WORKERS at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society (ZAS) are up in arms with their employer over possible corruption relating to deductions for ghost loans and over-taxation, NewsDay can report.
According to insiders, workers are being overtaxed resulting in some of them remaining with US$25 a month.
The workers, who spoke to NewsDay, revealed that unapplied-for loans which warranted a deduction from the salary are allegedly appearing on most of their payslips.
“Just imagine you earn US$250 and you are taxed US$160. Surely, something is not right. The tax bracket does not reach there,” the source said.
“The chief executive officer (CEO) cannot control this. We suspect he’s working together with the head human resources Charles Nyemba in the plot.”
Andrew Matibiri was appointed as ZAS chief executive in 2021 taking over from the current Agriculture minister Anxious Masuka.
“In November last year, after we had raised this issue with human resources, he (Matibiri) admitted that there were problems with our payslips, particularly, on tax calculations.
According to the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, the highest tax deducted for pay as you earn is 40%.
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“He ordered everyone to return their payslips so that he could correct them. Up to date we still haven’t been given the corrected ones or at least received our monies that were overtaxed,” the workers said.
Nyemba refused to comment on the matter when contacted yesterday.
“This is an internal issue l will have to consult and find out who told you,” he said.
ZAS workers currently earn 40% in local currency and 60% in the United States dollar.
“The overtaxing and imposed loans are just happening on the US$ component. We suspect that there is serious corruption taking place.
“If the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission investigates, it might find out that what we said is just the tip of the iceberg,” the workers said.
Matibiri could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was not reachable.
