News / National
Alleged racial bias in appointment of executives at Meikles Limited
23 Aug 2011 at 04:55hrs | Views
MEIKLES Limited has been caught in the centre of allegations of racial bias in the treatment and appointment of its workers to executive posts in the firm.
The aggrieved parties have written to the Office of the President and the Ministry of Youth Development Indigenisation and Empowerment seeking their intervention. Sources in the ministry last week confirmed receipt of the complaints, The Herald Online reported on Tuesday.
Group finance director Mr Onias Makamba is the only black executive director in the Meikles Limited upper echelons of power where three whites hold executive directorship posts in a board that has a total of seven directors. Other black directors (non-executive) are TM Supermarkets managing director Mr Bisset Chimhini, Mr Rugare Chidembo and Mr Kazilek Ncube, but power imbalance is seen as one major reason for alleged unequal regard to workers.
The complaints comes in the wake of the suspension of Stores managing director Mr Fidelis Goredema and his replacement by an acting white MD. A finance director with TM was also recently dismissed under alleged circumstances.
Meikles executive chairman Mr John Moxon, Meikles chief executive Mr Brendan Beaumont and executive director Mr Mark Wood complete the board.
A Meikles board restructuring instituted last week is seen as an attempt to address the issue of colour in the Meikles board after concerns were raised in this regard.
Contacted for comment three weeks ago, Meikles Limited only made a promise to provide a written response, which the firm however did not provide.
"Thanks for the mail. I am returning to Harare today (August 2) and suggest that I call you tomorrow to discuss these points. In the meantime I have forwarded your mail to Mr Moxon. I respectfully request you hold your report until we have had time to comment," said Mr Beaumont.
The new board, approved last week at Meikles' annual general meeting, reflects a new structure seen as cosmetic to the lop-sided structure.
Nonetheless, despite the move to improve power balance at Meikles this remains skewed considering the fact there are three white executive directors against four black directors comprising one in an executive and three in non-executive capacity.
"Rwodzi retired and Moxon replaced him as chairman. Mr Roy Meiring retired and James Vessels replaced him. If a white executive retires we would expect a black employee to replace him," said a source.
"Does it mean there are no blacks capable of taking over when white executives retire, as in the case of Tanganda and hotels (unit)," said the source.
Some of the Meikles workers lamented the "unfair" dismissal and treatment of white and black workers in the group saying this was unacceptable in independent Zimbabwe. A case in point was the dismissal of one Vongai who was finance director TM Supermarket on allegations she irregularly recruited some workers.
The divide and rule tactics at Meikles were said to have been rife as well during the reign of Kingdom Financial Holdings founder Mr Nigel Chanakira as chief executive.
Questions have been raised why Meikles always moved to appoint white executives whenever a position occupied by a white executive fell vacant.
Influential posts that have remained largely in the hands of white executives include that of Meikles chief executive occupied by Mr Brendan Beaumont and CEO's post at Tanganda-held by Mr James Vessels.
Questions were also asked on the impartiality of the appointment of the new CEO of Tanganda said to be the brother of Mr Moxon's new wife Jeanne Vessels. The Tanganda boss took over from the retired Andrew Mills.
At TM Supermarkets, where Mr Bisset Chimhini is managing director, the most senior post has been given to a white chief executive Mr Mark Vickery.
The Stores division was headed by Mr Goredema, who was appointed in April last year, but was recently suspended for allegedly calling a meeting to discuss abuse of the group's internal hotline to the head office.
Mr Goredema was allegedly suspended after a recorded version of the meeting was surreptitiously presented to management at the head office. Mr Don Macdonald has been appointed acting managing director.
Mr Karl Snater took over the hotels operations after the retirement of Mr Roy Meiring, reflecting the trend in the alleged biased appointments.
The aggrieved parties have written to the Office of the President and the Ministry of Youth Development Indigenisation and Empowerment seeking their intervention. Sources in the ministry last week confirmed receipt of the complaints, The Herald Online reported on Tuesday.
Group finance director Mr Onias Makamba is the only black executive director in the Meikles Limited upper echelons of power where three whites hold executive directorship posts in a board that has a total of seven directors. Other black directors (non-executive) are TM Supermarkets managing director Mr Bisset Chimhini, Mr Rugare Chidembo and Mr Kazilek Ncube, but power imbalance is seen as one major reason for alleged unequal regard to workers.
The complaints comes in the wake of the suspension of Stores managing director Mr Fidelis Goredema and his replacement by an acting white MD. A finance director with TM was also recently dismissed under alleged circumstances.
Meikles executive chairman Mr John Moxon, Meikles chief executive Mr Brendan Beaumont and executive director Mr Mark Wood complete the board.
A Meikles board restructuring instituted last week is seen as an attempt to address the issue of colour in the Meikles board after concerns were raised in this regard.
Contacted for comment three weeks ago, Meikles Limited only made a promise to provide a written response, which the firm however did not provide.
"Thanks for the mail. I am returning to Harare today (August 2) and suggest that I call you tomorrow to discuss these points. In the meantime I have forwarded your mail to Mr Moxon. I respectfully request you hold your report until we have had time to comment," said Mr Beaumont.
The new board, approved last week at Meikles' annual general meeting, reflects a new structure seen as cosmetic to the lop-sided structure.
Nonetheless, despite the move to improve power balance at Meikles this remains skewed considering the fact there are three white executive directors against four black directors comprising one in an executive and three in non-executive capacity.
"Rwodzi retired and Moxon replaced him as chairman. Mr Roy Meiring retired and James Vessels replaced him. If a white executive retires we would expect a black employee to replace him," said a source.
"Does it mean there are no blacks capable of taking over when white executives retire, as in the case of Tanganda and hotels (unit)," said the source.
Some of the Meikles workers lamented the "unfair" dismissal and treatment of white and black workers in the group saying this was unacceptable in independent Zimbabwe. A case in point was the dismissal of one Vongai who was finance director TM Supermarket on allegations she irregularly recruited some workers.
The divide and rule tactics at Meikles were said to have been rife as well during the reign of Kingdom Financial Holdings founder Mr Nigel Chanakira as chief executive.
Questions have been raised why Meikles always moved to appoint white executives whenever a position occupied by a white executive fell vacant.
Influential posts that have remained largely in the hands of white executives include that of Meikles chief executive occupied by Mr Brendan Beaumont and CEO's post at Tanganda-held by Mr James Vessels.
Questions were also asked on the impartiality of the appointment of the new CEO of Tanganda said to be the brother of Mr Moxon's new wife Jeanne Vessels. The Tanganda boss took over from the retired Andrew Mills.
At TM Supermarkets, where Mr Bisset Chimhini is managing director, the most senior post has been given to a white chief executive Mr Mark Vickery.
The Stores division was headed by Mr Goredema, who was appointed in April last year, but was recently suspended for allegedly calling a meeting to discuss abuse of the group's internal hotline to the head office.
Mr Goredema was allegedly suspended after a recorded version of the meeting was surreptitiously presented to management at the head office. Mr Don Macdonald has been appointed acting managing director.
Mr Karl Snater took over the hotels operations after the retirement of Mr Roy Meiring, reflecting the trend in the alleged biased appointments.
Source - TH
