Workers from the national broadcaster, the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) have written to Ministry of Information permanent secretary Nick Mangwana seeking audience with President Emmerson Mnangagwa over a ‘collapse in relationship between them and the company’s CEO Adelaide Chikunguru.
Chikunguru was appointed to the role in June last year and has had a love-hate relationship with the workers since then.
In the letter dated October 6, the workers listed among their issues the non-payment of Covid-19 allowances for over five months.
“ZBC workers have since declared incapacitation and are requesting your office to facilitate a meeting with the head of state to hand over a petition and highlight several issues that have been affecting them,” the workers committee wrote.
The committee added that their main issues were “Staff welfare issues” which the company failed to “abide by NEC minimum salaries” and is completely “unprepared for the 2023 elections period” with no resources, transport, equipment, and low staff morale.
They also allege the abuse of company resources including fuel and excessive hiring of vehicles which is draining the broadcaster’s coffers and victimisation of employees, workers also say standards have nosedived. ZBC’s main revenue streams are licence fees and advertising.
It remains unclear if the workers will be granted an audience with Mnangagwa.
