Cottco Employee Suspended After Alleged Cover-Up A...

Cottco Employee Suspended After Alleged Cover-Up Attempts to Discredit Board

Philemon Jambaya

Tinomudaishe Hove, a recently suspended loss control manager at Cottco, is accused of failing to perform his duties in relation to stolen ginned seeds and presidential cotton inputs. The alleged thefts occurred under Hove's watch, and he is reported to have taken no action to prevent them or escalate the issues to the proper authorities.

Hove's suspension comes after Cottco undertook a significant anti-corruption effort last year, which resulted in the dismissal of several employees implicated in dishonest activities. This initiative was aimed at establishing a culture of integrity and accountability within the company after years of corruption and concealed wrongdoing. In March of this year, Cottco suspended Hove due to allegations of neglecting his duties. Specifically, he is accused of failing to address pilferage incidents at various Cottco locations and of potentially stealing files that could be crucial to police investigations.

Hove reportedly responded to his suspension with a 17-page letter that was copied to anti-corruption agencies but failed to address the accusations against him. This document has been circulated publicly, and some believe it is an attempt to smear the reputation of the Cottco board, management, and the organisation as a whole.