VICE-PRESIDENT Phelekezela Mphoko’s supermarket chain, Choppies Zimbabwe has reportedly failed to pay its workers their bonuses and overtime allowances after they worked during the holidays last year, saying if it were to pay these, then it would be forced to retrench staff.
Richard Muponde Senior Reporter
Mphoko, in partnership with Botswana businesspeople, owns Choppies Zimbabwe and his son, Siqokoqela is the director.
The vice-president resigned from the chairmanship of the chain of supermarkets on his appointment to the vice-presidency last year.
Reports said employees were forced to work overtime on Unity Day, Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day and were supposed to be paid.
However, the workers said when they asked for their money, Mphoko’s son, Siqokoqela, threatened to retrench anyone demanding their dues.
An employee of the company, who spoke on condition anonymity, said they were now working in fear.
“The problem which all workers at Choppies are facing is that we are living in fear after being threatened with retrenchments by the vice-president’s son who is the director of the company, if we ask for our overtime money,” said the worker.
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He said they were forced to work overtime during the festive season and they expected to be paid.
The employee said they were surprised at the end of January to receive a message informing them that that no overtime was going to be paid for, but the hours would be converted to off days.
“After that the workers committee demanded to meet the management over the issue and this is when the director (Siqokoqela) indicated that he was not paying for overtime and anyone who wanted the money should approach him in person and get his or her money, and thereafter be retrenched,” the employee said.
“The director went on to state that if he is to pay any form of overtime money then he would retrench 500 workers.”
The worker said employees were worried about Siqokoqela’s conduct, as a month earlier, he was reportedly overheard saying the company had made profits and was intending to open more branches in Zimbabwe and neighbouring countries.
He said they were now confused whether the threats of retrenchment were in accordance with the labour laws.
The worker said their counterparts in Botswana and South Africa received their bonuses last year, but locally they were being told that bonus was a privilege.
Contacted for comment, Siqokoqela said Choppies did not pay for overtime, but gave workers leave days and it had never failed to pay salaries.
“I don’t know where you are getting your information,” he said.
“Anyway, I can tell you that Choppies has never failed to pay its workers’ salaries.
“They are even given their benefits of food twice a day and some even get transport.”
Siqokoqela said people who were claiming overtime were not conversant with the company’s directive, as they could not pay the money since they were still growing.
He said workers were given four days off so that they could go and do their business, and never at any time had Choppies failed to meet its obligations.
