HARARE - Suspended Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation Television (ZBC-TV) general manager, Robson Mhandu, says he has finally been offered an exit package by the troubled state broadcaster.In an interview, Mhandu said he would get an undisclosed amount of cash calculated on his 18 years of service at the public broadcaster, plus his official Mazda BT 50 which he refused to surrender when he was axed last year.
Official comment could not be obtained from ZBC-TV on the development.
Mhandu was shown the door by the military junta that took over control in Harare soon after President Robert Mugabes dramatic loss to Morgan Tsvangirai in elections last March. Along with then chief executive, Henry Muradzikwa, news editor Patrice Makova and a number of reporters, Mhandu was accused of not working hard enough on the propaganda front to ensure a Mugabe victory. He was also accused of being an MDC sympathizer.
Mhandu bitterly refuted the allegations. He said some people at ZBC were jealous of his rise from a morning talk show host to GM.
He further claimed that Happison Muchechetere, who was installed by the military as CEO when Muradzikwa was sacked, had been incensed by his (Mhandu)s success. Muchechetere was one of 75 applicants who were beaten to the post by Mhandu.
Muchechetere could not be reached for comment.
Muradzikwa told a parliamentary committee recently that he had suffered greatly as a result of his job loss. Together with the rest of the suspended staff, he is still on a full salary under the terms of a court order which states that the ZBC should give retrenchment packages before dismissing the suspended workers.
Post published in: News