Gvt restructures its Parastatals

By Zivanai Dhewa

In an effort to bring life while minimising continued loss of revenue at State owned enterprises (SOE), Government has started its restructuring exercise of all the 41 parastatals.

On its Twitter page, the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services posted 13 of the State-owned enterprises to be privatised, 12 that are to be listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE) and some that will be departmentalised or liquidated.

 “Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ), Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO), Agribank and some subsidiaries of the Industrial Development Cooperation (IDC) are earmarked for privatisation,” read the post.

Of the parastatals to be listed on the ZSE are, “Petrotrade, Willowvale Motor Industries, Chemplex Corporation and Deven Engineering.”

“Posts and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (Potraz), Powertel, Zamet and Africom; Boxing and Wrestling Boards; Competition Tarrifs and National Competitiveness Commission; ZIA, Special Economic Zones (SEZ), Zimtrade and Joint Venture Unit are to be merged.”

The Ministry further released companies that are up for liquidation among them are, “the National Glass Industries, Zimglass, Kingstons Limited and Tractor firm Motira.”

Ministries are also going to find themselves adopting some parastatals as they assume the status of Government Departments. Of these is the New Ziana which will be under the Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services. Other SOE to be under parent ministries are NEEB, National Liquor Licencing, Board of Censors and the Lotteries and Gaming Board.

The Ministry further listed companies that have been considered for partial privatisation. “Seventeen ZMDC subsidiaries, the Grain Marketing Board (GMB) and Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe will be unbundled to separate their regulatory and commercial functions,” read the post.