Marvo workers angry against management

Marvo Stationery workers have expressed concerns over the manner in which they are being treated by the Company.

They said it is now clear to us that Soul Mashamba is sabotaging the company on behalf of the Valelas and Urayayi Mazengeza who are the supposed rightful owners of the Company.

"Ever since Soul Mashamba was brought in 2012 as the new owner of Marvo Stationery, workers have never known peace in their lives and they have been reduced to less than destitute now for over 39 months they have not been paid any cent," said the angry workers.

"Yet they have been working everyday until recently in August 2015 when they were all given letters notifying them that they are going to unpaid leave until further notice.

As we speak workers are on forced unpaid leave and are not aware when they are going to return to work."

The workers said over the past few years we have seen shelf companies being formed specifically to milky what ever that comes out of Marvo Stationery at the expense of the employees who are struggling to make ends meet.

"The Companies which have been used to milk Marvo are; Jaymez, Thandal, Posmaston and Browns Wholesalers. The former Marvo Directors Urayayi Mazengeza and Tswelelo Valela acting on behalf of Matt Valela the Marvo majority Shareholder. In 2012 they first said they are now dividing Browns from Marvo the two companies who were previously one entity, and then they said they are resigning from Marvo and remaining at Browns leaving Soul Mashamba who was previously a National Sales Manager to become the new owner under unclear Secom stances there by becoming the Managing Director," said the workers.

"Those directors went away with all the money Marvo is one of the beneficiaries of Demaf but all the Money running to Millions was taken to Browns Stationery the money which was meant to resuscitate Marvo Stationery production ended up being used to order large quantities of finished goods in South Africa on behalf of Browns at the expense of Marvo workers and creditors."

They said Mashamba had agreed that he will take over all the debts that Marvo owes creditors including salaries but to date nothing has been done surprisingly he knew that he doesn't have money and he didn't have a plan on what to do, which actually confirms our suspicion that he is just being used as a shield to protect the real owners from any embarrassment because even now Mashamba still takes instruction from them.

"He only agreed because of his selfishness and greediness. He took over when the company was running only to completely run it down within weeks. We are aware that Mashamba is on payroll at Browns he belongs to all the Companies mentioned above and Browns stationery still uses Marvo premises as its office and store room as we speak Marvo factory is fully packed with finished goods belonging to Browns Stationery yet Marvo is suppose to be paying rent to Browns as part of the deal entered in by Soul Mashamba acting as posmaston Shareholder and Browns Stationery Shareholders," said the workers.

"Mashamba is very selfish and greedy to an extend that he doesn't care about us workers he only cares for himself and his family which is exactly what have destroyed this Country as a whole."

The workers said ever since Marvo Stationery was put under judicial management last year in August over a year now it has not been functioning properly workers were given hope that the Company is about to function but we are now reliably informed that the old Management of Mashamba and his backers at Browns are throwing spanners to the good work being done by Mr. C Mwete the Company's Judicial manager.

"We are reliably informed that Browns Stationery ordered a lot of finished goods before Minister Chinamasa announced the Mid-term monetary policy which it is reportedly worked against their plans since the government increased the Duty on most of imported finished goods including stationery on the same time lowering the bill on raw material to encourage the manufacturing sector to start production which in itself is a good development for the suffering workers," workers said.

"So as we speak Browns Stationery still has a lot of stock in South Africa and they are anticipating cashing in during the back to school period without any competition but now the prospects of a revival of Marvo in time for back to School is not good news for them hence the decision to frustrate the Judicial Manager's efforts of reviving Marvo Stationery on time besides the stocks in South Africa Marvo factory is fully packed with Browns stocks which is why they are delaying to open the company."

They said as workers they are appealing to who ever is responsibly of the resuscitation of Marvo Stationery to do it honestly and fast to save lives.

" People are suffering at Marvo working without a salary is not a joke. Mashamba is on record complaining that Marvo is struggling because of finished goods being imported from other Countries especially South Africa now that the government has done its part we wait to see or hear his next excuse. We have lost confidence in Soul Mashamba and his management team," said the workers.

Efforts top get comment from management were fruitless.