Zim journos get the sack

Published Jul 29, 2015

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Harare - The Mail & Guardian’s Zimbabwe outlet, Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) - publishers of NewsDay, Zimbabwe Independent and The Standard – has served letters of contract termination to more than 30 employees using a controversial recent Supreme Court ruling.

Zimbabwean investor Trevor Ncube owns about 77.69 percent of M&G and about 60 percent in AMH. In Zimbabwe, he also owns Multi-Strand Printers and Munn Marketing, distributors of the newspaper.

The Supreme Court two weeks ago ruled employers could terminate workers’ contracts with three-months notice rather than go the retrenchment and packages route.

Sources at AMH said 18 inserters were handed their letters on Tuesday morning, while several others in the editorial department were handed theirs later after lunch.

“There was panic when the letters started flying around. Everyone was confused and you could see it in the staffers’ eyes that everyone was afraid they would go home, worse when the economy is so tight,” a source said.

“Editorial guys started receiving letters a little after lunch and the contract terminations are with immediate effect. So far, about four have been handed the letters yet it’s said the number should reach 11 in editorial.”

NewsDay sports editor Wellington Toni was said to be the biggest casualty in the editorial department, with a sub editor, a proof reader, a news reporter also falling victim to the axe.

“What is happening is that most of those being served the letters have records in their files. Some were sitting on final warnings, while others had their issues as well,” the source added.

More were said to face the chop Wednesday, especially those from Munn Marketing.

About two years ago, AMH retrenched close to 200 workers in a staff rationalisation exercise and wanted to add 70 more.

Two weeks ago, Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe - publishers of Daily News and Weekend Post – sacked eight reporters and three sub editors using the Supreme Court ruling.

ANA

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