Mutayachalo protests dismissal of Zesco directors

Mon, 05 Dec 2016 08:38:40 +0000

By Annie Zulu

THE dismissal of top directors at ZESCO is not a good move, especially at a time when the power utility company was facing a number of challenges, Former National Energy Sector and Allied Workers Union General Secretary (NESAWU) Yotam Mtayachalo has said. ZESCO managing director Victor Mundende fired five directors at the State-run power utility company. Mr. Mtayachalo, who is also an ex-employee of ZESCO, bemoaned the move, saying it was unfair. He suggested that there was need for continuity at the power utility company particularly now when the company and the country at large was facing power challenges. “The rate at which directors are being dismissed at the power utility company is worrying and the dismissal of senior directors at ZESCO is a very sad development. I just hope that this action is in the best interest of the power utility company. “I may not know the reason of their dismissal, however, I strongly feel the dismal is not healthy for the power utility company, which is already facing a number of challenges such as power deficit. As a person who has worked there, I think there is no continuity at the company,” he said. Mr. Mtayachalo also suggested that Government should revisit the employment of directors on contract. He noted that employing directors on contract only made them vulnerable as it did not provide job security for them. “Directors are employed on contract, but I don’t think this has worked well for ZESCO, they are being fired anyhow. There is no job security for directors at ZESCO as they keep on replacing them. I just hope the Union at the company will look into this issue and speak out because it is now getting out of hand,” Mr. Mtayachalo said