News / National
Zuva's fuel dealer desert workers
21 Sep 2015 at 09:51hrs | Views
Over 20 workers at Palmerstone Service Station leased to Venspace Investments by ZUVA Petroleum have said they were left in the cold after their employer packed all the stock worth over $8 000 at the station and left in the middle of the night without notice.
Workers at the company said the development came after the fuel dealer had failed to settle a security deposit of $60 000 which led to his fall out with ZUVA Petroleum.
"It is disheartening and everyone is astounded. We learnt that our employer came in the company of his wife and took all the stock that was in the shop. None of us knew about it and our colleagues who were on duty were dismissed early in the night on the pretext that they should go and rest.
They were told that the company wanted to take stock on the following day," said one of the workers at the service.
Al s o some commercial suppliers of various commodities to the service station's outlet were seen at the premises saying that they too were not notified towards the development.
The workers bemoaned the unfair labour practice by their employer adding that some of them also had their unpaid stock seized.
One of the managerial employees at the station said the company was reeling in debts of over $60 000 which he attributed to reckless financial management by the owner.
He said that the lessor; ZUVA Petroleum had since superseded operations at the service station's forecourt.
"It is unfortunate that the dealer did not have discipline in handling finances of the business. This happened to the extent that he squandered money meant for statutory payments to the National Social Security Authority, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and to the Pension Funds where debts had accrued to over $10 000 respectively. As a result, the company was plungeding liquidation," he said.
The workers reported that they were owed over $10 000 in a salary arrears.
In an interview, the company's owner, Takunda Nyaguzu said he knew the plight of workers and was making efforts to give them their dues.
"We terminated operations because our lease agreement with ZUVA had expired and we failed to renew the agreement to operate. As for the workers, we communicated to make arrangements to settle their dues from proceeds that shall be coming from our debtors," he said before hanging up the phone.
ZUVA Petroleum manager for Manicaland only identified as Dube said he would make efforts to facilitate employment for the affected employees to any new dealer that shall be engaged.
Venspace's owner; Nyaguzu, is a renowned diamond dealer in the eastern border city.
Workers at the company said the development came after the fuel dealer had failed to settle a security deposit of $60 000 which led to his fall out with ZUVA Petroleum.
"It is disheartening and everyone is astounded. We learnt that our employer came in the company of his wife and took all the stock that was in the shop. None of us knew about it and our colleagues who were on duty were dismissed early in the night on the pretext that they should go and rest.
They were told that the company wanted to take stock on the following day," said one of the workers at the service.
Al s o some commercial suppliers of various commodities to the service station's outlet were seen at the premises saying that they too were not notified towards the development.
The workers bemoaned the unfair labour practice by their employer adding that some of them also had their unpaid stock seized.
One of the managerial employees at the station said the company was reeling in debts of over $60 000 which he attributed to reckless financial management by the owner.
He said that the lessor; ZUVA Petroleum had since superseded operations at the service station's forecourt.
"It is unfortunate that the dealer did not have discipline in handling finances of the business. This happened to the extent that he squandered money meant for statutory payments to the National Social Security Authority, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority and to the Pension Funds where debts had accrued to over $10 000 respectively. As a result, the company was plungeding liquidation," he said.
The workers reported that they were owed over $10 000 in a salary arrears.
In an interview, the company's owner, Takunda Nyaguzu said he knew the plight of workers and was making efforts to give them their dues.
"We terminated operations because our lease agreement with ZUVA had expired and we failed to renew the agreement to operate. As for the workers, we communicated to make arrangements to settle their dues from proceeds that shall be coming from our debtors," he said before hanging up the phone.
ZUVA Petroleum manager for Manicaland only identified as Dube said he would make efforts to facilitate employment for the affected employees to any new dealer that shall be engaged.
Venspace's owner; Nyaguzu, is a renowned diamond dealer in the eastern border city.
Source - The Worker
