The recent dismissal of 23 top executives from BancABC continues to generate controversy, with the affected managers alleging unfair treatment, dubious accusations, and a double standard within the institution.
The dismissed employees, speaking to New Zimbabwe this week, claim they were unjustly targeted and denied adequate severance packages following their unilateral dismissal. They have vowed to fight for their rights and challenge the bank’s actions.
Central to their complaints are allegations of inconsistent application of conflict-of-interest policies.
One former manager stated, “One of the main reasons we were axed for was failure to declare details of our relatives also working for BancABC. In this instance practical and legal definitions of what constitutes a relative were violated in the witch hunting endeavor to the extent that without even verifying our birth certificates, the powers that be proceeded to charge us on such trivial grounds.”
This statement highlights the perceived unfairness of the process, suggesting that the definition of “relative” was arbitrarily applied to target specific individuals.
Further allegations of double standards emerged when the dismissed managers pointed to the continued employment of other senior staff members whose relatives also work at BancABC.
“But surprisingly, the remaining top managers have worked within the BancABC for decades despite the fact that we are in possession of evidence proving that they have their close relatives within that institution,” another ex-employee alleged.
This claim directly challenges the bank’s stated rationale for the dismissals, suggesting that the conflict-of-interest policy was selectively enforced.
The accusations extend beyond familial relationships to encompass business dealings. One former manager detailed instances where the bank contracted services from companies where senior officials had previously worked.
“How do you justify contracting a law firm (name withheld) to do business for the company when one of your officials has previously worked for that same organization? Look, we have those details where such companies have even handled private transactions for fellow employees but are still allowed to do business for the organisation. Aren’t those the worst forms of violating conflict of interest?”
The dismissed managers also allege interference and misrepresentation during the internal hearings.
“So imagine, even our lawyers ended up misrepresenting our instructions and agreeing to some issues which they never set down with us on and we suspect there was connivance with the company’s management to push us out,” one alleged.
This claim suggests a potential breach of professional conduct and raises concerns about the fairness of the disciplinary process. Adding to the controversy, the former managers are demanding transparency regarding an internal audit report that allegedly linked them to illicit activities.
They challenge BancABC to publicly release the findings of this report, citing principles of transparency and good corporate governance. This call for transparency underscores their belief that the dismissals were based on unsubstantiated or selectively applied allegations.
Despite repeated attempts to obtain a response from BancABC spokesperson Patience Musa, the news crew received no comment on these serious allegations.
