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Herald Reporter
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation yesterday reportedly fired five managers as part of the ongoing streamlining of its workforce.

The four are John Gambanga (manager bulletins), Charles Kawadza (head news) Norman Mahori (head legal), Shadreck Mupeni (head engineering) and Nonceba Mkandla who was heading the Montrose studios in Bulawayo.

It is understood that the dismissal wave also affected ZBC’s Masvingo Bureau reporter Desmond Duri.

ZBC corporate communications manager Mr Gladman Bandama could not be reached for comment as he was not picking his mobile phone last night, but sources at the national broadcaster confirmed the development.

The dismissals come barely a week after the national broadcaster fired its chief executive Mr Happison Muchechetere and three other senior managers — Mr Elliot Kasu (general manager-finance), Allan Chiweshe (acting radio head) and Mr Ralph Nyambudzi (head-finance); and barely 24 hours after the dismissal of 282 workers, bringing the total sacked to 290.

“Five managers were fired today (yesterday) and reports are that the process is still ongoing because the company is targeting to dismiss 400 people,” said the source.

“We are told that all those who were brought before the disciplinary hearing in the last few months were likely to be affected to ensure that the target of 400 people is reached.”

The source said the fired managers were asked to leave company vehicles that they were using soon after receiving letters terminating their employment contracts.

“Fear is gripping everyone at the company now because the future is uncertain,” said the source.

“There is no formal communication regarding what is happening and you may find yourself being fired any time.”

The sackings are being done in terms of a recent Supreme Court ruling that empowered employers to terminate employment contracts after giving workers a three month notice.

ZBC board chairman Father Gibson Munyoro on Wednesday said: “Redundant structures and activities such as canteen, cleaning among others have been with immediate effect closed and are to be replaced by outsourced services.

“The idle Voice of Zimbabwe station in Gweru has also suffered the same fate, but work will start in Gweru immediately to put up digitalised studios and a content production house as the digital migration process takes pace.”