HARARE–
Former
Zanu
PF
political
commissar
and
Tobacco
Industry
and
Marketing
Board
(TIMB)
board
member
Lieutenant
General
(retired)
Engelbert
Rugeje
has
accused
the
Minister
of
Agriculture
of
continuously
blocking
the
appointment
of
a
substantive
chief
executive
officer
for
the
board.
Emmanuel
Matsvaire
has
served
as
the
acting
chief
executive
officer
since
September
2022,
following
the
dismissal
of
Meanwell
Gudu.
Rugeje
was
giving
oral
evidence
before
parliament’s
Portfolio
Committee
on
Lands,
Agriculture,
Fisheries,
Water,
and
Rural
Development
on
Tuesday,
where
TIMB
directors
were
questioned
about
the
delayed
CEO
appointment.
He
said
the
continued
failure
to
appoint
a
substantive
CEO
has
created
a
toxic
environment
within
the
organisation.
“The
absence
of
a
substantive
CEO
has
caused
significant
toxicity,”
Rugeje
said.
“But
we
thought,
as
a
committee
that
oversees
our
industry,
you
could
assist
in
resolving
this
issue.
The
situation
is
far
from
ideal—there
are
numerous
challenges.
“Some
of
the
issues
being
raised
are
directly
related
to
the
absence
of
a
permanent
CEO.
If
we
had
one,
many
of
these
problems
would
be
alleviated.
We
are
handicapped
as
a
board
without
leadership.”
Rugeje
appealed
for
the
committee’s
support
in
ensuring
the
appointment
of
a
new
CEO.
“We
need
your
assistance
in
ensuring
we
put
proper
structures
in
place
and
appoint
the
right
candidates
for
these
critical
roles,”
he
said.
“The
industry
is
in
a
good
place,
but
there
is
toxicity.
There
is
too
much
interference—not
just
within
management,
but
also
from
external
pressures.
“There
are
vested
interests,
including
politicians,
businesspeople,
and
traders,
who
want
to
know
what
is
happening
at
TIMB.
“If
we
do
not
resolve
the
CEO
issue
soon,
the
‘elephant
in
the
room’
will
continue
to
linger.”
TIMB
board
chairman
Patrick
Devenish
noted
that
the
final
decision
rested
with
the
Minister
of
Agriculture,
Anxious
Masuka.
“As
a
board,
we
have
done
our
part
by
identifying
the
right
organisation
to
assist
in
finding
suitable
candidates.
“We
are
now
in
the
final
stages
of
creating
a
shortlist,
which
we
will
submit
to
the
minister,”
Devenish
stated.