Transport Minister Felix Mhona has defended the appointment of former Zanu-PF politburo member, Colonel (Retired) Tshinga Dube (81) to the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) board.
Mhona triggered outcry after it emerged that he had appointed Dube to the parastatal that needed serious restructuring and modern technology.
The Minister and government faced backlash from the general public arguing that the organisation needed fresh and young blood.
NRZ is currently struggling to stay afloat amid allegations of corruption which have dampened prospects of its resuscitation.
Addressing journalists in Harare yesterday, Mhona said the appointment of Dube came after much consideration of competence.
“These are some of the concerns. Imagine someone who is out of the country will then be seized with the matter of the age of Tshinga Dube while turning a blind eye to what he is doing to help the organization,” he said.
Dube himself, yesterday came in the open and defended himself telling NewsDay that his brains were still stable, with capacity to head NRZ.
“I was appointed by my President Emmerson Mnangagwa who is the appointing authority. If you have queries, go and ask him. l have committed no sin to be appointed to the NRZ board, after all l am not the chief executive officer.
“I don’t work on my feet, but I use my brains, and my brain is still stable. l have been in the industry for many years, and have sat on over 20 boards worldwide.
“l have resuscitated many companies and I don’t care what people say since I would not be able to answer to all of them,” Dube said.
NRZ said Dube would serve for three years on the board whose term ends on December 6, 2025.
Journalist and political commentator Hopewell Chin’ono tweeted a video of an NRZ train and wrote “This is the state of the National Railways of Zimbabwe trains due to historic incompetence and massive looting of public funds under 42 years of ZANUPF corrupt rule.
“Appointing an 81 year old man is a middle finger gesture to Zimbabweans at this time!” he tweeted.
He is an old man what is he going to do at the board?
Nyika isina retirement.wotonzwa youth rinoti zanu inotigonera.
Youth yacho yonwa zvayo mutoriro motiyashata all hope inenge yapera kana 81 yr old aguma ura zvese achitora basa rekuti youth isimukewo zvonziii manje
Raymond Borewore how is the boss?
81yrs vange vachaona izvozvi chigaro ichi chiri kupihwa umwe mudhara ane 70yrs nyika iri kuvakwa nevaridzi vayo
Ndopamunovona kuti youth irikuyitiswa
Woti pamberi nezvakadaro
Ko madii kuisa java kana towers vanenge vachiri neenergy than mukweguru uyu
Haaa mdara uyu ari intelligent ndomuketa n he s going to bring some changes…. Nhas zvangu 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Ronald Gatsi gatsi hameno!
Ronald Gatsi hazvina basa izvo he is old
Ottis Zwinyembao kkkkkk
Mudhara uyu haasi munin’ina waEnias Chikore here????? Kkklkl
Pic iro rava ne 15 yrs richingotenderera, hamunawo here current one
Takawira M Skume Skume kikik wati 15 yrs here Ko kuzoti current haaiii 🙌🏽
Bridget Masengere current one, ndofunga hapana kana kumira mushe kkkkkk
Takawira M Skume Skume hapana munhu 😂😂😂😂
Takawira M Skume Skume nemashatiro ayo kungave ne current. Vana vangafenda regai vatumire irori ratajara
Takawira M Skume Skume face iyo ndeye goods train🤭
Takawira M Skume Skume vanhu vanovhunduka ka
Takawira M Skume Skume kkkkk akomana mucharohwa nazvo izvi
Imhuka ipi iyiii guys
MuZanu PF imomo there is a lot of young and educated people who can do this work better than this Retired Cde
Wilson Claki Nyakoko There is no genuine educated youth in Zanu pf.
Keepwell Zuzumbe have been in🇿🇼 Government offices they are many educated people but chiZanu ndoproblem. Usavadherere mune vanhu vanofunga but the problem is moving forward ⏩⏩⏩⏩
Wilson Claki Nyakoko maybe they must mix youth & experience,!
I personally like Tshinga Dube,a cool guy !
BUT @ 81 he is now ancient & need some rest & reflect on his career !!
Wilson Claki Nyakoko Most of them are below average students but they used Zanu pf to be in those gvt positions. I know a lot of idiots who undeservingly got jobs using Zanu pf and some even enrolled with universities having poor A level points. Majority of them are qualified and working in gvt Departments.
Ncagu Sbhamusogodo KaSibungusodaka There are people older than him in gvt
Wilson Claki Nyakoko hazvibatsire vajaira educated vari corrupt…Zanu things
😂
🥲😳💔
Haaa ngavaende kunozorora vanoda kuzozororera kumakuva here,kusanyara
Pure madness
Kana vakanzi ndiye akadya cement haurambe
Ummmm ngavapewo mukana vechidiki madhara aya.
Ko minister angagoti chii ? Anotya kudzingwa basa kana kutonzi ndewe CCC. Izvi hazvidi kuvhunzira, igaroziva kuti at 65 yrs munhu anotora penjeni anogara achitamba nevazukuru. Kwete kuti harahwa ine 80chakuti inopinda basa, pwere dzichichema kuti kunyika hakuna mabasa. 😢 😡
81 years really
Do anyone have a photo of his children
Tinyareiwo guys
Face inenge jende
Hapana kwatikuenda neface dzemvuu
This is rubbish man.