News / National
Magistrate dismissed for participating in elections on an MDC-T ticket
25 Oct 2013 at 05:13hrs | Views
THE Judicial Services Commission (JSC) is negotiating a severance package for dismissed Victim Friendly Court (VFC) national co-ordinator Idine Magonga, who participated in local government elections on an MDC-T ticket on July 31 and lost.
Chief magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe summarily dismissed Magonga when he filed his nomination papers to contest a Goromonzi Rural District Council ward seat. The dismissal was done without affording him a hearing in terms of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) regulations.
However, the case took a new twist after the CSC sent out a formal notice rescinding its decision to fire civil servants who participated in the polls without clearance.
The commission secretary, Pretty Sunguro, in a public notice dated August 29 said: "In the interim, members of the civil service who participated in the 2013 harmonised elections in local authorities remain members of the civil service."
After realising its actions may have breached the new law the commission was working out a severance package for Magonga, a JSC source said.
"The commission is currently deciding the exit package for Magonga to settle the matter without going to a labour tribunal," the source said.
However, a senior JSC official, Justice Samuel Kudya, denied that the commission was negotiating a severance package for Magonga.
"I am not aware of any negotiations of an exit package because we dismissed him," Kudya said.
Magonga said he was not aware of any new development since he received his dismissal letter.
"The Chief Magistrate's office has not been in touch since they summarily dismissed me without any hearing. I am looking forward to receiving communication if there are any new developments," Magonga said.
Chief magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe summarily dismissed Magonga when he filed his nomination papers to contest a Goromonzi Rural District Council ward seat. The dismissal was done without affording him a hearing in terms of the Civil Service Commission (CSC) regulations.
However, the case took a new twist after the CSC sent out a formal notice rescinding its decision to fire civil servants who participated in the polls without clearance.
The commission secretary, Pretty Sunguro, in a public notice dated August 29 said: "In the interim, members of the civil service who participated in the 2013 harmonised elections in local authorities remain members of the civil service."
After realising its actions may have breached the new law the commission was working out a severance package for Magonga, a JSC source said.
"The commission is currently deciding the exit package for Magonga to settle the matter without going to a labour tribunal," the source said.
However, a senior JSC official, Justice Samuel Kudya, denied that the commission was negotiating a severance package for Magonga.
"I am not aware of any negotiations of an exit package because we dismissed him," Kudya said.
Magonga said he was not aware of any new development since he received his dismissal letter.
"The Chief Magistrate's office has not been in touch since they summarily dismissed me without any hearing. I am looking forward to receiving communication if there are any new developments," Magonga said.
Source - thestandard
