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ZINARA board chair Michael Madana this week admitted that his board fired finance director Simon Taranhike without following due process and he challenged him to approach the Labour Court for redress, if he feels aggrieved.
This was heard on Thursday before Harare magistrate Hosea Mujaya who was presiding over matter involving Taranhike who is facing charges of criminal abuse of office by releasing fuel coupons.
Taranhike had earlier pleaded not guilty to charges of releasing 1 800 litres of fuel to some members of the media in a bid gag them in covering investigations at the parastatal.
Madana then terminated Taranhike’s contract for gross incompetence and abuse of office.
He was fired along with chief executive Nancy Masiyiwa-Chamisa.
During cross examination, Taranhike’s lawyer Rekai Maposa of Maposa and Ndomene Legal Associates, accused Madana of being ‘rotten’ and trying to cover up for his crimes hence he rushed to unlawfully dismiss Taranhike without a disciplinary hearing as is due process according to the Labour Act.
Madana scoffed at the allegation and challenged the accused to approach the Labour Court.
“We decided to fire him and I don’t care, if he feels aggrieved he can approach the Labour Court,” said Madana who admitted that his board neglected to follow due process.
It was also revealed that earlier in the ordeal, Madana was in support of the accused with hope that he would not finger him in the transactions, but when he realized that he acted otherwise in his defence, he suspended him for 14 days with no charge.
Maposa further probed Madana on why he authorised the funding of the police special anti-corruption unit using ZINARA resources.
“I did so because they had no resources,” said Madana.
Madana will be back in court on October 8 for further cross examination.
In a separate incident, Madana has been previously accused of violating recruitment exercise when he assumed office at ZINARA.
“First and Foremost let me draw your attention to the appointment of the acting CEO.
“The Public Entities Corporate Governance Act (Chapter 10.31) Part 4 is very clear on the procedure for nominating an Acting Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) .
“The act states that an ACEO should be appointed from the senior managers but this was not followed by the Madana led board.
“They chose a director from the ministry whose department does not deal with roads or anything in line with Zinara mandate,” read a communiqué addressed to Transport minister Joe Biggie Matiza by an anonymous author last month.
It was also alleged that the outgoing ACEO Mathleen Mujokoro disputed this procedure and was frustrated by Madana until she resigned as a result of the toxic environment.
The current ACEO is Saston Muzenda and is alleged to be Madana’s loyalist.
The interview process for three directors and two managers to be filled his month was said to be flawed as it was superintendent by human resources manager Juliana Maposa against corporate governance tenets that bars her from doing such for managers above her.
