The beginning of the end has finally descended on National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) general manager Respina Zinyanduko after the perennially struggling parastatal announced that it was now parting ways with its boss.
In justifying the dismissal of Zinyanduko, the NRZ said the move was in concordance with its ongoing process of realigning and restructuring the organization’s business operations.
“The Board of Directors of the National Railways of Zimbabwe(NRZ) wishes to inform members of the public that Ms Respina Zinyanduko has ceased to be the General Manager of NRZ with effect from 31 January 2025.
This has been necessitated by the need to realign and restructure the NRZ business in line with the expectation of the shareholders,” partly reads a statement from the public entity.
Writing on her social networking platforms, opposition political leader Linda Masarira said Zinyanduko was, instead, fired for negligence,incompetence and several other charges.
Masarira said there was need for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s Government to set up a commission to run the affairs of the NRZ and restore it to its former glory.
Wrote Masarira:
“Respina Zinyanduko has finally been fired. She was fired this morning for negligence, incompetence, and several other charges.
It is very important for @ZACConline to now reopen the dossiers of corruption @NRZ263 that we filed. Kangoma kakaririsa kanenge kakuda kuparuka.
A commission should be put in place to run the affairs of NRZ until it is restored to its former glory and status. NRZ will be the preferred bulk transporter once again soon. A thorough audit should be done especially in the real estate department.”
Once revered for its efficiency, business fortunes at the organization dwindled to alarming levels roundabout the early 2000s when late former President Robert Mugabe’s Government embarked on a controversial agrarian programme.
The chaotic land reform programme drove formerly productive white farmers off their commercial farms and redistributed the land to predominantly landless war veterans.
