The new management of the Zambia Railways Limited (ZRL) has vowed to positively transform the railway company and produce satisfactory results that will gratify Zambians.
Zambia Railways Limited Acting Director Muyenga Atanga said his team understands the challenges the company was facing and was therefore determined to address them accordingly.
Dr. Atanga, who is also Transport and Communications Permanent Secretary, said Zambia Railways has a team of engineers and other professional who were capable of revitalising the company into a profitable venture.
He said this in Kabwe yesterday during a joint meeting between ZRL senior management and their counterparts of the Tanzania- Zambia Railways Authority (TAZARA), which was aimed at strategizing on the ways of making cargo move efficiently in Zambia.
He said his management has engaged TAZARA because the Zambia Railways Limited has realized that moving cargo requires concerted efforts with companies that are experienced in moving bulky loads.
“We have identified our problem as ZR. We have come together and have developed a common strategy where the mines have realized the importance of ZR and are giving us a cargo hence the need to reposition,” he said.
Dr. Atanga also disclosed that his company’s department of marketing has been directed to reach all customers and tell them what ZRL can now do so that they were aware that the company has awakened for a better future.
And speaking at the same meeting, TAZARA Managing Director Roan Phiri said his company will assist Zambia Railways to work effectively.
Mr. Phiri said TAZARA will participate fully in revamping the Zambia Railways.
ZANIS
Tazara is limping and it needs transformation itself. what transformation can it offer Zambia Railways?yes work together to transport goods but you need someone with vision to transform the rail line to international acceptable standards.
Just one year before we hit half a decade (50 years-after independence) surely we should be able to utilize our own locally Zambian. Yes Prof Chirwa was a good start but he has in a way eroded confidence in those in Diaspora for the love of Money before he could deliver. I can believe Dr Atanga’s, his concept of harnessing the local bred engineers and transform Zambia Railways is a way to go. The solutions are within us we do not need to go head hunt all you need is to advertise jobs, and be open minded, let the qualified people get the jobs, and pay them handsomely to motivate. This will encourage them to devote 100% than switch their mind to creating tuntemba for their offshore surplus to make up
Prof fimofimo should be history.
My friend Atanga is a politically appointed civil servant! I don’t see him going far with this project because Clive is coming back on the job! He has been merely suspended pending investigations and the last time I checked: The law states you are presumed innocent until you are proved guilty! As for the Diaspora loving money, why do you a patriotic Zambian go and volunteer your time at ZR!
Ok this Atanga guy sounds more serious and talks practical things than wishful Prof Chirwa. But is he not just a caretaker MD? He talks like he is already confirmed!!!
Pa zed kuicaila whether confirmed or not. Lol
Sounds like a political rally speech to me. No plan on how he hopes to revamp the company. All i hear is what will happen to the company and not how. Just like we always hear politicians talk about how they will build A,B,C,D but never on how they will acquire the money to do so.
Yes they have $120M but they have not outlined a plan on how they will wisely spend it to revamp the company.
Ok this Dr guy sounds more serious and talks practical things than wishful Prof kaya. But is he not just a caretaker MD? He talks like he is already confirmed!!!
Very good news indeed to hear.Keep it up and all the best of luck in your duties
Dr Atanga if not mistaken before he became what he is today today, he must have taught Agric-Agribusiness/economist part-time at UNZA . From a few lectures he handled to fill the gaps, One concept he taught that may not be forgotten easily is having a vision and trustworthy in order to do any business, Well the vision has been laid by Prof Chirwa, all he needs is to assemble a good team of implementors. I mean its like most us are Landlords, yet we are not builders, architectures to design our dream houses, carpenters or plumbers, etc all am saying is identify skilled persons for the job. and manage them, period
Walasa mwandi .
jajabinghx there is a saying by Bemabas that ….Akanani kantu kali pambale,
(the relish is what is on the table).
I mean if you are given a car to take people from point A to B, on the driving seat, at that time you are a driver, and you got to behave like one or else you may not even get started. Indeed good luck for him.
are you digging any tunnels like your colleague bwana Atanga?
Dr Atanga I like your drive. Work like your last day on earth.
