Jonathan Moyo sues General Beltings over Zimdef debt

HIGHER and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo is suing General Beltings (Pvt) Limited over outstanding Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef) levies amounting to over $34 000.

Moyo filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court on November 3 demanding that the conveyer belts manufacturer settles the outstanding amount.

"The plaintiff's claim is against defendant for payment of $34 302,87 being the balance of levy due to plaintiff for the period from August 2015 to August 2016," the summons read.

"In terms of section 3 of the Manpower Planning and Development levy notice SI 74/99 the defendant, an employer, is liable to pay to the fund levy of 1% of its total assessed wage bill and other leviable (sic) benefits, which levy is payable monthly in advance on or before the first day of each month without demand using the wage bill of the preceding month, together with collection commission and costs of suit on an attorney client scale."

He gave the company 10 days to respond to the summons.

In his declaration of the suit, Moyo submitted that as a minister responsible for Zimdef, he was vested with the functions of overseeing the fund and the company was an employer which was supposed to pay levy to Zimdef.

"Plaintiff delegated officials, the fund's levy inspectors assessed the defendant, who assessed the defendant's wage bill, payrolls and other financial statements for the period August 2015 to August 2016 of which a sum of
$34 302,87 was arrived at as balance of levy due and surcharge for the said period," the declaration read.
Moyo submitted that the company failed to meet its statutory obligation to remit levy due monthly, thereby, unnecessarily dragging the plaintiff to court to recover the money.

"Plaintiff should not be put out of pocket due to these proceedings. An order for a payment of the suit at a higher scale is proper in the circumstance. The defendant has neglected, failed or refused to pay despite demand," the declaration read.

General Beltings is yet to file its appearance to defend papers at the High Court.

Moyo and his deputy Godfrey Gandawa are currently battling allegations levelled against them by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission that they siphoned over $400 000 Zimdef funds.