Efforts to give Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) a face lift are on course, chief executive officer Clive Chirwa has said.
Speaking in an interview yesterday, Professor Chirwa said rehabilitation works at the firm were progressing well.
“The rehabilitation works are going on pretty well. There are just a few things to do,” he said.
Prof Chirwa, however, said it was unethical to disclose what was currently being done, but assured that the nation would know “very soon” once the process had been concluded.
Government recently released a US$120 million grant to ZRL to enable the firm to rehabilitate the railway network.
Prof Chirwa also said the rift between middle management and unionised workers which almost resulted in demonstrations last week had been addressed.
He said the matter was finalised last week on Friday, adding that middle management staff would be getting far much better perks than was the case where it was the opposite.
He, however, said he could not disclose the percentage involved now before engaging the board.
He said the ZRL workers’ conditions of service were going to be better than those that existed before Government took over ownership of Railway Systems of Zambia (RSZ).
Meanwhile, Management and representatives of workers at the Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) have met in Dar es Salaam for a consultative meeting.
The consultative meeting is aimed at mapping out a collective approach in view of the looming transformational changes.
The workers were represented by the Tanzania Railway Workers Union (TRAWU) representing TAZARA workers in Tanzania and the Workers Union of TAZARA (WUTAZ) representing the workers in Zambia.
The two unions met the Executive Management Committee of TAZARA at an extra-ordinary consultative meeting to confer on various directives by the Council of Ministers and Board of Directors.
This was disclosed in a press statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today by the Head of Public Relations in Tanzania, Conrad Simuchile.
Mr. Simuchile disclosed that both parties acknowledged and appreciated the efforts of the two governments in their attempts to revive TAZARA and agreed that the call for change was timely, appropriate and in order.
He said the parties also resolved that it was necessary for management and the workers’representatives to undertake a line tour in the two regions to explain and sensitize all employees on the directives of the Board of Directors.
Mr. Simuchile said management and the two unions agreed that there was need for a complete change of mindset of employees who may not be aware of the introduction of performance-based contracts in the company which was a paradigm shift and a wake-up call requiring everyone to sit up.
“It is no longer business as usual, everybody has to sit up. Everybody must know that they either perform to expectation of the performance contracts or get out,”said the Acting Managing Director, Damas Ndumbaro in the same statement.
The statement further quotes Dr. Ndumbaro saying that the company will undergo remarkable changes as it was the desire of the shareholders to transform it into a catalyst of development in the region as was originally envisioned by the founders of TAZARA.
“So far, the two regional general managers for Tanzania and Zambia have been made to sign performance-based contracts and all managers are also in the process of signing the contracts. Therefore, we expect a change in the working culture because henceforth everyone has to be result-oriented. Whoever does not perform should either leave voluntarily or be forced out,” said Dr. Ndumbaro.
Dr. Ndumbaro added that the two Governments were serious as can be evidenced by the injection of huge amounts of working capital into the operations of TAZARA.
“What we are witnessing in the history of TAZARA is a precedence as never before has there been so much attention given to the affairs of TAZARA, so we need to reciprocate. We need to play our part by delivering to the expectations of the shareholders and the public in general,” said Dr. Ndumbaro.
The Acting Managing Director also announced the formation of the TAZARA Master Workers’ Council, a new organ in the governance structure of TAZARA.
Dr. Ndumbaro informed the workers’representatives that the formation of the Master Workers’ Council had been approved and the organ was also endorsed by the Council of Ministers, the highest policy organ of TAZARA.
ZANIS
I cannot wait to get on the gravy train
lusaka times is boring now
hahaha you are using public money and you say its unethical to say whats being done? Where did this man work?
That size of your head, we can develop a lot.
Floyd Chitalu just address the issue The Engineer has raised. Honestly what does Chirwa mean by ‘its unethical’ to reveal what ZRL is doing? This is just a load of nonsense! Most likely he just doesnt want to admit that there’s nothing that is happening!
….and where did you work yourself?
@MOJO floyd doesn’t need to have worked anywhere all he is saying is that there are no confidentialities when it comes to public resources.is there anything to be political about.ububi chikkalah
This is clear for anyone to understand – Prof Chirwa, however, said it was unethical to disclose what was currently being done, but assured that the nation would know “very soon” once the process had been concluded.
