By 
The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) Board has read the riot act on its former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ms Adelaide Chikunguru for failing to follow due process in airing her grievances, she allegedly splattered around social media including her LinkedIn account.
The Zbc board released a statement indicative of them taking any legal route against its former boss for the allegedly unwaranted, baseless and unfounded allegations she made against Minister of Information Dr Jenfan Muswere, the ministry itself and the corporation where she worked, for her dismissal at the country’s first National broadcaster.
The former CEO, was dismissed for misappropriating funds, including using funds for personal awards, unauthorized foreign trips, and the purchase of an unlicensed satellite internet service (Starlink).
In a statement TechnoMag is in possession of, the board urged Chikunguru to stop abusing social media which boarders on cyber bullying bent on tarnishing the company, its stakeholders and the Minister based on here say and issues she never reported to any authorities which raises eyebrows on her unsubstantiated claims.
“Her social media statements, whilst apparently targeted at specific individuals, have scandalised the Corporation, its Board, and critical Stakeholders. Specifically, the suggestion is that the Board has abdicated its fiduciary duty to the Corporation and is acting at the whim of the Minister and the Board Chairman. The suggestion is made further, that the Corporation is unable to meet its obligations to key Stakeholders. Name dropping has been central in this sustained and unmitigated assault on the Board, the Corporation, and its key Stakeholders.”
The board also stated that Chikunguru’s resignation has not ended the investigation of the issues that led to her suspension adding that she will account in terms of the law for any loss, potential or real, of assets or other forms of prejudice that the Corporation may have suffered because of her alleged misconduct.
“Neither her resignation nor her media statements will stop or derail the Board from completing its investigation and taking the necessary legal steps to protect the Corporation’s interests and recover any lost value or assets. The Board reserves the right to protect and preserve the integrity of its confidential documents and to protect the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and its valued Stakeholders to the fullest extent permissible at law.”
The controversial estranged former ZBC boss was also given 48 hours to make a formal report concerning her claims on social media of unfair dismissal and alleged attacks by the ZBC board.
In the same statement it registered grave concern with the sustained, protracted, unmitigated and continuing onslaught on the Corporation, its key stakeholders, and the associated reputational risk.
“The Board advises Ms. Chikunguru to pursue her claims, if any, through the due process of the law and notes her continued suggestion that her lawyers have been briefed. The Board publicly states that there is no substance in the allegations against the Board and the Corporation. To this end, the Board invites her to execute her threats of resort to law against the Corporation within the next forty-eight (48) hours. In the event that she does not do so, the Board reserves the right to approach the High Court for a decree of perpetual silence calling upon her to bring the threatened legal action or forever keep her peace. This decision is necessary to protect the continuing harm to the Corporation’s interests and those of its Stakeholders,” the statement said.
The board further added, Ms Chikunguru should have raised her claims with the board using the proper legal channels and not through social media, where she has made public privileged information.
“The Board makes it categorically clear that at no time did Ms. Chikunguru raise with the Board, as she should have done, what she is now raising in the public domain. Thereafter, the former CEO has resorted to social media to suggest that the charges were trumped up in pursuit of a personal and politicised agenda by certain named individuals. Privileged documents of the Corporation have been made public and out of context, to drive a misleading narrative that has caused immeasurable reputational and financial prejudice to the Corporation and its stakeholders. The use of the privileged documents, albeit out of context, is contrary to her contract of employment and the relevant legislation.
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