David Whitehead workers enlist Mphoko's help

DAVID Whitehead Textiles employees have petitioned Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko demanding the removal of the final judicial manager Mr Knowledge Hofisi of Aurifin and Capital, claiming that two and half years into his appointment, the textile company was still closed with no signs that it would resume operations soon.

In a petition dated May 13, 2016, the workers argued that instead of resuscitating the company, Mr Hofisi was employing into management positions people who stand accused of stripping the company.

With its main factory in Chegutu and branches in Kadoma and Gweru, DWH was once a giant textiles company employing 1 600 workers and exporting fabric throughout the Sadc region.

"We represent 1 600 David Whitehead Textiles employees, who have been neglected by the Final Judicial manager Mr Knowledge Hofisi. "We informed you of our grievances last year in August after you visited David Whitehead Textiles. We do not want judicial manager Mr Knowledge Hofisi because he is supporting the interests of Mr Edwin Chimanye at the expense of those of the workers who are the major shareholders," reads the petition.

Mr Chimanye is the chief executive officer at DWH. The workers said it was shocking that management at the company was lying to the leadership of the country that the company was operational when it ceased operations in 2010.

The workers also claimed that the final judicial manager was disposing company assets and retrenched 400 employees following the July 17, 2015 court ruling that saw companies retrenching employees en masse. "He is selling company houses, kicking out the employees, and we do not know where proceeds from the sale of houses are going," further reads the petition.

They pleaded with VP Mphoko's Office to ensure the company is given to the workers. "It is better that we are given the company and we resuscitate it with the help of our Government."

The employees also petitioned the Council of Estates Administrators accusing Mr Hofisi of poor corporate governance, misuse of proceeds from the sale of company assets and using the mass media to mislead the nation that DWH was now operational.

Minister in Vice President Mphoko's Office Mrs Tabeth Kanengoni Malinga yesterday said, they have not as yet seen the petition. "I have not seen the petition yet," she said. Mr Hofisi yesterday could not say much about the matter, saying they were calling for a stakeholders' meeting on July 28 to look into issues affecting the company.

"We can invite you to attend a meeting we are holding on July 28. It will be attended by all the stakeholders including shareholders. That is where we will discuss a lot of issues," he said. Mr Hofisi said there were a number of challenges facing DWH including the shareholding issue.

"The shareholding structure is not clear but we are 90 percent towards resolution of the shareholding issue," he said. Asked to justify what he had done since his appointment as the final judicial manager, Mr Hofisi said: "We have been producing for the army and prisons." He admitted, however that, that was a long time ago.

On May 23, 2014, Mr Hofisi was quoted in The Herald saying, "Zesa Holdings has reconnected us and we are expecting plant maintenance to begin next week. This is the first step towards partial re-opening. Our maintenance team will start working on the spinning plant in Kadoma and weaving plant in Chegutu. This will give us a clear picture on what needs to be done going forward, but we are on course."

The Herald visited DWH Chegutu last week. There were no signs of life at the company with two women manning the gates. "The company ceased operations a long time ago, and we do not know when it will be operational," said one of the women who refused to be identified.