Following threats by information minister Chishimba Kambwili, ZNBC workers’ union leader Martin Maseka has been served with suspension for advocating a petition to remove Director General Richards Mwanza.
Maseka says the corporation’s management has abused its authority by illegally suspending him and has vowed to fight on until their demands are met.
He has questioned why management delivered a letter of suspension to his house in the middle of the night.
Maseka laughed at the manoeuvre, describing it as vague. “I want to confirm that yes, I have been served with a suspension letter. It was absurd to learn about this because it was vague and procedure was not followed because it does not state the offence I have committed for me to be suspended from duty by a Mr Evans Nachilobe, the Radio One manager,” he said.
“Let me make it also very clear that when I am quoted to have responded to The Post newspaper article dated 29th July 2015, I was speaking in my capacity as general secretary for and on behalf of the union and not on behalf of Radio One or the corporation, ZNBC. So I am wondering how the Radio One manager, Mr Nachilobe, can suspend me or suspend a union official. This is total abuse of authority, it is very unprocedural and incorrect for him to suspend me for exercising my rights as provided for in the industrial and labour relations Act Cap 269 subsection 5 (a), (c) and (e) of the Laws of Zambia.”
He said suspending him from work constituted a violation of the recognition of agreement between ZNBC and ZUBID (Union of Broadcasters and other Information Disseminators secretary).
“This is because when I gave the union’s position on the threats to have all my members fired, I was literally speaking and doing so in my capacity as general secretary of ZUBID as provided for also in our ZUBID constitution that among other functions I shall be the chief executive and spokesperson of the union,” Maseka said.
“So I am very flabbergasted to be suspended for standing and protecting the interests of my members, whom I have sworn to defend. I know that ZNBC director general Mr Richard Mwanza decided to mislead information minister Chishimba Kambwili by falsely reporting to him that my members were protesting when it was not the case.”
Maseka said he would challenged his suspension in court.
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