News / National
MDC-T ordered to pay $453,000 to its 13 security officers in damages
04 Oct 2013 at 03:55hrs | Views
BARELY 24 hours after expressing concern over working conditions at ZBC where workers have reportedly gone for five months without salaries, MDC-T was exposed as all talk after being ordered by the Labour Court to pay its 13 security officers damages to the tune of $453 000.
The 13 security personnel were unfairly dismissed without even a cent under unclear circumstances in 2010.
Arbitrator Duncan Mudzengi ruled that the dismissal of the workers was unfair and that they should be paid damages and other outstanding allowances.
Two of the workers were awarded $48 260 each, while nine others got $38 440 each.
One was awarded $10 840.
The damages were awarded considering the position each worker held and the time they had served MDC-T.
Some were employed as far back as 1999 when the party was formed, while others were employed in 2002 and 2005 respectively.
After working for several years at Harvest House, the workers were shocked to be informed of the termination of their contracts in 2010.
Arbitrator Mudzengi on May 3 last year ruled that the workers were unfairly dismissed and ordered their reinstatement or payment of damages in the event that reinstatement was no longer possible.
Honey and Blackenberg law firm defended MDC-T while Mr Obert Mawadze of Manase and Manase law firm represented the 13 security officers.
On Monday, the same arbitrator quantified the damages after the parties failed to agree on the figures.
MDC-T initially promised to reinstate the 13 workers, but the party made a U-turn and failed to honour the undertaking, prompting the 13 through their lawyer to seek quantification.
The 13 were from 2002, working on renewable contracts. They renewed the contracts up to August 2010 when they received two-week notices of termination of contracts.
The workers approached a labour officer in July 2011 where the matter was referred for conciliation.
Conciliation failed to settle the case and a dispute was declared, resulting in the arbitrator making a ruling. Early this year, former Prime Minister and MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai clashed with a former researcher in his office Mr Douglas Munakira over unfair labour practices.
Munakira, who was a research officer with the Institute of Democratic Alternative of Zimbabwe, cited the Prime Minister's Office and PM Tsvangirai as parties to the labour dispute.
He argued that the PM's Office unfairly treated him to an extent that he resigned citing unfair labour practice. He also argued that the office owed him $9 300, a figure that accrued from underpayment of monthly salary over three years of employment.
He resigned citing ill-treatment, but the parties clashed on the amount due to him.
Munakira wanted $9 300 while IDAZ offered him $2 000. He ended up taking the $2 000 considering the financial challenges he was facing while out of employment.
The matter had been referred for conciliation, but the parties later opted for an out-of-court settlement.
The 13 security personnel were unfairly dismissed without even a cent under unclear circumstances in 2010.
Arbitrator Duncan Mudzengi ruled that the dismissal of the workers was unfair and that they should be paid damages and other outstanding allowances.
Two of the workers were awarded $48 260 each, while nine others got $38 440 each.
One was awarded $10 840.
The damages were awarded considering the position each worker held and the time they had served MDC-T.
Some were employed as far back as 1999 when the party was formed, while others were employed in 2002 and 2005 respectively.
After working for several years at Harvest House, the workers were shocked to be informed of the termination of their contracts in 2010.
Arbitrator Mudzengi on May 3 last year ruled that the workers were unfairly dismissed and ordered their reinstatement or payment of damages in the event that reinstatement was no longer possible.
Honey and Blackenberg law firm defended MDC-T while Mr Obert Mawadze of Manase and Manase law firm represented the 13 security officers.
MDC-T initially promised to reinstate the 13 workers, but the party made a U-turn and failed to honour the undertaking, prompting the 13 through their lawyer to seek quantification.
The 13 were from 2002, working on renewable contracts. They renewed the contracts up to August 2010 when they received two-week notices of termination of contracts.
The workers approached a labour officer in July 2011 where the matter was referred for conciliation.
Conciliation failed to settle the case and a dispute was declared, resulting in the arbitrator making a ruling. Early this year, former Prime Minister and MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai clashed with a former researcher in his office Mr Douglas Munakira over unfair labour practices.
Munakira, who was a research officer with the Institute of Democratic Alternative of Zimbabwe, cited the Prime Minister's Office and PM Tsvangirai as parties to the labour dispute.
He argued that the PM's Office unfairly treated him to an extent that he resigned citing unfair labour practice. He also argued that the office owed him $9 300, a figure that accrued from underpayment of monthly salary over three years of employment.
He resigned citing ill-treatment, but the parties clashed on the amount due to him.
Munakira wanted $9 300 while IDAZ offered him $2 000. He ended up taking the $2 000 considering the financial challenges he was facing while out of employment.
The matter had been referred for conciliation, but the parties later opted for an out-of-court settlement.
Source - herald
