tonnes are needed for strategic reserves. – New Ziana.