STATE broadcaster Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC)
has finally let go of senior executive Tazzen Mandizvidza, whom it accuses of
improperly benefiting from allowances running into a million dollars.
The corporation early this month launched a legal bid to
recover the money, accusing Mandizvidza of reneging on a promise to settle the
debt, which totals $1 083 362. But before the matter was concluded at the High
Court, ZBC chief executive officer Patrick Mavhura suspended Mandizvidza
without pay.
“It has come to our attention that efforts by the board of
directors to have an out-of-court settlement to recover $1 083 000 you
allegedly prejudiced the corporation as per the KPMG forensic report of
November 2014 yielded no results,” Mavhura said in a letter dated October 23.
“Given the gravity of the matter and the failure to make
headway, despite numerous endeavours by the board of directors to engage, you
are, hereby, placed on leave without pay and benefits with immediate effect
pending determination of the issues that have arisen as a result of your acts
of omission and commission, which have prejudiced the corporation.”
Mavhura added that Mandizvidza would go through the normal
disciplinary procedures.
“The resolution of the issues that have arisen will be done
in accordance with the corporation’s relevant procedures and due processes .
“You are not permitted to enter the corporation premises
unless specifically arranged and agreed with the undersigned. You are also not
allowed to do corporation business during the suspension period,” the letter
further read.
Mandizvidza was initially suspended over the issues in 2014
before he was reinstated on the understanding that he would pay the money back.
Through its lawyers Scanlen and Holderness, the national
broadcaster filed summons at the High Court on October 12, 2018.
In its declaration, ZBC said sometime in November 2014,
Mandizvidza was suspended from employment pending a disciplinary hearing over
charges of misconduct relating to financial irregularities, which nearly
brought the national broadcaster to its knees.
Mandizvidza is yet to file his appearance to defend. The
national broadcaster said following Mandizvidza’s own confessions and undertaking
to pay back the money, ZBC offered to reinstate him, an offer he accepted in
April 2015.
Court papers show that Mandizvidza was paid an irregular
increment amounting to $254 452,71.
He was allegedly “double-dipping” on housing allowance
amounting to $103 200 and received irregular bereavement expenses amounting to
$2 000. He owed administration fees on a housing loan amounting to $5 833 and
received an irregular payment for a trip to India amounting to $8 925. He also
owed unpaid PAYE on allowances amounting to $332 038, penalty on outstanding
PAYE amounting to $332 038 and interest due on outstanding PAYE amounting to
$44 719. Newsday
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