Hwange Colliery gets new board

Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
THE government has appointed five new board members for Hwange Colliery Company Limited (HCCL)who have been mandated to turn around the fortunes of the company.

Winston Chitando, Valentine Vera, Ntombizodwa Masuku, Engineer Wenceslaus Kutekatekwa and Julian Muskwe are the five new board members that Mines and Mining Development Minister, Walter Chidhakwa has announced.

The remaining three board members are expected to be announced by HCCL’s other shareholders.

According to a report monitored on ZBCtv, the appointment follows the dissolution of the Jemister Chininga-led board which was in a bad working relationship with the management of the company.

It is believed that the appointment of new board of directors means the company is moving away from boardroom squabbles among other reasons that have been affecting productivity at the colliery.

Announcing the new board, Minister Chidhakwa challenged the new members to continue negotiations with the company’s creditors to build confidence premised on strategy that promotes productivity.

“The government is confident that Hwange Colliery Company has the potential to flourish, hence the green light to convert $69 million debt into equity as well as giving new mining concessions,” he was quoted as saying.

HCCL targets to produce 150,000 tonnes of coal per month.

HCCL managing director Thomas Makore told Chronicle Business that their board chair would be announced sometime this week.

“The board chair hasn’t been appointed yet. The appointment will be done this week during our board meeting.

“Minister Chidhakwa during the announcement of the five new board members indicated to us that we should enter into a scheme of arrangement with the creditors so that we agree on a payment plan. The scheme of arrangement backed by our business plan will see the company being able to make payment to the creditors,” he said.

According to its website, HCCL is inviting tenders from suitably qualified and interested bidders with technical capacity to load and haul 6,500 tonnes of coal per day as well as maintaining the haulage routes.

“Tenders are invited from suitably qualified and interested bidders with technical capacity to load and haul 6,500 tonnes of coal per day as well as maintain the haulage routes that they will be using within the concession area.

“Bidders should have the necessary technical expertise, experience and facilities to undertake the aforesaid coal loading, hauling and road maintenance and are required to provide suitable equipment, labour, appropriate material and supervision for the entire process,” it said.

The company said details of the required scope would be made available to interested bidders during a mine site visit that will be compulsory to all interested bidders.

The site visit is to be conducted Tuesday next week.