TAZARA started running about 1975. ZL has been running before independence. Both entities jave been moving cargo. Does it mean all this time span this railway systyems never worked together? Come on please something else is amiss. The main problem has been chewing more cash than was generated. The cash was realized from moving cargo ended up being misapplied or misappropriated. That has been the major problem timein memorial. Thats why there has been poor maintenance of tracks, locomotives and trailers. Usually, so much is spent on conferences, serminars, allowances, etc. Which are avoidable. Correspondences by letters, emails etc can take place of expensive travels. Business minds will look at the ratio of input to output, and learn to operate within mean.
Just sort out the mindless spending of money, Atanga, thats the main problem. Anyone who will do value for money work at ZR will help the country. Tighten the means of misuse, misapplication and misappropriation of capital and operational funds. That will be a milestone. This is not mean statement, those who spend what they never earned spend it careless and they keep spending then keep asking for more of it. Meanwhile their results is dismal but shout the loudest of problems and need for money. Crack this puzzle at ZR, Atanga.
Please people, Dr Atanga has only been at ZRL for a short time, this meeting he attended was arranged well before time by Prof Chirwa as CEO, including all the things Dr Atanga has mentioned. Those who listened to Chirwa’s interview will attest to this. Let Chirwa be brought back to revive our system, give him his conditions which should be attached to performanc. If as CEO he gets good money, the benefits will trickle to all other ZRL employees and remember ZRL is a massive institutions. if the C.EO gets 15 million kwacha, what will the chief engineers and down to a clerk get? its time to make the institution profitable and improve the conditions of service.
I appreciate your statement that there is a team of Engineers to help transform the company. That is the way to go Dr Atanga… Lets all get down to real work, do and achieve things that really matter. Thanks
Talk is cheap! We Zambians are known for this…..
Will believe it when i see it!
Thats a positive start Dr Atanga,it is the only way forward. I believe ZRL will be revamped with your mindset Sir!… At the moment LET us all forget completely about some parasite called Pro Chirwa and move forward with the project.!!
from look of things it seems my cousin Prof Chirwa will be forgotten soon with his brilliant ideas he came with from the diaspora.
Chirwa is still the man for the job, lets remember that the problem at ZR to which an investigation is taking place has nothing to do with failure to execute the plans, but greed, red tape and self -importance of the Chonas, Saasas and fellow board members. The man with the know-how and tools to revamp ZR is Clive Chirwa, all he needs is support on the admin side of things. I hope this suspension will serve as an electric shock for him to sober up and realise that unreasonable perk demands are way too early for a patient in ZR’s condition. Until the company can make some profit in a newly revamped railway company CEO Chirwa must keep calm. This is his baby.
True my man!!
Chirwa is still the man for the job, lets remember that the problem at ZR to which an investigation is taking place has nothing to do with failure to execute the plans, but greed, red tape and self -importance of the Chonas, Saasas and fellow board members. The man with the know-how and tools to revamp ZR is Clive Chirwa, all he needs is support on the admin side of things. I hope this suspension will serve as an electric shock for him to sober up and realise that unreasonable perk demands are way too early for a patient in ZR’s condition. Until the company can make some profit in a newly railway company CEO Chirwa must keep calm. This is his baby.
Allow Chirwa to carry implement his vision. We all make mistakes. Fortunately nothing came to fruition, regarding percentages, etc.
Allow Chirwa to implement his vision. We all make mistakes. Fortunately nothing came to fruition, regarding percentages, etc.
Chirwa is the man for the job….Its really unfortunate to see someone with a vision to be interogated for nothing.Chirwa is being frastrated by the Saasa and Chona.
We are aware that there are some chaps in the Goverment who dont want Chirwa to contribute to the development of ZR because of the flights (Trucks) they have which will mean there businesses will come to a halt once Chirwa implements his vision and goals.
Its again unfortunate that the president (M.C.Sata) is paddling the boart alone and the pepeople he has trusted are always dissapointing him by doing wrong things that shall never supported by anyone.
I wish we had atleast 50 people who were like SATA and this country can mve forward bt as long as there are these chaps are in government,nothing will happen.
