NRZ scouts for new GM

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THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has begun scouting for a new substantive general manager to replace Air Commodore Retired Mike Karakadzai who died late in 2013 in a car accident.

THE National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) has begun scouting for a new substantive general manager to replace Air Commodore Retired Mike Karakadzai who died late in 2013 in a car accident.

Staff Reporter

Lewis Mukwada has been acting general manager.

In a notice, the parastatal said the candidate “shall provide strategic leadership to the organisation and ensure that it makes its meaningful contribution to the Zimbabwe economy and that of the sub-region”.

Aspiring candidates must be aged between 40 and 55 years and also “be results-oriented and able to spearhead an ambitious and transformative NRZ turnaround programme”.

The development comes as the government is still engaged in intricate negotiations with the Development Bank of South Africa for the provision of between $450 and $700 million to bankroll the rehabilitation of NRZ.

Experts indicate the parastatal requires about $1,9 billion in the long-term plan to be fully revitalised and transformed.

In the short term, according to the same experts, the NRZ would need $460 million to restore the infrastructure and equipment to acceptable levels.

NRZ wants to retrench 6 000 workers, about 86% of its workforce to cut running costs as it is struggling to pay workers.

The parastatal, once the epicentre of the southern African rail network and transport system, has been struggling with operations due to underfunding and obsolete equipment.