MUTASA North MP Luke Masamvu (Zanu PF) and traditional leaders yesterday reportedly ordered management at Nyanga Renewable Energy (NRE) to employ ruling party youths only at the company’s power generation projects.
BY CLAYTON MASEKESA
NRE is establishing hydropower projects on Duru River in Mutasa Central constituency, another one along Nyamhungira River and in Zindi ward three in Mutasa North constituency. Nyangani already operates three similar hydropower stations in Manicaland –Nyamigura and Duru which produce 1,1 megawatts (MW) each and Pungwe which produces 3,85MW, feeding into the national grid.
Masamvu reportedly issued the directive during a closed-door meeting attended by NRE general manager Rob Goddard, traditional leaders, Zanu PF youths and three local headmen and councillor Thomas Pambare where the company was to follow a given list of Zanu PF youths provided by the headmen.
Although Masamvu could not be reached for comment yesterday, sources said the meeting was chaired by a Zanu PF activist identified as Amon Chiocha.
Sources said Masamvu reportedly also ordered the company to employ members of his Johane Marange apostolic sect. The management was further threatened with unspecified action if they failed to abide by the directive. The three headmen who attended the meeting were Tsanzi Nyakunuwa, Enoch Zindi and Onias Madirawe while Tapiwa Zvirahwa and Jiboni Mapeta represented Zanu PF youths.
“In the meeting Goddard was ordered to use the list of names of youths to be employed that will be provided to him by the Zanu PF youth representatives and traditional leaders,” a party insider said.
Last week, Goddard stopped the recruitment exercise and refused to follow the list supplied by traditional leaders after main opposition MDC-T youths protested against the move. A company employee who declined to be named said: “We are also shocked by this. It is sad that our operations as a company have been politicised. Usually we recruit people from the gate. We do not recruit personnel on political grounds like what we are now being forced to do.” Mutasa Central MP and MDC-T Manicaland provincial spokesperson Trevor Saruwaka yesterday deplored the move.
