Telecel Employees Stage a sit-in, Refuse to Vacate Boardroom
Telecel employees stage a sit-in, refuse to vacate boardroom. The employees are lamenting over meagre wages and incapacitation and their calls for an upward review of salaries has fallen on deaf ears. Management addressed employees at the company headquarters in Harare, but the meeting reached a deadlock with employees vowing to sit in until Wednesday.
Mobile Network Operator (MNO) Telecel employees on Monday staged and sit in and refused to vacate the company’s boardroom compelling the chief executive Angeline Vere to flee as pressure mounted, Zim Morning Post has learnt.
“The management particularly the chief executive (Angeline Vera) said the company’s coffers are dry and said she will get back to us on Wednesday. She had to leave in a huff around pm as she could not contain the pressure. “So we will not leave the boardroom as we await for her on Wednesday.
“We cant afford to pay for transport and the salary erosion needs cushioning. “Management is enjoying big perks while we suffer,” said an employee for concealed his identity for fear of reprisal. “The board chair James Makamba and Vere are making decisions for self-enrichment rather than Telecel’s interests. “Minister Muswere must intervene,” added the source.
Recently, Vere was accused of buying a top of the range vehicle without board approval and employees were bitter. Deafening calls for Vere’s ouster have been echoing for a prolonged period forcing board members to clash. Some members drew swords against Vere on allegations of turning the mobile telecommunications company into a loss-making entity since taking over the reins in 2015.
The government assumed a controlling stake in Telecel after buying a 60 percent stake in 2016. Vere’s nemesis backed their ouster calls on basis that she failed to uphold her fiduciary duties and failed to produce audited financial statements through the five-year period through 2018.
However, the Telecel ‘iron lady’ scoffed at the allegations and said her mandate is to report to the board and subsequently the regulatory authority (POTRAZ) and she has never diverted from such. “Well, first and foremost I do not report to staffers and have no obligation to be their buddies. “I report to the board and they approved the purchase of that vehicle.
