Sacked Daily Mail photographer wins case against unfair dismissal

By GRACE CHAILE

THE Ndola High Court has declared that journalist Stafrance Zulu was unfairly dismissed by Zambia Daily Mail for taking a picture of people queuing for mealie meal.
Judge Derrick Mulenga ordered the newspaper to pay Mr Zulu K241, 871.70 in benefits and 36 months’ salary as damages for unfair dismissal.
The court found that there was no valid reason to dismiss Mr Zulu, stating that his role as a photographer was simply to take photos, which he then sent to 12 editors via email as per standard procedure.
The decision to post the photo online lay with assistant online editor Mr Conrad Chikweto, not Mr Zulu.
“There was absolutely no substratum of facts upon which to charge and dismiss the complainant from employment. I therefore find and hold that the complainant has proved on a balance of probabilities that his dismissal from employment was unfair,” Justice Mulenga affirmed.