Tag Archives: and Benard Ndau

Business

Industrial Relations Court orders Press Corporation to Pay 70% of K14.1 Billion award

Maravi Post Reporter

By Jones Gadama

The Industrial Relations Court (IRC) has ruled that Press Corporation Limited (PCL) must pay 70 percent of the K14.1 billion awarded to its three former executives, despite the company’s application to suspend the earlier ruling pending an appeal.

The three former executives, George Partridge, Elizabeth Mafeni, and Benard Ndau, were awarded significant sums by the IRC on April 25, 2025, after the court ruled in their favor.

According to the court’s ruling, Benard Ndau is set to receive K2.7 billion, George Partridge will get K3.2 billion, and Elizabeth Mafeni will be awarded K8.2 billion.

The court’s decision to order PCL to pay 70 percent of the total award, amounting to approximately K9.87 billion, is a significant development in the case.

The IRC’s ruling suggests that the court is confident in the legitimacy of its earlier determination and is unwilling to entirely suspend the award pending PCL’s appeal. This decision puts pressure on PCL to comply with the court’s ruling and make the required payments to its former executives.

The case highlights the importance of adhering to employment contracts and the potential consequences of failing to do so.

The former executives’ victory in the IRC is a testament to the court’s commitment to protecting workers’ rights and ensuring that employers honor their obligations.

PCL’s application to suspend the ruling pending an appeal indicates that the company intends to contest the court’s decision.

However, the IRC’s order to pay 70 percent of the award suggests that the court believes the former executives are entitled to the compensation awarded to them.

The outcome of this case will be closely watched, particularly in the business and labor sectors, as it has implications for employment law and practices in Malawi.

As the situation unfolds, it will be essential to monitor the developments and the potential impact on PCL and its stakeholders.

Law and order

PCL appeals k14.1 billion court ruling in favor of former executives

Maravi Post Reporter

By Jones Gadama

Press Corporation Limited (PCL) has filed an appeal against a recent Industrial Relations Court (IRC) ruling that ordered the conglomerate to pay approximately K14.1 billion to three former senior executives who were unfairly dismissed.

The executives, Elizabeth Mafeni, George Partridge, and Benard Ndau, were awarded K8 billion, K4 billion, and K3 billion, respectively, after the court ruled in their favor.

The dispute dates back to 2021 when PCL implemented a functional review that recommended reducing staff to promote operational and cost efficiency. As a result, Partridge, who served as Chief Executive Officer, Mafeni, Group Financial Controller, and Ndau, Company Secretary, were among those terminated.

However, the IRC found that the dismissals were procedurally and substantively unfair, citing inconsistencies in PCL’s justification for the terminations.

In its ruling delivered on April 25, 2025, the IRC faulted PCL for mishandling its functional review process and unfairly dismissing the executives.

The court noted that PCL’s board had approved salary increases for the executives just months before terminating their employment, which contradicted the company’s claim that their high salaries were a factor in the decision to let them go.

PCL disagrees with the court’s decision, particularly the ruling that faulted PCL on the implementation of its functional review and the awarding of K14.1 billion to the former executives.

The company argues that the court’s decision was unfounded and that PCL followed due process in terminating the executives.

The IRC’s ruling has significant implications for labor relations in Malawi, highlighting the importance of following due process in terminating employees.

The case also underscores the need for companies to ensure that their actions are fair and justified, particularly when it comes to senior executives.

John Suzi Banda, lawyer for the former executives, emphasized that compensation is secondary to the vindication of his clients. “But for my clients, the compensation is secondary.

What is important is that they have been vindicated as they felt were unfairly treated by their employer,” Banda said.

The appeal filed by PCL will likely draw out the dispute for months, potentially setting new precedents for labor disputes in Malawi.

As the case unfolds, it remains to be seen whether the appeal court will uphold the IRC’s ruling or rule in favor of PCL. One thing is certain, however: the outcome of this case will have far-reaching implications for labor relations in the country.

As the story develops, it will be crucial to examine the arguments presented by both sides and the potential impact on Malawi’s labor landscape.

For now, the former executives can take solace in the fact that the court has ruled in their favor, validating their claims of unfair dismissal.