The management of Gorongosa National Park (PNG) is being accused of dismissing 48 workers without just cause and outside the law. As the portal ZitamarAt the time of the layoffs, it was alleged that there was a lack of funds and a need to restructure the PNG administration. However, before and after these layoffs, new staff were hired, including foreigners who were offered residencies.

The whistleblowers say that the government institutions they have turned to have failed to respond to their requests and accuse them of often colluding with the PNG administration.

The group of dismissed workers claim that they were summoned to the human resources office on the afternoon of March 21, 2024, without any prior information. The following day, they were collectively dismissed in a small room in groups of four.

"The way we were told was very harsh and there was no attention to our feelings or room for questions," the workers said in a complaint filed with the provincial labor directorate, with the knowledge of the governor and the secretary of state of Sofala province, according to the newspaper Zitamar.

With no alternatives, the workers signed letters of termination with promises of compensation.

PNG Human Resources Coordinator Olisio Cumbane said he was following orders from Finance and Administration Director Mike Marchington, who signs staff contracts.

The decision to dismiss was not shared with the workers' union and the Ministry of Labor, according to the whistleblowers. In addition, the Director of the local union was one of those dismissed.

MZNews' attempts to obtain further clarification from Gorongosa National Park were unsuccessful. (Image: DR, Zitamar)