The problem with Zambians, just because someone is a Prof. you feel you cannot question his actions and you have to praise everything he says. It’s unethical not to explain what you are doing with public funds and not the other way round. No wonder you laugh at everything a white man says. Donchi ukutina umwenso ba mbuli
Just as ZWD aptly summed up this man,he is a hollow proffessor once the 120,000 usd dries up he will just carry his laptop and heard back to england.very tricky character
What project have you undertaken, to make concrete criticisms?
THE PROF IS MISTAKING ZR TO TRADE SECRETS IN CAR AND AEROPLANE DESIGNS.
goodnews indeed. I look forward to the time when I will get in a train faster as a bus. keep on working hard chirwa.
Peace an prosperity to mother Zambia.
It is actually the most ethical thing to disclose what was being done right now – projectwise that is, not salarywise though, if that is what he meant!
If this guy can fix the Railway system and RDA (through Willie) doesnt mess up the Link Zambia 8000, it would be hard to remove PF from power. So PF Government, please do the road and railway network. The rest of the promises you can easily lie e.g 500,000 jobs created, inflation at 0.2%, child mortality rate at 1%, access to safe drinking water 89% etc, etc. Thats the best invisible campaign strategy for you !!
You seem to have the same foolish reasoning as your incompetent government that development is all about building roads.
@5.1 How do you understand development?
All is on course. I noticed that Sata’s government is the first one after Mwanawasa to really focus on Southern Provice and other none traditional areas.
This project makes me feel proud to be a Zambian basa! Go Chirwa Go!
Show us the feasibility study
You are the nay Sayer, why don’t you give us your facts?
Iwe ndipo you are very dull, didn’t you hear what was said about feasibility study? Think or at least research before you undress your thoughts.
“but assured that the nation would know “very soon” once the process had been concluded”.
Whatelse do you want to hear.Which school did you attend?
your dad’s baby class
It would be wise to keep quiet than just yap when you know nothing! If you want to get every detail and monitor how the so called public money is being utilized go there and get the details. By the way how much do you personally contribute to the so called public money? While you have a right to comment try to be objective for once. Pull him Down syndrome pathetic that is why we can’t progress, we talk too much.
With all these work,PF is indeed here to stay. All the best Chirwa and don’t listen to those frustrated Tonga bullz!
Kumwipusha whatmore tuleipusha Banda why can’t we ask this rogue who is here to steal for 3 years
too much publicity
@USELESS BOMA, the problem with you is that you have a complex (inferiority). You just want to be seen to be question a professor even when there is nothing to question. The statement went on to say and I quote ‘but assured that the nation would know “very soon” once the process had been concluded’. Mwasambilile kwisa kanshi?
@KWANDILO PHIRI – thats the spirit. too much PHD aba bantu. How can you say that professor Chirwa came to steal for 3 years as if he will air-lift the railway line when he decides to go? He will leave the line for your a** to ride on.
You are one of those myopic fools who can not read between the lines because of caderism
DJ it’s true what else explains secrecy
With public funds.
Is this site for fights or developmental minds, ZAMBIAN AND GENUINE ZAMBIA do not quarrel over real issues, Lets talk and argue with respect and dignity. INSULTS WILL MAKE THIS SITE LOSE ITS IMPORTANCE, IT WAS CREATED SO THAT YOU CAN CONSTRUCTIVELY WITH GOOD COGNITIVE INTELLECTUAL EXCHANGE OF IDEAS…PLEASE ZAMBIA CAN STILL HAVE GOOD PEOPLE AND THERE ARE THERE ONE OF THEM IS YOU….
Chirwa should know that the $120m will be audited very well when PF govt leaves office.
Why the secrecy in infrastructure upgrade updates? Aren’t the Zambian people stakeholders in the railway line? Who is going to pay back the $750 eurobond when Chirwa and the give me my bonus board is gone? Being an academic does not make one a better manager! Prof Chirwa has excellent academic credidentials, but inadequate managerial experience to manage an organisation the size of ZR. Prof. Chirwa has sound theorectical ideas but impractical in implementation. A caution to fellow Zambians, stop the infatuation with prefixes but should instead think critically, ask tough questions, consider cost effectiveness of programs and cost benefit analysis. That is my two ngwee!