Maravi

Govt terminates TAZARA MD’s contract

Govt terminates TAZARA MD’s contract
By Chibaula Silwamba
Tue 12 Jan. 2010, 04:00 CAT

THE Zambian government has terminated the contract of Tanzania Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) acting managing director Henry Chipewo. According to well-placed sources in the Ministry of Communications and Transport, Chipewo’s contract was terminated on January 4, 2010.

The sources said Ministry of Communications and Transport permanent secretary Dominic Sichinga wrote to Chipewo informing him that TAZARA board of directors meeting held at the firm’s head office in Dar-es-Salaam on December 14, 2009 resolved to terminate his contract.


“Mr Sichinga, in his letter to Mr Chipewo, stated that ‘further to a board resolution at the last board of directors meeting held at TAZARA head office in Dar-es-Salaam on 14th December 2009, I hereby advise that the board has revoked your appointment as acting managing director with immediate effect following the conclusion of the exercise conducted by the board to review the operations of TAZARA.

I, therefore, wish to take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for your positive contributions towards the successful operations of TAZARA during the period you served as its chief executive officer’,” the source explained.

Mr Sichinga further stated that Mr Chipewo’s contributions in enhancing the operations of TAZARA were fully appreciated by the board and the governments of Tanzania and Zambia. He stated: ‘In this regard, I trust that you will make yourself available in future should government call upon your valuable services. I wish you all the best and success in your future endeavours.’

But we are surprised that instead of the board secretary of TAZARA writing to Mr Chipewo and announcing the board’s decision immediately after the meeting in Dar es Salaam, Mr Sichinga as chairman was the one who wrote the letter, which was not even countersigned by his Tanzanian counterpart. This has raised questions about the motive behind Mr Chipewo’s dismissal.”

The sources said Sichinga copied his letter to Tanzanian Ministry of Infrastructure Development permanent secretary Omar Chambo, who is the co-chairman of TAZARA board.

Labels: DOMINIC SICHINGA, HENRY CHIPEWO, TAZARA

posted by MrK @ 7:36 AM