The Zambian subsidiary of Dangote cement has sued Fackson Shamenda, the country’s labour minister for libel and slander. Shamenda had accused a Nigerian executive at the Zambian unit of the company of attempting to bribe him at a hotel in September, during a tour of the plant in Ndola, Lusaka. He had alleged that that the Nigerian executive tried to induce him. “He told me that it was a tradition in their culture to give someone a token of appreciation. Maybe his idea was that I turn a blind eye to what is happening at Dangote,” Shamenda said.
Following the allegations, Dangote Industries Zambia’ had released a statement denying the allegations of bribery, stating that the allegations were malicious misinformation. It stated, “For the record, DIZ categorically deny any claims of corruption and bribery, and reserve our rights on this matter.”
Shamenda had also claimed that Dangote Industries Zambia discouraged workers from joining labour unions, with the contracts of those who joined, reportedly terminated.
On Tuesday, 16 September, Shamenda told Reuters, “There is no union, and according to the reports I have received, those who have attempted to join unions have had their contracts terminated. I have asked the labour commissioner to investigate and tell me all the categories of employees, because the reports we have received indicate there are no permanent employees.”
Dangote has now filed a suit in court, where it stated that the minister created a wrongful impression that the company was exploiting Zambian workers and enticing government officials with bribes.
“The plaintiff has been brought into public scandal and its reputation has been injured,” Dangote said in a writ of summons dated Oct. 10.”
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