Strabag driver claims K30m
A driver, who was recently sacked by Strabag Construction Company for speaking against an expatriate who called him a monkey, is demanding K30 million in compensation for unfair dismissal.
Recently, government deported Australian workshop manager Hinteregger Jurgen who is accused of racially abusing Charles Denvar 11 days ago.
The driver is claiming the payout as recompense for defamation and arbitrary dismissal from the company which is reconstructing the 50-kilometre Mzuzu-Nkhata Bay Road.
Jurgen was arrested and expelled for the racist remarks, while Davina has lost his job for publicising the racist attacks.
The Australian was deported just when he was to appear in court in relation to the racist attack.
Denvar has engaged lawyer George Kadzipatike to claim damages.
Kadzipatike said the “monkey” slur presupposed that the driver is not a human being.
In an interview, he explained: “The remarks have gravely lowered the status of the client in the minds of reasonable people who read and heard about the remarks worldwide. The dismissal of the client without following principles of natural justice is unfair.”
Strabag lawyer Wesley Mwafulirwa refused to comment on the matter, saying he had not yet been served with the court papers. n
