Allied Timbers on its knees

By Ray Bande

A stress grading machine used in the value addition process of timber products which was at Allied Timbers’ Nyakamete industrial site station in Mutare was removed to a destination that only heavens know where. The Antediluvian Door Plant machinery that is at the same site is no longer working.

The six-cutter machine, employed in the main product blundering as well as PAR timber, is almost obsolete given the lengthy period that the machinery has been used.

MTA Press machinery that is commonly used for joining timber figures in the laminating section is equally old. The incinerator at Allied Timbers-owned Erin Estate is in itself a time bomb as it continues to be used in its dilapidated state that poses real danger to employees at the estate as well as property at the premises.

Remaining contractors doing various jobs for Allied Timbers are dragging their feet in their operations owing to outstanding payment of services rendered.

As if that was enough, cases of employees collapsing during working hours owing to hunger are common as the company reels under seven months’ wage arrears, with the timber producing concern failing to meet its salary obligation.

Such is the story state of affairs, characterised by antiquated machinery and shocking assert stripping that the new company leadership inherited at Allied Timbers.

As widely expected to be confirmed in the forensic audit report to be made public soon, the company had become a little banana republic where alleged uncontrolled looting of assets had become a norm with the powers that be at that time being the main culprits.

Today, the Government owned concern now pisn its hopes on the company’s recapitalisation process that is expected to see almost $1,1million being injected into the coffers of the ailing timber processing company.

During a media tour of the company’s premises in Mutare and estates in Nyanga last week, Allied Timbers public relations manager, Ms Veronica Gutu, told journalists that the company was receiving assistance from IDBZ and Agribank meant to resuscitate production and possibly boost revenues.

“Allied Timbers got assistance from IDBZ and Agribank. We are also waiting for the Government of Belarus facility. As you can see we have got antiquated machinery.

“All along we have been practising cannibalism whereby we have been getting some pieces of equipment from one machine to place on another just for production to carry on.

“We are looking at recapitalisation. Right now we have stopped contract millers who we were paying with timber. We would give them 50 percent of the timber, but we really were running at a loss. We stopped them when their contracts expired in December.

“We are also looking at revamping our workshops so that we will not outsource some of the services that we need,” said Ms Gutu.

The company’s workers committee chairperson, Mr Munei Muziyawo, told journalists that morale was at an all time low among the Allied Timbers workforce.

“It is sad that morale is at an all time low among Allied Timbers workers. Workers are owed seven months salaries. It is also sad that some shades, machinery and fence were stripped off and we do not know where they were taken to.

“Since 2002 when we closed the central workshop we have been outsourcing services such as vehicle repairs, but that is no longer viable. As we speak, workers are walking long distances to come to work simply because our staff bus is grounded.

“We sincerely hope that the recapitalisation process will resuscitate production levels and boost revenue so that workers can get their dues,” he said.

Allied Timbers Zimbabwe (Pvt) Ltd is a private company which is wholly owned by the Government of Zimbabwe and runs Erin Estate, Nyangui Estate, ATZ Saligna, Stapleford Estate, Cashel Estate, Gwindingwi Estate, Chimanimani Estate (Chisengu, Tarka and Martin Estate), Gungunyana Estate, Mutewu Estate (Mvuma)

Its operations involve plantations, harvesting, and processing, marketing and retailing of both pine and gum.

Allied Timbers Zimbabwe’ operations are highly concentrated in the Eastern Highlands, Midlands and Matabeleland.

Allied Timbers specialises in sawn timber, poles, and other value added timber based products such as doors, flooring and block-boards, brandaring, trusses as well as honey, which it sells at branches in all major towns and cities.

In its operations, Allied Timbers exports products to Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and South Africa. Manica Post