Tea Company Fires Its Three Managers
One of the country’s biggest tea producers -Lujeri Tea Estate Company in Mulanje has dismissed three of its senior managers on what the employees and sympathizers at the company have described as preposterous.
The three are Henderson Kaputeni, who was the company’s field manager, his assistant Mr. Felix Chagunda and Division Manager Lawrent Mwafilaso.
Kaputeni has confirmed his dismissal, saying he was absurdly accused of sexually harassing female workers but he says the company’s directorate failed to substantiate the allegation.
“We have been dismissed unceremoniously despite serving in different positions at the company for so many years. For example, I have worked with Lujeri Tea Estate Company for 21 years but together with my colleagues, we were told to immediately surrender the company items including cars and vacate the company’s houses within five days,” lamented Kaputeni.
The Company’s Managing Director, Grant Bramsen, says the three were dismissed after undergoing fair disciplinary processes.
“Their own gross misconducts led to their dismissals and we followed all processes before terminating their services.
Some junior workers there have told us the three managers have been fired on suspicions that they mobilized tea pluckers to hold a three-day strike two months ago against a certain manager of Indian origin who they claim was using insulting languages against them.
Zodiak Online has established a looming industrial action at Lujeri Tea Estate Company with sympathizing junior employees for the unfair dismissal of the three local managers.