Zimpapers Logo

Michael Magoronga Midlands Correspondent
Acting Ziscosteel board chairman Dr Gift Mugano has spelled out his vision that is premised on the need to resuscitate the steel giant using domestic innovations.

Dr Mugano, together with four other members, was appointed a fortnight ago to replace the Nyasha Makuvise-led board which was retired by Government after more than a decade in office.

In an interview, Dr Mugano expressed his wish to see the iron and steel giant being resuscitated using local resources.

“We feel that there is a great scope of domestic innovations that we can use for the resuscitation of the company,” he said.

“Of course, that can change as we go on and as we sit down and get to acquaint ourselves with the situation on the ground. But it is my wish that we use locally available resources and innovations to resuscitate the company.”

A renowned economist, Dr Mugano said it was not easy for the company to get investors outside given it was on the sanctions list. He said the new board was embarking on familiarisation tours to acquaint themselves with the operations of the company.

“We need to understand how the company relates with NRZ, Sable Chemicals, Lancashire Steel, Hwange Colliery and a whole lot of other downstream industries,” he said.

Dr Mugano expressed confidence that the company will be back to full operations in a short period of time.

“Of course, our major objective is that the company gets back to employing about 3 800 workers,” he said.

The new board has a huge task ahead following reports that an impending deal between Government and Hong Kong based R and F Company is failing to materialise.

A number of foreign investors have been courted by Government as it seeks to revive the steel giant.