Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai skips court

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Friday failed to attend a labour hearing at the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare in a case in which a former worker of his private communications organisation is claiming salary arrears of US$9 300.

Douglas Munakira, who was a research officer with the Institute of Democratic Alternative of Zimbabwe (IDAZ), cited the Prime Minister's Office and PM Tsvangirai as parties to the labour dispute.

According to a notification for hearing dated April 25 2013, PM Tsvangirai and a representative from his office were supposed to attend the hearing at Makombe Building in Harare.

Mr Munakira argues that the PM's Office unfairly treated him to an extent that he resigned citing unfair labour practice. He argues that the office owes him US$9 300, a figure that accrued from underpayment of monthly salary over three years of employment.

He resigned from employment citing ill-treatment but the parties clashed on the amount due to him.
Mr Munakira wants US$9 300 while IDAZ is offering him US$2 000. Mr Munakira's lawyer Mr Wellington Pasipanodya of Manase and Manase has taken the matter for concilliation at the Labour and Social Welfare ministry.

In a notice for the conciliation dated April 22 2013, PM Tsvangirai and his office were cited as parties to the proceedings.

Mr Munakira argues that he started working for the organisation as a security officer from April 2011 to January 2012 and arrears of US$500 accrued.

He claims he was entitled to a US$400 monthly salary but on five occasions he received US$300.
From February 2012 to February this year Mr Munakira says he was elevated to being a research officer earning US$900 monthly.

Instead of receiving that amount, he was given US$300 for 10 months.
Mr Munakira received US$400 for two months and for one month he did not get a salary. He also claims encashment of his leave days to the tune of US$900.

After his promotion to a research officer Munakira says he was entitled to 40 litres of fuel every month and for nine months he did not receive any.

PM Tsvangirai's lawyer Mr Chris Mhike of Artherstone and Cook law firm wrote a letter to Manase and Manase contesting the claimed figure.

He disputes the fact that Munakira was promoted adding that his salary remained US$400 throughout his period of employment. Labour officer Mr B Chikwanha on Friday issued the PM and his office with a final notification of hearing for May 16.

Failure to attend the next meeting slated for May 16, will leave the labour officer with no option but to declare a dispute and to refer the matter for arbitration.

Mr Pasipanodya, who attended the hearing on Friday said the PM and his lawyers were not in attendance.

"We went for the conciliation but the PM and his lawyers were not in attendance.
"They were issued with a final notice to attend the hearing and if they fail to attend again a certificate of no-settlement will be issued and the matter will be referred for arbitration," said Mr Pasipanodya.

Mr Mhike said his client had not been served with the first notification for the hearing.
"Notification for the office of the PM to attend labour conciliation proceedings was only received at the office of the Prime Minister today (May 3 2013). "It refers to a hearing on May 16 and not 3. While the notification is marked 'final' it is the first such notice received at the PM's office. The PM never received any notification of this sort previously," he said.

Mr Mhike added that there were chances of the parties settling the matter amicably.
"The so-called final notification comes in while I, as legal counsel for the PM and the PM's Office, am in active correspondence and discussion with Mr Munakira's lawyers.

"Believing that Mr Munakira's lawyers are discussing with us in good faith, we are confident that this matter will be resolved amicably in the next few days," said Mr Mhike.