Mtetemera dismisses Escom claims over pay

Former Escom United assistant coach McDonald Mtetemera has dismissed the club’s claims that their suspension was without pay.

Mtetemera was reacting to Escom general secretary Richard Samba’s statement that the coaching panel’s suspension was without pay due to poor performance.

Mtetemera said he is contemplating seeking legal redress.

“I was surprised to read in the press that the suspension was without pay. The truth of the matter was that the chairperson [Fanuel Nkhono] verbally told us that during the suspension period we would be paid, but he urged us not to take the issue to the media.

“However, from the time we were suspended up to last week when we were fired, we had not been paid. We have not been paid for the last five months or so. I am planning to seek legal redress,” he said.

Mtetemera also claimed that the club did not give them suspension letters.

Samba said he could not be drawn to comment as he was in a meeting,

But Nkhono collaborated Samba’s claims that the suspension was without pay.

“Samba told them point blank that the suspension was without pay. He even wrote them letters which I endorsed. So, what Mtetemera is saying is not true,” said Nkhono.

Aubrey Nankhuni, who was also the club’s assistant coach, said he would comment at an appropriate time. However, former head coach Charles Manda recently said he was hoping to receive his payment for the past four years.

“What I need is my money. I just want them to meet their contractual obligations. I also want to get my arrears and move on,” Manda was quoted as saying.