In a significant legal victory for veteran broadcaster Phatisani Sibanda, an arbitrator has ordered the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation to reinstate him after finding that he was unfairly dismissed through constructive dismissal. The ruling concludes a legal battle that followed Sibanda’s departure from the national broadcaster, where he had become a household name on Power FM alongside his longtime co-presenter Tinashe Chikuse.
The arbitration award determined that Sibanda’s resignation was not a voluntary exit but rather forced by a breakdown in the employer-employee relationship created by the corporation’s conduct. According to the ruling, the broadcaster must reinstate Sibanda to his previous position without any loss of salary or benefits from the date of his forced departure. If reinstatement is no longer a viable option for either party, the arbitrator mandated that the corporation must pay a significant financial settlement in lieu of reinstatement to compensate for the loss of employment and the circumstances surrounding his exit.
Sibanda, popularly known by his moniker “Mashugar,” had left the ZBC to join private radio stations, including Capitalk FM and Star FM, where he continued to host popular breakfast shows. His departure from the ZBC had initially sparked widespread reaction among radio listeners who followed his energetic and humorous broadcasting style. This legal outcome marks a major vindication for the presenter, affirming that the conditions leading to his resignation amounted to a breach of labor laws.
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation has not yet issued a public statement regarding whether they will appeal the decision or proceed with the reinstatement.
