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Business Writer
NATIONAL Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) workers have expressed concern over “hefty” exit packages being reportedly demanded by ex-general manager, Engineer Lewis Mukwada, and three other senior directors.
The other three directors are Misheck Matanhire (director corporate services), Samson Bhuza (director operations) and Mr Elector Mafunga (director marketing).
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister, Joe Biggie Matiza, has instructed the NRZ board, which is chaired by Advocate Martin Dinha to move with speed in restructuring the parastatal and bringing in “fresh blood” to turnaround the fortunes of the entity. It is against this background that the restructuring of senior management at NRZ has seen the above four being relieved of their duties.
Close sources have revealed that former senior executives are reportedly demanding US$80 000 each, as exit package in addition to the new Prado Land Cruiser V8 for Eng Mukwada and three Toyota Fortuner vehicles for the other three ex-directors, which the rail entity bought sometime this year.
Zimbabwe Amalgamated Railway Workers Union president, Kamurai Moyo, said the matter should be addressed using the Labour Act Amendment Number 5 of 2015.
“This is a very clear case because in terms of the Labour Act, Amendment Number 5 of 2015, it clearly stipulates the exit package and this is not discriminatory to any employee,” he said.
“So, if there are certain employees who are demanding more than what is stipulated by the Amended Act, even though they say that law just provide minimum standard for negotiations, l think somehow, it will not be fair especially for those who were exited using the same provision of the Labour Act. The law is there, so why can’t they use that as the basis for negotiating the exit packages,” he said.
Some of the NRZ workers who spoke on condition of anonymity, said it was not fair to have the exiting managers pampered with such a package.
“As shopfloor workers within NRZ, we are saying these guys should not even leave with anything. They destroyed the NRZ and some of them have worked for over two decades but haven’t done anything worth their stay at NRZ,” fumed one of the workers.
“We hear that they want to be given hefty exit packages of US$80 000 each or an equivalent of that amount in local currency. This is in addition to top of the range vehicles they bought themselves sometime this year.”
Advocate Dinha and Eng Mukwada could not be reached for comment. However, NRZ public relations manager, Nyasha Maravanyika, said: “This is a policy issue to be determined by Government through the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructural Development as well as the Office of the President and Cabinet.
“I am sure the Government will definitely not do things that will cripple NRZ because the shareholder’s thrust is to revive NRZ. We believe that it is in the hands of the ministry and the board. Remember there are laws, regulations and procedures to follow,” he said.
“We believe the shareholder will do what would make NRZ tick and also if these people have worked to satisfaction, definitely Government will be obliged to ensure they are given exit packages that are in tandem with their contracts.”-Xinhua
Bongani Ndlovu