CHIRWA is the…
Political interference is cancerous. PF lookout for your opponents who have successfully managed to sabotage your vision for ZRL. The board acted very unprofessional. Appointing Dr. Atanga as ZRL act. CEO further derails the prof’s vision. PF lookout for most of these boards…ZESCO , ERB…etc.
Talk, talk, talk. If you Zambians are capable of revamping ZR, why then is it still in a sorry state? It is best to admit that the challenge is way above your expertise (or lack of). Invite those who have experience and have done this before. How on earth can Mr. Atanga believe he can deliver? this is just a continued utter waste of money.
This ZRL saga is the begging of PFs downfall. Oyo uulemana eluke .I saw Dr Antanga talk on on ZNBC news.My observation is that the man knows nothing.His body language spelled it all.His gestures and loud voice potrayed a concoction of confusion.Mr Guy Scott ,we know you to be a man dignity.You loyalty to this nation is unquestionable. Step up and correct the situation.Mr Sata remember those days when parastatals like NCZ were delebarately chocked by interested parties within government… Anyway, to cut the long story short, you have to bring back Chirwa. Just renegotiate his contract if that is possible.
You are right Dr. ZR has a team of engineers and other professional who are capable of revitalising the company into a profitable venture & this is true about the entire Zambia. The only problem with us Zambians is that we are too docile to think & move on our own unless Sata pushes us to do that & this must stop. This can only stop once we believe in ourselves and develop the can do attitude and realise our strengths and weaknesses. We also need to develop the sense of urgency in order to compete & survive on international level. What we need is a corporate team builder & player at ZRL but not a professor per se without corporate experience. Keep it up Dr. we can do it. If Harve Renard did it with all Zambian players, why can’t we do it (did it)?
Zambians, the luck of focus generally is all politicians capitalize becoz, in Zambia it only takes me know to spell state house to be president, yet we as a nation do not even know what is really wrong, that which is causing economic stagnation. what really needs to be done, the core issue, we don’t, coz, most debates i read are like two Grade 12 from some secondary school debating on what should be done to reduce HIV infection, very boring debate. core issues are what should move the economy forward, what should transform the country, the rail line is one such engine, but it is not those appointed (politically) but government commitment and strategy, strategy being the ultimate objective, like a transportation or tourism, but at what cost and to what benefit and at which level, and…
What is Atanga ‘s profile. Where has he succeded in the corporate world. I think its time to advertise that job, and lets all participate properly. Why cant the job be opened up on the Zambian market, rather than using this parocial system.
Cannot trust a Political Appointee to run any organization effectively, this is the end of any innovation. Another failed Initiative. If he cannot transform his ministry what makes him good to transform Zambia Railways?? I am sure he is on two salaries?? Why not empower another Zambian?? MA RUBBISH CHABE??
More Folly
Wishing ZR management well,politics aside
ZRL doesn’t need someone who just understands the problems the firm is going through. ZRL needs a visionally, and that’s what PROF CHIRWA is.
Glad to hear the ACC will be concluding there Investigations. Can we have PROF Chirwa back on duty next week please.
What exactly will Chirwa do? Build you an underground rail? Stop building up some chap without any management profile nor experience in running a rail company!
“If Malawi did it, we can also did it”
I’m sure by engineers he means retired and the current ones still working at ZRL!!
BUT HOW WILL THE RAILWAY LINE BE REHABILITSTED WHEN ZRL HAS ‘ALLOWED’ HOUSES TO BE CONSTRUCTED BY SQUATTTERS WITHIN 50 METRES OF THE RAILWAY LINE
Reality check for all the vuvuzela for Clive – the die is cast and once confidence eroded there is no going back. So it is bye bye Clive. He has been politicised for the position of CEO to the extent that it now appears to be an elective post for a politician. Ask yourselves, “when in the history of Zambia have you seen such misplaced cry over an individual for a CEO position in a parastatal organisation?” Never and yet we have had fantastic executives that run Parastatals in the Kaunda era – the fact that they failed had nothing to do with their abilities but resource constraints of the country namely forex for importation of raw materials and lack of reinvestment/recapitalization in the mines. Let sleeping dogs lie and allow Clive to return to his lecturing life.