By Chisomo Phiri
The Industrial Relations Court (IRC) on Friday ordered the only public broadcaster Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to pay its former employee Geoffrey Kapusa K5.1 million for unfair dismissal.
IRC chairperson Austin Msowoya, ruling on MBC’s motion to review an earlier order of assessment delivered on January 26, 2022 by the then IRC assistant registrar, gave the public broadcaster 10 days to make the compensation.
Kapusa, popularly known as Mr Splash, dragged MBC to court seeking damages for unfair dismissal or unfair termination of employment contract, severance allowance and reinstatement.
The former TV presenter was then awarded K12.9 million in January 2022 by Hussein which comprised K11.8 million compensation for his unfair dismissal and about K1.1 million severance allowance.
However, MBC challenged the award and sought review of the compensation arguing the assistant registrar erred in awarding Kapusa the said compensation.
In his ruling, the IRC chairperson agreed with MBC and instead awarded Kapusa K5, 175 867.69 which was his two months’ salary for every completed year of his seven years of service.
In his ruling dated August 7 2023, Msowoya has also ordered the parties, if aggrieved, to appeal to the High Court within 30 days.
Kapusa served MBC from July 26, 2010 to December 22, 2017.
The talented presenter grew so popular with the station’s well-known entertainment program, ‘Music Splash’.
