ZBC challenges Mvududu's $186k compensation

ZBC has approached the High Court seeking to set aside an arbitration award compelling the firm to pay US$186 000 to its former Head of Radio and Television Services Mrs. Abigail Mvududu as damages for premature termination of her employment.

Mrs Mvududu's employment contract was terminated in 2004 by the then Zimbabwe Broadcasting Holdings after she was not accommodated in the new broadcasting company's structures following the company's restructuring exercise.

The parties agreed that Mrs Mvududu would get salaries and allowances for 40 months and a car, which benefits she did not receive.

An arbitrator awarded her damages to the tune of US$186 157,12 and ZBC is now challenging the decision at the High Court.

ZBC argues that remuneration for Mrs Mvududu was in Zimbabwean dollars and it was not clear how that was converted into United States dollars.

The quantification of damages, according to ZBC, was not transparently done and that it should not be considered.

But Mrs Mvududu through her lawyers, Mbidzo Muchadehama and Makoni, opposed the application saying quantification was properly done. Instead, Mrs Mvududu moved for the dismissal of the High Court application saying the sole broadcaster had approached the wrong court.

Mrs Mvududu said it was unfair for ZBC to complain that the arbitrator's decision was costly when she actually suffered more when her contract was summarily terminated.