Prof Jonathan Moyo resume lawsuits frenzy

HIGHER and Tertiary Education minister Jonathan Moyo has resumed his lawsuit frenzy as he has taken  Hwange Local Board over a $17 000 debt owed to the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Fund (Zimdef).

Moyo filed the application at the Bulawayo High Court on August 25, accusing the local authority of not remitting levies and surcharge fees to Zimdef.

Zimdef was established by section 23 of the Manpower Planning and Development Act, 1984 (now revised Manpower Planning and Development Act Chapter 28:02 of 1996) with the broad objective of financing the development of critical and highly-skilled manpower in Zimbabwe.

"In terms of section 53 of the Zimbabwe Manpower Development Act, plaintiff is empowered to impose a levy on the defendant by a statutory instrument which levy is payable to the Zimbabwe Manpower Development," Moyo's declaration of the claim reads.

He said the defendant's wage bill, payroll and other financial statements for the period November 2013 to January 2015 showed that a sum of $21 829,92 was arrived at as balance of the levy due and surcharge for the said period.

"The defendant, despite the assessment by the fund's levy inspectors, still has the duty to calculate and pay its levy obligation," Moyo declared in the application.

"The defendant failed to meet its levy obligation to remit its levy monthly thereby unnecessarily dragging the plaintiff to court to recover same. Plaintiff should not be put out of pocket as a result of these proceedings. An order for payment of cost at a higher scale is proper in the circumstance."

He said when Hwange Local Board was served with a letter of demand, they made an undertaking to pay $5 000 by May 12 this year and thereafter $500 each Wednesday of the week. Moyo said only $5 000 was paid resulting in Hwange Local Board accumulating a balance of $16 828,92.

Moyo demanded the total payment and cost of the suit on an attorney-client scale.

Hwange Local Board is yet to respond to the lawsuit.