Zimpapers Logo

Lovemore Meya Herald Correspondent
CHITUNGWIZA Municipality is considering coming up with a succession plan to ease workers into key positions as the lack of experts has seen the local authority re-engage retirees. The local authority is mulling rehiring Mr William Govero, the sewerage works superintendent, on a contract basis after his contract expires on December 31.

It is also unclear as to who will replace the director of works, Engineer Maxwell Karenyi, who will be retiring effective December 31 this year. Chitungwiza’s human resources manager, Mrs Mary Mukonyora, put in a request to consider extending Mr Govero’s contract while presenting her monthly report during a full council meeting last week.

“We are seeking council approval for the request to write to the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing seeking authority to employ Mr Govero on contract basis as sewerage works superintendent from January 2018 to September 2019. Mr Govero, who is currently employed in the capacity of sewerage works superintendent, will be retiring on December 31, 2017. However, due to lack of competencies, required skills and maturity within our municipality to replace him just after his retirement, we are requesting for authority to retain him on contract basis to enable effective management of the sewerage treatment plant,” said Mrs Mukonyora.

“One of our plants has just been rehabilitated and is now running while the other part is under rehabilitation until September 2019. The department intends to groom Mr Tonderai Goro, a holder of a diploma in water and sanitisation, who was recently transferred from the health department to take up the position.” Mrs Mukonyora said the municipality wants Mr Govero to be in charge of the rehabilitated plant at least during the defects and liability period ending in September 2019.

“Mr Goro is understudying him. Mr Govero has been working at council since 1975 and was at the sewerage water works since 1994 without succession plan until a few months ago. I think it is worthwhile to tap from him the knowledge of running the sewerage works that he has accumulated over the years before parting ways with him,” she said. Responding to queries on why council has failed to train their employees on time, Eng Karenyi said: “We are completing the rehabilitation works (of the plant) in September 2018 and thereafter we intend to have it run for 12 months under the defects and liability period; that is where we need Mr Govero to train the person who will take over.” However, chairperson of the caretaker commission, Mr Madzudzo Pawadyira, blamed management for failing to manage their human resource issues.