Veteran radio personality Phatisani Sibanda has scored a major legal victory after an arbitrator ruled that the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) unfairly dismissed him through constructive dismissal.
The ruling concludes a lengthy legal battle that followed Sibanda’s exit from the national broadcaster, where he rose to fame as a household name on Power FM alongside longtime co-presenter Tinashe Chikuse. The arbitrator found that Sibanda’s resignation was not voluntary, but was instead forced by a breakdown in the employer-employee relationship caused by ZBC’s conduct.
As part of the award, ZBC has been ordered to reinstate Sibanda to his former position with no loss of salary or benefits dating back to the time of his departure. If reinstatement is deemed impractical by either party, the broadcaster will be required to pay a substantial financial settlement in lieu of reinstatement to compensate him for the loss of employment and the circumstances surrounding his exit.
Popularly known as “Mashugar,” Sibanda went on to join private radio stations, including Capitalk FM and Star FM, where he continued to host successful breakfast shows. His departure from ZBC had sparked widespread reaction among listeners who followed his energetic and humorous broadcasting style.
The ruling has been widely viewed as a vindication for the veteran presenter, affirming that the conditions that led to his resignation amounted to a breach of labour laws. ZBC is yet to issue a public statement in response to the decision.
