Business Writer
Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board (TIMB) board member, Engelbert Rugeje, has appealed to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development for assistance in resolving the delayed appointment of a chief executive.
Appearing before the committee alongside his chairman, Patrick Devenish and another board member Rob Webb on Tuesday, Rugeje, who is also the chairman of the human resources committee, said the current situation was causing significant challenges that could disrupt the smooth operations of the country’s tobacco regulatory board.
Emmanuel Matsvaire has been acting chief executive since September 2022 after replacing Meanwell Gudu.
“We thought you as a committee has oversight of our industry, you could also be of immense assistance in solving this issue of the CEO,” said Rugeje. Why am I saying that? There is a lot of toxicity at TIMB.
The situation is not as rosy as some of you would want it to be. There are a lot of problems there. Some of the issues that are being raised here are as a result of the absence of a substantive CEO. If we have a substantive CEO tomorrow, all some these problems will fall away,” Rugeje added.
Rugeje explained that despite the board’s submission of recommended candidates on two occasions, whom they deemed suitable for the position, the parent ministry rejected all of them.
“We are handicapped as your board,” said Rugeje. “We need your assistance to help us make sure that we put proper structures, we put ideal candidates in the position to help us. There are a lot of interferences, not only within management itself or among us (the board), but externally.
“We can feel external pressures. There are a lot of vested interest in TIMB. Politicians, business people, you know, traders, ordinary people want to know what is happening. If we do not resolve this issue of the CEO quickly, the elephant in the room will always be in,” said Rugeje.
Earlier, in response to a question from Committee Chairman Felix Maburutse (Chivi South MP) regarding the board’s evaluation of Matsvaire, Rugeje said that he had performed very well, as evidenced by the industry’s growth over the past three years.
Devenish had previously submitted statements echoing those sentiments.
“He is technically very sound,” said Devenish. “He has the knowledge of the industry. His network, most importantly, is growing. He has done a good job and he has impressed the board.”
Nonetheless, committee members interrupted and expressed dissent when another board member Rob Webb, while recognising the accomplishments of the current management under Matsvaire, proposed that “new blood at the TIMB” was necessary. This suggestion met with significant disapproval from the committee.
The committee received an update on the readiness for the 2025 tobacco season, commencing tomorrow (Wednesday).
Furthermore, the committee raised concerns regarding Devenish’s engagement in the “day-to-day” management of TIMB, considering his position as a non-executive board member and the ongoing legal proceedings against him.
Devenish responded by clarifying that his bail terms allowed him to fulfill his responsibilities and refuted any claims of interfering in TIMB’s operational affairs.
The is on bail on two charges of criminal abuse of office.
