The Industrial Relations Court has given 21 days for the continuation of hearing of a case in which three former employees of Press Corporation Limited (PCL) are seeking compensation of about K33 billion for unfair dismissal.
The three; former Company Secretary Benard Ndau as first complainant, former Group Financial Controller Elizabeth Mafeni as second complainant and former Group Chief Executive Officer George Partridge as 3rd complainant, were dismissed by PCL in 2021.
On Friday, lawyer for the applicants, John Suzi Banda cross-examined the current Chief Finance Officer for
PCL, Maureen Mbeye, who was later cross-examined by defense lawyer Patrick Mpaka.
The proceedings centered on finding justification on what compensation should be paid, considering loss that was suffered and what the appropriate amount to be paid to the complainants should be.
PCL lawyer Patrick Mpaka said in an interview that, considering that evidence was given to the court on the amount of money the applicants already received after their dismissal, they are waiting for the court’s decision on the matter.
And Suzi Banda said they are basing their argument on the manner the applicants were treated during their
dismissal.
The three were dismissed when PCL conducted a functional review which was handled by a consultant.
The first complainant is asking for K6,326,535,667 while the second complainant is asking for K19,459,545,347 and the third complainant is seeking K7,479,922,192 as compensation.
Records indicate that PCL had already paid them terminal benefits, where Mafeni got K481 million, Partridge received K452 million and Ndau got K179 million.
