ZENT workers accuse MD of abuse of office

Workers at ZESA Enterprises (ZENT) have accused managing director Engineer Godfrey Mugaviri of poor management, intimidation, abuse of office and disregard of the organisation's structure, according to leaked documents.

The allegations, contained in petitions reportedly sent to the Ministry of Energy, the Mutapa Investment Fund, the Office of the President and Cabinet and the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission, call for urgent intervention over what employees describe as a deteriorating work environment.

Workers claim the organisation has been reduced to "a tuckshop business" due to what they describe as a toxic leadership style and centralisation of decision-making.

"ZENT workers have noted with deep concerns that ZENT has been reduced to tuckshop business due to the management style which is very toxic," reads part of the petition.

They allege that organisational structures have been undermined, with decision-making reportedly concentrated in the office of the managing director.

"The business organogram structures have been rendered dysfunctional and ZENT is now a one man band by the MD," the document states.

Workers further allege that managers have been sidelined, contributing to instability within the organisation and delays in operational decision-making.

"All managers have been systematically and constructively dismissed," the petition claims.

The workers also accuse Mugaviri of poor people management skills, including shouting at staff, issuing threats of dismissal, and creating a climate of fear among employees.

"The MD has no people management skills, he shouts at managers and everyone, scolding and threatening dismissal of shop floor workers including cleaners," it reads.

In another allegation, workers claim the managing director has been conducting himself in a politically charged manner at the workplace, including chanting party slogans and allegedly name-dropping political figures, which they say has created fear among staff.

"The MD has turned the workshop into a political rally ground… inducing fear to workers in the workshop and name dropping prominent party names," the petition states.

Workers further allege instances of corporate misrepresentation, claiming that Chinese-manufactured products have been falsely branded as locally produced by ZENT.

The documents have also been copied to governance and oversight institutions, including the Office of the President and Cabinet and the Corporate Governance Unit.

Efforts to obtain a response from ZENT management were not immediately successful.