BY JAMES MUTASA

CEVAFRICA Logistics Zimbabwe Limited recently dismisses Prince Ringoziwa, a general hand employee who had served for over 13 years following allegations of neglect of duty and responsibilities and poor performances

According to Musa Chabuda the Operations Manager for CEVAFRICA who also acted as the disciplinary hearing chairman, charges against Ringoziwa who was employed in 2012 were stimulated from investigations on a container by authorities from ZIMRA and ZACC which noted that the details on the investigated container were incorrect. The alleged variances were traced to records initiated from Ringoziwa’s desk and scope of responsibility.

In accusing Ringoziwa of any wrong doing Chabuda alleges that the container’s details in the certificate of inspection were incorrectly captured specifically the arrival date. The arrival date is captured as 23 April 2025 instead of 23 March 2025. This implies that you did not do the inspection or issue the certificate of inspection as per procedure. Inspection should be done while the container is still on the wagon.

‘Each container should have a certificate of inspection on arrival to reflect the correct state of the container, failure to record on arrival leaves the business at risk of exposure of claims in case the container is tempered with or damaged.’ Charged Chabuda

‘In this case the container remained uninspected for a full month within our depot, this level of neglect of duty and poor performance cannot be tolerated.’ Chabuda added.

In his defense, Ringoziwa submitted that he had inspected the container on arrival but only on a rough piece of paper and did not immediately transfer the information onto the inspection sheet. He added that he was instructed by his supervisor a Richard Mahlahla not to write any dates on the inspection sheets as proper dates would be provided on the day that the container will be collected.

“Your failure to take due care in your work goes to the root of your employment. It is a common law canon that employees are expected to be diligent. Unfortunately, your lack of diligence has been consequential and prejudicial,” reads part of Chabuda’s determination.

“Due to the gravity of the misconduct you cannot be trusted with any process in the business. I am therefore dismissing you from employment,’ Chabuda wrote. ‘You shall forthwith surrender company property in your possession with immediate effect and facilitate the request termination clearance, to enable payment of your terminal entitlements.”