Unauthorised use of company vehicle as an act of misconduct in Zimbabwe

The unauthorised use of company vehicles by an employee in Zimbabwe is generally regarded as a serious offence warranting dismissal. Most company policies and collective bargaining agreements expressly deal with the issue. The misuse of a company vehicle may lead to a dismissal depending on the circumstances of each case. Thus, the authorised use of a company vehicle is regarded as an act of misconduct in Zimbabwe.

The Supreme Court in Nyemba v CMED (Pvt) Ltd SC 65-15 at page 7 held that:

“With regards to the charge of unauthorised use of the respondent’s motor vehicle, the appellant admitted that he had allocated to himself the use of the motor without the requisite authority. On this point alone we could not fault the court a quo when it found that the appellant never controverted this charge in any way because he admitted to having flouted company procedures which ought to have been followed when seeking allocation of company motor vehicles. The charge of gross disregard of standing procedures resulting in actual prejudice or potential financial prejudice was clearly proved from the above admissions by the appellant. Thus, the verdict of guilty as charged was correct and neither this court nor the court a quo can fault the findings of hearing committee.”