Man given Zim $10 as compensation

10 zimbabwean dollar compensation

Bulawayo man who was injured at Monarch, resulting in him losing two fingers, gets 10 Zimbabwean dollars as compensation.

Mr Mbongeni Sibanda told Chronicle that the National Social Security Authority (NSSA) gave him Z$10 in February. He said the accident occurred in 2007 while he was working at Monarch as a general hand.

“The amount they gave me is simply an insult because where on earth will I use that money? I can’t work anymore as I am disabled, yet they repay in Zimbabwe dollars, let alone an amount that even a one-year-old would accept,” said Mr Sibanda.

He alleged that Nssa embezzled the funds they contribute to them for their own benefit at the expense of civilians.

“This is daylight robbery. They are telling me that my compensation money was processed in Zimbabwe dollars and there was nothing that could have been done to reverse that,” said Mr Sibanda.

He said the injury forced him out of work and he was having difficulties getting employment elsewhere as he was now disabled. Mr Sibanda blamed the accident on negligence on the part of his former paymasters, Monarch.

“On the fateful day, I suspected that the accident was imminent as the machine that we were using had gone for days without proper service. When the Nssa officials came to assess the circumstances I got injured under, the manager at that time refused them entry,” he alleged. Monarch officials declined to comment on the matter.

“Libotshela abantu benu bebuye kithi nxa belenhlupho kulokuthi bebuye kini bezoqamba amanga (you should tell him (Mbongeni) to approach us if he has any grievances that he wants addressed than to go to the Press to tell lies),” said the Human Resources Manager, only identified as Mr Sibanda.

A NSSA official who preferred anonymity said Mr Sibanda was being denied his rightful compensation.

“His claim is valid. He deserves much better treatment from NSSA, he reserves the right of being repaid in full after an incident of a similar nature has occurred considering that he has no other means of generating income as he is permanently disabled now,” said the official.

Recently a Cresta Churchill Hotel employee in Bulawayo, Mr Clayton Mhlanga, was allegedly given a Z$12 433 cheque as payment for his 32 leave days although the currency is not in circulation as the country has adopted a multi-currency system.

He was also denied his retirement package after working there as a waiter for 15 years. Meanwhile, Justice Chinembiri Bhunu has said that employees who had their contracts terminated before the introduction of the multiple currency system have no legal basis to claim their benefits in foreign currency.

Addressing businesspeople at a labour workshop organised by the Institute of Personnel Management (IMPZ) on Friday, Justice Bhunu said there was no basis in law for such a development.