adminArron Nyamayaro
A LOCAL businessman is at loggerheads with his employees after failing to pay them.
Brighton Katso, of Mwayera Complex at Gazaland Shopping Centre, stands accused of hiring workers and firing them, without pay, at his butcheries and bottle store.
One of his managers, Michael Dhora, of Chitungwiza, exchanged harsh words with Katso, over unpaid salaries, over three months.
Katso confirmed withholding Michael’s salary arguing that he wanted an audit report first before payment.
“I am yet to pay Michael his salary of three months amounting to US$900 because I want an audit report first,” said Katso.
“I suspect that Michael has been stealing money from the business since he managed to pay some of the workers.
“We have an accountant who should be paying the salaries but Michael is the one who ended up paying the workers.
“Some of the workers have grievances but Michael is the one who confronted me and he shouted at me.
“I will not give him anything before an audit is undertaken.
“I am prepared to do anything possible if he fails to bring some of the documents he has and I will not be forced to pay him before an audit is carried out,” he said.
Michael told H-Metro he was threatened by Katso with unspecified action after confronting him over his unpaid salary.
He said he plans to take legal action.
“Katso is very cruel and heartless,” said Michael.
“I regret working day and night managing his businesses without finding another job to put food on the table.
“Vashandi anotora ovashandisa ovadzinga pasina mubhadharo achivatsvagira mhosva dzisipo.
“I gave him all the documents I had and he kept promising to go through them, but he is never showing remorse in terms of paying me and the other workers.
“It is true that I paid some of the workers their salaries, after they came disturbing business because they had been fired, and I was unaware that my pay was also not being processed.
“Among the workers I paid was one of the accountants,” he said.
Mathew Masinge
Online Reporter