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Fungai Lupande Herald Reporter
Alpha Media Holdings, publishers of NewsDay, The Zimbabwe Independent and The Standard newspaper yesterday fired five journalists and 16 newspaper inserters using the recent Supreme Court ruling that allows employers to terminate contracts of employment on three months’ notice at will and at anytime. Although details were still sketchy, sources at NewsDay confirmed that journalists Tinashe Sibanda, Gibson Mtizwa and Godwell Gwavava were among the sacked employees.

Production personnel started receiving their dismissal letters around lunchtime.

Alpha Media Holdings (AMH) group acting chief executive Mr Vincent Kahiya hung his mobile phone when contacted for comment and afterwards it went unanswered.

The workers were handed dismissal letters which read, “In accordance with provisions of Section 12 (4) of the Labour Act, we hereby give you three months’ notice to terminate your contract of employment.

“You are hereby directed not to report for work with immediate effect.”

Five days ago, the Associated Newspapers of Zimbabwe, publishers of the Daily News fired 11 journalists and other supporting staff using the same ruling.

The journalists fired were Lloyd Mbiba, Thelma Chikwanha, Margaret Chinowaita, Wendy Muperi, Ray Matikinye, Kudzai Chawafambira, Godfrey Mutimba and Nyasha Chingono.

Sub editors who were also sacked were Sandra Mtetwa, Lizzy Miller and Albert Masaka.

A letter written to the journalists and signed by general manager human resources, Vongai Makombe indicated that their contracts as read with section 12(4) of the Labour Act required the company to give them three months’ notice to terminate their contracts.

Close to 6 000 people have lost their jobs since the Supreme Court ruling on July 17 in which two former Zuva Petroleum managers, Don Nyamande and Kingstone Donga were challenging termination of their contracts under the same circumstances.