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without pay and benefits on allegations that he instructed workers not to use the group’s internal hotline without permission from his office.
Meikles Stores is a division of the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange-listed Meikles Limited.
Mr Goredema is citing racism against black workers at the company as the reason for his suspension.
He was suspended on Wednesday last week.
“You are hereby suspended from employment without pay and benefits with immediate effect.
“The reason for your suspension is to prevent interference with witnesses by yourself as most of the witnesses are your subordinates,” reads the letter written by Meikles Limited chief executive officer Mr Brendan Beaumont.
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He is charged with conduct inconsistent with the fulfilment of conditions of employment.
“The basis of the charge is that following the introduction of an internal audit ‘hotline’ in terms of which it was group policy to encourage all employees at all levels to use the hotline to report any areas of concern the employee may have concerning the operation of the business directly to head office internal audit, you did on the 23rd May at the company offices . . . call a meeting with certain employees of the company and instructed them not to use the hotline without consulting you first,” Mr Beaumont said.
He said in doing so Mr Goredema undermined the effectiveness of the hotline, an act inconsistent with his contract of employment.
But through his lawyers Atherstone and Cook, Mr Goredema is challenging his suspension.
In a letter to Mr Beaumont, the lawyers blamed their client’s suspension on racism at Meikles Limited.
“As far as our client is concerned, racial abuse increased to intolerable levels.
“Our client made a report to the then chairman about rampant racism against him and fellow black workers.
“Following the report, the situation improved slightly but of late, blatant racism was being perpetrated against fellow black workers,” reads the letter.
The lawyers said it was clear that Mr Goredema’s suspension was part of a plan to unlawfully terminate his contract of employment.
“Any hearing which will be conducted by yourself will be purely for purposes of going through the motion.
“The verdict has already been made and is there for anyone to see.
“We must warn you however, that your ill motives will ultimately be judged by independent and fair minded people who will read between the lines and come to the correct decision,” the lawyers said. Mr Beaumont yesterday referred all questions to the chairman of the Meikles Limited audit committee Mr Rugare Chidembo.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr Chidembo were fruitless as he was said to be out of office.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter