Heads to roll at RTG

Recently American RB star, Akon and Jamaican artist, Sean Paul refused to stay at Rainbow Towers Hotel when they visited Zimbabwe for a performance, after learning that Jamaican duo, Brick and Lace, had not water during their visit to the country.

Sources at RTG told The Zimbabwean that several top managers, among them Group Operations Director, Lewis Chasakara, as well as the Company secretary, group human resources director and group auditor, were facing the axe as the hotel group struggles to spruce up its image after embarrassing international reports of lack of water.

Most senior managers are being targeted for dismissal because they are being blamed for the deteriorating conditions and services at our hotels. These managers are being fired under the guise that it is a retrenchment exercise which will affect most employees, said a manager at RTG.

He said some of the managers were facing allegations of corruption after procuring sub-standard water pumps and other equipment at an inflated cost. Others were also accused of hiring incompetent relatives and friends resulting in deteriorating services.

Auditors are currently looking at our books, because it is suspected that money was being diverted by some of the managers, said the source.

However, RTG spokesperson Eltar Nengomasha could not name the managers who were set for retrenchment, saying the exercise was targetting specific individuals.

Nengomasha also said the unavailability of water at the Rainbow Towers was temporary and was a result of maintenance work that was being carried out to ensure an efficient supply of water to guests rooms.

Nengomasha said RTG had embarked on a US$15 million refurbishment project, with the Rainbow Towers taking the larger sum.

RTG is the second largest tourism group in the country after Africa Sun, and owns Rainbow Towers Hotel, Harare International Conference Centre, a number of hotels across the country as well as 60 per cent stakes in Touch the Wild Resorts and Tourism Services Zimbabwe.