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The claim is utter nonsense because these people are running away from following the right procedure when it comes to addressing such issues. They should not just besiege the company offices like what they are doing,” he said.

Employees who spoke on condition of anonymity said Mr Dembwe boycotted a meeting at Belmont.

“After the Wednesday demonstration at the head office, known as Buscod Distribution Centre along 23rd Avenue, Mr Dembwe promised to settle salaries owed at a meeting scheduled for Friday in the afternoon. He only appeared after four hours when the meeting had been shifted to Donnington Police Station along Plumtree Road,” they said.

The workers accused the management of forcing them to accept a meagre severance package.

“The managing director wants to give us $17 each as retrenchment package saying the outstanding salaries owed will be paid in the next four months. This is daylight robbery,” said one worker.

The workers said Mr Dembwe was claiming that he had no money but was reported to have paid his arrears to Zimra.

The chain of supermarkets closed its last shop on 26 December leaving close to 400 workers stranded as they had not been paid their November and December salaries.

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