Council blows US$130,000 legal bill over ZW$50 employees’ shortfall

By Moses Madyira

Chikomba – Chikomba Rural District Council (CRDC) has suffered a significant legal setback after losing a Supreme Court case with costs.

The dispute centered on the reinstatement of one of four employees who were fired in 2020 over a mere ZW$50 shortfall.

CRDC fired bus levy collectors Martha Mudzana, Rosa Chikwama, and Violet Mukombo along with senior revenue officer, Lawrence Magwiroto, JT accused of “under-mastering” and “over-mastering” revenue totaling ZW$250 and ZW$300, respectively.
While the initial error amounted to a mere ZW$50 the local authority suspected collusion and charged the workers with fraud.

All four employees were dismissed following internal hearings.

Mudzana successfully appealed her dismissal to the National Employment Council (NEC) Exemptions Committee, which overturned the decision.

However, the Chikomba Rural District Council (RDC) challenged this ruling in the Labor Court, arguing that Mudzana was a fraudster.

The local authority’s appeal was ultimately dismissed due to lack of evidence.

The local authority also lost similar appeals for Magwiroto, Chikwama, and Mukombo in various courts.

While Magwiroto’s case is currently pending at the Supreme Court, Chikwama’s Labor Court judgment is still awaited, and Mukombo’s case was appealed to the Supreme Court.

Despite the minuscule amount involved, the council’s legal battles have reportedly cost over US$130,000.
In a recent ruling, Justice Chiweshe dismissed CRDC’s appeal for condonation and extension of time, upholding the Labour Court’s decision in favor of Lawrence Magwiroto, a senior Revenue Officer.

Residents, several councillors, and other stakeholders in Chikomba have expressed outrage over the exorbitant legal fees incurred by the local authority in a case involving a shortfall of ZW$50 (less than US$1).

Critics have called on the council to immediately abandon the pursuit of this costly and frivolous legal battle, arguing that it is a significant drain on public resources.

The case has been ongoing for several years, with CRDC suffering multiple legal defeats.

CRDC workers’ dismissal was initially rejected by the National Employment Council for Rural District Councils, and subsequent appeals to the Labour Court and Supreme Court have also been unsuccessful.

Unsatisfied with the initial ruling against them, Chikomba Rural District Council (CRDC) pursued the matter in the Labour Court, only to face another legal setback.

CDRC’s efforts so far have been in vain, as the Supreme Court recently dismissed their case with costs.

The workers were represented by James Gumbi from the Zimbabwe Rural District Councils Workers Union, while CDRC was represented by Herbert Mutasa of Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans law firm.

Bullen Chiwara, CRDC CEO, said the local authority is pursuing the issue because it sees merit in the matter, and that CRDC had a budget in place for its legal cases.


“Thank you for your concern regarding the labor cases in question.

“I am not in a position to comment on the merits of the case because this is subjudice.

“On fees used thus far, I can inform you that the council has a budget for legal fees in the event of such unwelcome developments,” said Chiwara.

The Chivhu Residents and Ratepayers Alliance (CHIRRA) Chairman, David Marufu, has called on the council to abandon the case and either reinstate the employees or offer them a severance package.

He emphasized that continuing to pursue the matter is a waste of precious resources and a disservice to the community.

“All the pointers are that council will not win the case so why waste precious resources.

“We begin to suspect that somebody is benefitting from the case.

“Council must either take workers back or give them a severance package,” said Marufu.

Source- Masvingo Mirror

LATEST NEWS

RELATED POSTS