BUSINESS
NetOne suspends CEO Lazarus Muchenje
Published
5 years agoon

NetOne’s board of directors has suspended the company’s chief executive officer (CEO) Lazarus Muchenje with immediate effect over alleged gross misconduct relating to the manner he handled expired contracts for nine senior managers.
Mr Lazarus Muchenje’s alleged gross misconduct related to his decision not to renew contracts for nine senior members of management after their expiry, a decision the board of directors claims was taken irregularly and without their knowledge.
But Mr Muchenje has since made an urgent chamber application at the High Court seeking to have the actions of the board of directors to rescind his decision not to renew the expired contracts for the senior managers declared a legal nullity.
NetOne board chairman Peter Chingoka has since written to Mr Lazarus Muchenje advising of his suspension for an indefinite period without full pay and benefits, to facilitate an investigation into the allegations of gross misconduct levelled against him.
During the period of the suspension, Mr Chingoka said, the NetOne chief executive will not be allowed to visit the company’s premises, conduct any company business without the authority of the board of directors.
Mr Muchenje was also directed to return all company assets in his possession.
Mr Chingoka said the gross misconduct charges against Mr Lazarus Muchenje related to drastic action he took on senior management without consulting the board, resistance to and challenging the board’s authority on how to handle the issue relating to senior management and undermining the board’s “authority by escalating issues properly before the board to the ministry of ICT’s”.
“I refer to the aforementioned and wish to inform you of the board’s decision to suspend you from work with immediate effect in terms of the provisions of the Labour (National Employment Code of Conduct) SI 15 of 2006. The suspension is without full pay and benefits. You are therefore hereby suspended on those terms,” he wrote.
Mr Chingoka said the NetOne board will immediately investigate allegations against Mr Muchenje and thereafter advise on the findings of that investigation.
In the urgent chamber application to the High Court case HC7144/18 filed on August 3, 2018, Mr Muchenje cited board members Sydney Nyanungo, Theophilus Damba, Ruth Ncube, Nancy Samuriwo, Georgina Chingonzo and Nyengeterai Mahaka.
The directors whose contracts Mr Muchenje had refused to renew, which were then extended by the board, are Brian Mutandiro, Sibusisiwe Ndlovu, Clever Isaya, Nancy Murove, Innocent Mukanditsama, Jennifer Muketiwa, Raphael Mushanawani, Cleopas Kadzimu and Solomon Manda. They are all cited as respondents in the High Court case.
Also, cited as respondents are Information Communication Technology, Postal and Courier Services Minister Supa Mandiwanzira and the Office of the President and Cabinet, which administers the Corporate Governance and Public Entities Act.
In the certificate of urgency filed at the High Court, Mr Muchenje said he took the decision not to renew contracts for the nine senior managers on July 27, 2018, after which the affected parties were notified and had their final salaries paid out, but the board immediately reversed it.
“On July 28, 2018 one day after the implementation of the aforementioned decision, a purported resolution was passed by first to sixth respondents (board) reinstating the seventh to fifteenth (senior managers) on the strength of a ministerial directive from the sixteenth respondent (Minister of ICT) (requiring seventh to fifteenth respondents reinstatement) employment contracts at a meeting irregularly and called and attended by first to sixth ( NetOne board members),” Mr Lazarus Muchenje said.
He claimed the “irregular and unprocedural” meeting held by the board, with six out of 10 directors present, was called to approve a directive allegedly issued by Minister Mandiwanzira under whose ICT ministry NetOne falls reverse his decision not to renew contracts for the nine senior managers and to reinstate the contracts.
The Herald
INTERNATIONAL
African Union’s Inclusion in G20: A Significant Acknowledgment of a Continent with 1 Billion Inhabitants
Published
3 months agoon
11/09/2023
The world’s most powerful economies, the G20, have welcomed the African Union (AU) as a permanent member, recognising Africa’s more than 50 countries as important players on the global stage. US President Joe Biden and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi both expressed support for the AU’s permanent membership.
The AU has advocated for full membership for seven years and, until now, South Africa was the only African country in the G20. The AU represents a continent with a young population of 1.3 billion, which is set to double by 2050 and make up a quarter of the world’s population.
Africa’s 55 member states have long pushed for meaningful roles in global bodies, including the United Nations Security Council, and want reforms to the global financial system. The continent is increasingly attracting investment and political interest from global powers like China, Russia, Gulf nations, Turkey, Israel, and Iran. African leaders are challenging the framing of the continent as passive victim and want to be brokers instead.
They seek fairer treatment by financial institutions, delivery of rich countries’ long-promised $100 billion a year in climate financing for developing nations, and a global tax on fossil fuels. The AU’s full G20 membership will enable it to represent a continent that’s home to the world’s largest free trade area and abundant resources needed to combat climate change. The African continent has 60% of the world’s renewable energy assets and over 30% of the minerals key to renewable and low-carbon technologies.
African leaders want more industrial development closer to home to benefit their economies. Finding a common position among the AU’s member states, from economic powers to some of the world’s poorest nations, can be challenging, but Africa will need to speak with one voice to influence G20 decision-making. African leaders have shown their willingness to take collective action, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a high-profile G20 member, Africa’s demands will be harder to ignore.
BUSINESS
Forging Strong Bonds: Iran and Zimbabwe Deepen Economic Ties in Raisi’s Africa Tour
Published
5 months agoon
13/07/2023
On Thursday, Zimbabwe and Iran signed 12 memorandums of understanding to strengthen their bilateral ties during Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s visit to Africa. Raisi had previously visited Kenya and Uganda before meeting with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa in Harare. Among the 12 MOUs is a plan to establish a tractor manufacturing plant in Zimbabwe with the help of an Iranian company and a local partner. The two countries also signed agreements for cooperation in energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications, as well as research, science, and technology projects.
Mnangagwa expressed his appreciation for investments in several sectors of Zimbabwe’s economy to reporters after the signing ceremony. However, he did not disclose the amount of investment Zimbabwe is expecting from Iran. Raisi mentioned the economic challenges facing Iran and Zimbabwe due to U.S. sanctions but emphasised his country’s efforts to build closer economic ties.
According to Iran’s foreign ministry, trade with Africa is expected to exceed $2 billion this year, but there was no comparison to the previous year’s figures. This African visit is the first by an Iranian leader since 2013, following a visit to three Latin American countries in June, all of which are also affected by U.S. sanctions.
BUSINESS
Breaking News: E-Creator Fraud Ring Leader Apprehended by Police
Published
5 months agoon
13/07/2023
The Zimbabwe Republic Police is requesting that individuals who have been deceived by E-Creator, Zhao Jiaotong come forward and report to the nearest police station.
According to police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, the kingpin of the E-Creator Ponzi scheme has been arrested on charges of fraud. The suspect is identified as Chinese national Zhao Jiaotong, who is said to be the founder of the notorious platform that has scammed people out of thousands of dollars.
Nyathi stated, “The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms the arrest of Zhao Jiaotong, 39, in connection with a case of fraud in which unsuspecting members of the public were duped through the E-Creator Ponzi scheme.”
The police are urging anyone who may have fallen victim to E-Creator to report to their nearest police station. Additionally, the public is encouraged to exercise caution and perform thorough research before investing in any Ponzi or pyramid schemes that promise quick returns.

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