By Revelation Editor
The issues happening at the state owned Zambia Railways need very clear and decisive steps to be taken by both the government and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
At the country’s railway company, employees, in correspondence seen by Daily Revelation have demanded through the IDC the dissolution of the Hachipuka led board, over alleged interference in operational management and questions surrounding the use of company resources, among others.
The employees have further asserted that an academically qualified director in charge of operations, Chanda was recently dismissed and replaced with a Sikwatwi, whose qualifications they question.
They have further questioned the engagement of Muleya as human resources director.
They have questioned if the dismissal of Chanda arose from a properly structured restructuring process, objective performance assessments and clearly defined organisational requirements, or if the same was influenced by other motives.
Hachipuka, when contacted by Daily Revelation, branded the allegations against him as unfair.
He actually spoke to some of the issues that the employees have raised, including revealing other details and taking his own spin on matters. For instance, Hachipuka revealed that the company had been ordered to come up with a survival plan, given the many challenges besetting the organisation. Among those challenges include Hachipuka’s revelation that the company was struggling to pay wages at the time of Cuthbert Malindi’s exit as managing director of the railway company.
He also said the company was operating unsustainably by spending 71 ngwee of every Kwacha they were making on wages, which was against the industry norm of 30 ngwee per Kwacha.
He also seemingly defended the appointment is Sikwatwi, saying the railway firm was running based on ability as opposed to academic degrees.
But the workers have pointed to Hachipuka’s age and his alleged ill-health, against the myriad of issues demanding proper leadership to turn the situation around.
They called on IDC to undertake an objective and appropriate assessment of the Hachipuka’s ability to fulfil the essential duties and responsibilities of the office, and that such an assessment should focus on the actual requirements of the role, the capacity to perform its essential functions, continuity of effective leadership and the interests of Zambia Railways.
They called on the IDC to independently investigate the reported statements, examine the documentation supporting the restructuring and explain the criteria used to determine the suitability of the replacement for such a critical technical and managerial position.
”Given the technical complexity and safety critical nature of railway operations, IDC should disclose the minimum qualifications and professional competencies required for the position and explain how the appointee was assessed against those standards,” they wrote. “The review should establish whether the restructuring was justified, whether the selection process was transparent and whether the appointment complies with applicable employment requirements and the company’s approved organisational structure. Employees insist that appointments to critical operational positions must be based on merit, competence, integrity and the long term interests of Zambia Railways.”
Clearly, this rail company is in deep trouble, and problems will only worsen if no decisive steps are taken.
The issues affecting Zambia Railways require resources, but more importantly leadership in terms of managing those resources. It requires a realignment in terms of how the company is managed, including at board level.
However, we are well informed that some of those pushing for these mooted changes are basically focussed on peripheral issues such as the the dislike they have about certain individuals and the regions they hail from. Handling matters in this myopic manner in a company that is clearly on its way down won’t turn around its fortunes.
We urge government and the IDC to take seriously the issues that have arisen at Zambia Railways and to do what is right, as the happenings there do not just affect the employees, management and the board, but the whole Zambia which has a stake in the organisation.
Related
By Revelation Editor
The issues happening at the state owned Zambia Railways need very clear and decisive steps to be taken by both the government and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
At the country’s railway company, employees, in correspondence seen by Daily Revelation have demanded through the IDC the dissolution of the Hachipuka led board, over alleged interference in operational management and questions surrounding the use of company resources, among others.
The employees have further asserted that an academically qualified director in charge of operations, Chanda was recently dismissed and replaced with a Sikwatwi, whose qualifications they question.
They have further questioned the engagement of Muleya as human resources director.
They have questioned if the dismissal of Chanda arose from a properly structured restructuring process, objective performance assessments and clearly defined organisational requirements, or if the same was influenced by other motives.
Hachipuka, when contacted by Daily Revelation, branded the allegations against him as unfair.
He actually spoke to some of the issues that the employees have raised, including revealing other details and taking his own spin on matters. For instance, Hachipuka revealed that the company had been ordered to come up with a survival plan, given the many challenges besetting the organisation. Among those challenges include Hachipuka’s revelation that the company was struggling to pay wages at the time of Cuthbert Malindi’s exit as managing director of the railway company.
He also said the company was operating unsustainably by spending 71 ngwee of every Kwacha they were making on wages, which was against the industry norm of 30 ngwee per Kwacha.
He also seemingly defended the appointment is Sikwatwi, saying the railway firm was running based on ability as opposed to academic degrees.
But the workers have pointed to Hachipuka’s age and his alleged ill-health, against the myriad of issues demanding proper leadership to turn the situation around.
They called on IDC to undertake an objective and appropriate assessment of the Hachipuka’s ability to fulfil the essential duties and responsibilities of the office, and that such an assessment should focus on the actual requirements of the role, the capacity to perform its essential functions, continuity of effective leadership and the interests of Zambia Railways.
They called on the IDC to independently investigate the reported statements, examine the documentation supporting the restructuring and explain the criteria used to determine the suitability of the replacement for such a critical technical and managerial position.
”Given the technical complexity and safety critical nature of railway operations, IDC should disclose the minimum qualifications and professional competencies required for the position and explain how the appointee was assessed against those standards,” they wrote. “The review should establish whether the restructuring was justified, whether the selection process was transparent and whether the appointment complies with applicable employment requirements and the company’s approved organisational structure. Employees insist that appointments to critical operational positions must be based on merit, competence, integrity and the long term interests of Zambia Railways.”
Clearly, this rail company is in deep trouble, and problems will only worsen if no decisive steps are taken.
The issues affecting Zambia Railways require resources, but more importantly leadership in terms of managing those resources. It requires a realignment in terms of how the company is managed, including at board level.
However, we are well informed that some of those pushing for these mooted changes are basically focussed on peripheral issues such as the the dislike they have about certain individuals and the regions they hail from. Handling matters in this myopic manner in a company that is clearly on its way down won’t turn around its fortunes.
We urge government and the IDC to take seriously the issues that have arisen at Zambia Railways and to do what is right, as the happenings there do not just affect the employees, management and the board, but the whole Zambia which has a stake in the organisation.
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