The Industrial Relations Court (IRC) in Blantyre has awarded former Flames coach Patrick Mabedi K53.68 million in compensation for his unfair and unlawful dismissal, down from the K917 million he was demanding from Football Association of Malawi (FAM).
The tactician, who was getting K13 million as monthly salary, was demanding full salaries and fringe benefits for the year remaining in his contract as well as unfair labour practices .
But in his ruling delivered on Monday, IRC deputy chairperson Wyson Nkhata awarded Mabedi K32.2 million as compensation for unfair dismissal and K21. 4 million for unfair labour practices.
| Courtesy of FAM
In dismissing Mabedu’s other claims , he said: “For the avoidance of doubt, no award is made for notice pay, severance allowance, withheld or accrued fringe benefits, residual fringe benefits or related contractual entitlements.
“In particular, the claims for motor vehicle benefit, fuel as a separate head, annual leave grant, annual gold card club membership subscription, economy air tickets, annual bonus, gratuity, VIP medical aid, international travel allowances and any other relief not expressly granted in this ruling are dismissed for want of sufficient proof, because they fall outside the recoverable scope of this assessment, or because they have already been accounted for under the compensatory heads.
“The respondent is directed to pay the total sum of K53 686 500 to the applicant [Mabedi] within seven days from the date of this ruling. Any party aggrieved by this decision has the right to appeal to the High Court within thirty days from the date hereof.”
Reacting to the verdict in an interview yesterday, Mabedi’s lawyer David Kanyenda said: “We are meticulously studying the contents of the riling. Upon consultation with our client, we shall take his instructions on the further conduct of the matter.”
On the other hand FAM lawyer Luciano Mickeus welcomed the ruling, saying: “It is a fair decision. However, we would have loved if the amount was reduced further.”
During assessment proceedings last month, Mickeus argued that the K917 million claim was excessive nd not supported by legal principles used by the IRC in awarding compensation awards.
He further argued that part of the claim was based on projected benefits, “including foreign trip allowances and other activities that may never have materialized had Mabedi completed his contract”.
Mebedi, who signed a two-year contract with FAM in October 2023, was given targets to qualify for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations, reach the 2024 Cosafa Cup semi-finals and at least win six 2026 World Cup Group L qualifiers.
He was fired on October 29 2024 after losing four matches in Afcon qualifiers. He won two and also lost losing two World Cup qualifiers and had a chance to meet the set target in the global showpiece qualification campaign.
The Flames did not take part in the 2024 Cosafa Cup following the death of Vice-President Saulos Chilima and eight others in plane crash on June 10 2024.
