By Mduduzi Hlophe

MANZINI: Majaha Nhleko, a former Assistant Dairy Development Officer of the Eswatini Dairy Board said he was forced to resign by the Board’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Tony Mduduzi Dlamini over lost keys to one of the latter\'s private homes.

Speaking during an interview with this Swaziland News, Nhleko said since the year 2019 the CEO would send him using the company car during working hours to carry out his own personal errands, this practice went on until 21st January 2019 when he misplaced keys to one of  the CEO’s private homes.

“He would send me to buy and deliver building material, get people to build his  homesteads at Hlane and Hlutse, sometimes I would work until midnight.I did not have problems with that until when he accused me of misplacing the keys for his Hlutse homestead. He forced me to resign. I finally resigned on the 5th February and since my resignation falls under constructive dismissal, I have since lodged a claim of E 788, 000. 00 in respect of overtime worked from 2019 to 4th February 2021”, he said.

Efforts to reach Tony Dlamini, the Eswatini Dairy Board Chief Executive Officer(CEO) proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.

But Lungile Maphalala, the Legal Advisor and Human Resources Manager of the Eswatini Dairy Board said she was aware of the matter but declined to comment any further.

“Im aware of the matter but I can’t comment any further”, she said.

When reached for comments, Wander Mkhonza the Secretary General (SG) of the Almagated Trade Union of Swaziland (ATUSWA) condemned the CEO’s conduct.

“It is totally wrong for a company’s employee to work at their bosses’ home on a daily basis, it’s understandable when it’s a once off. Its beyond wrong to be dismissed from work for work unrelated issues, the employee was working at the CEO’s private homes out of his good will. He is entitled to a claim if his resignation falls under constructive dismissal”, said the ATUSWA Secretary General.