Long service employee eviction, Irvine's responds

Zim Now Writer

Irvine’s (Pvt) Ltd has responded to allegations that former employee Brighton Chabayanzara whose wife, Merjury Jese Chabayanzara, died on Tuesday following eviction from a company house was unfairly treated.

Irvine’s said the company policy conforms with the labour laws of the country in terms of which benefits which are accorded to an employee upon the termination of the employment relationship.

“The agreement and expectation between the company and employee with regards to occupancy of company housing is that upon leaving their employment including retirement, employees must then vacate their company accommodation. This is for Bio-security purposes and also in order to create space for other incoming new employees requiring company accommodation,” Irvine’s said.

Chabayanzara was employed by Irvine’s as a driver with effect from 13 March 1972. He was provided with company accommodation as a benefit of his employment at the time.

He attained retirement age, being 65 years of age, in 2017 according to the company policy, but continued to render services as he was still capable of doing so.

Upon reaching 70, Chabayanzara was reportedly not able to provide his duties satisfactorily and both parties agreed that he proceed on retirement with effect from October 1, 2022 with his last day being September 30, 2022.

In a statement, Irvine’s said Chabayanzara demanded that the company build a house for him, purchase a motor vehicle and make a cash payment to him which the company denied.

“He was also reminded that at the time during the course of his employment, he had applied for and was granted a loan on March 21, 2022 to the local equivalent value of US$15 385. His request pertaining to the construction of a house was therefore without a moral or contractual basis.

“He then requested to be permitted to remain in occupation of company accommodation until December 10, 2022 which he was granted.

“The company resolved to pay him a significant ex gratia cash payment due to two considerations, the first being that he had only contributed the Pension Fund for two years and pay out for the contributions is handled by the Pension

Fund Administrator and his loyalty extended tenure. He was also given a retirement gift.

“On November 9, the company’s legal practitioners addressed a letter to Brighton in which they sought confirmation that he would vacate the premises by December 10 and no response was received,” reads the statement.

Chabayanzara is said to have continued occupying the company’s house even when legal representatives had served him with an eviction summons from the magistrate’s court.

He was again issued with a warrant on February 23 that the eviction would take place on February 28, 2023.

He was evicted on March 8 in the presence of Waterfalls police.

The company stated that they will not hesitate to take the necessary action to protect their reputation.