Wed, 29 Mar 2017 12:43:06 +0000
By VIOLET TEMBO
PARASTATAL companies should diversify their operations to reap profits and contribute to the Treasury, says Transport and Communications Minister Brian Mushimba.
Mr Mushimba said parastatals under his ministry should not wait for Government grants but generate innovative ideas that could turn around the financial status of the firms.
He was speaking in Ndola during a handover of two panel vans donated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to Zampost.
Mr Mushimba commended the Zambia Postal Services Corporation (ZAMPOST) for coming up with innovations to sustain its operations.
He said for parastatal companies to survive they needed to adapt to changes in technology.
“I must commend Zampost for their innovations to sustain this company because the company was almost becoming obsolete. With the new innovations the company is on track,” he said.
Mr Mushimba urged other parastatal companies to emulate Zampost and diversify in order to continue being in business.
He said Zampost had introduced a number of innovations which included e-letter service and the acquisition of the deposit-taking licence for Zampost microfinance among other services.
Mr Mushimba stated that with the transformation that has taken place, Zampost was transitioning and becoming one of the parastatals that had changed its face.
Mr Mushimba also advised companies to audit themselves, clean their books and embrace technology to deliver value to the shareholder which was Government.
He said the vehicles that had been donated would help enhance service delivery and that the company should put them to good use.
And Zampost chairperson Elizabeth Kachamba said the vehicles would enable the company improve quality and services delivery to its customers.
Ms Kachamba said the vehicles would also enhance the corporation’s transport capabilities in the regions where they would be allocated.
Zampost master general McPherson Chanda said the company still had life in it and employees should always strive to find new ways of sustaining it.
