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• Chronicle
• December 16, 2011
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ZCTU leaders detained after defying High Court order

Chronicle Reporter
THREE Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leaders of the Lovemore Matombo faction were yesterday briefly detained for defying a High Court ruling barring them from holding a congress in Bulawayo.
Harare High Court judge Justice Francis Bere yesterday handed an order barring the holding of the congress.

The splinter faction leader Mr Matombo was taken for questioning by the police alongside the faction’s secretary-general, Mr Raymond Majongwe and an executive member Mr James Gumbi. They were arrested while at the venue of the would-be congress at Cecil Hotel and taken to Bulawayo Central Police Station.
The faction’s executive member Ms Thabitha Khumalo confirmed the arrests and release of the trio.
A group of the faction’s members had already gathered at the police station minutes after their leaders’ arrest. “I don’t know why they were arrested because we have filed an application at the Supreme Court

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• December 16, 2011
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Health hazard looms in city

By Temba Dube
THOUSANDS of Bulawayo residents are likely to spend Christmas without water as the city council has embarked on a massive disconnection exercise, probably the most widespread in its history, in a bid to recover $61 million it is owed by ratepayers.

A health hazard is looming due to the ongoing disconnection exercise and there are threats that council wants to enforce its by-laws that stipulate that occupants of disconnected properties should be evicted on health grounds if water supplies are not restored within five days.
Sources from council yesterday said more than two thirds of accounts in the city were overdue and faced disconnection.
The city council’s director of financial services, Mr Kimpton Ndimande, said in the latest council report that the council needs to collect about $7 million daily to meet its operational costs.

“The city, which is struggling with a crippling cash flow crisis, has stepped up debt collection efforts as it is finding it increasingly difficult to meet its financial obligations,” said a council worker, who asked not to be named.

“The blitz on defaulters comes at a time when council creditors have resorted to cutting supplies, cancelling credit facilities, garnishing council bank accounts, taking legal action to recover amounts owed to them by the local authority. Suppliers and service providers are also demanding cash upfront,” said the official.
The official said thousands of disconnection notices have been sent out to residents, Government departments and companies.

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• December 16, 2011
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Mutambara takes case to Supreme Court

Harare Bureau
DEPUTY Prime Minister Professor Arthur Mutambara has approached the Supreme Court challenging the High Court decision to grant Professor Welshman Ncube the MDC presidency.
Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Lawrence Kamocha on Thursday granted an application by Prof Ncube to interdict Prof Mutambara from acting as both party president and principal to the GPA.

The appeal effectively suspends the lower court ruling until the Supreme Court hands down its determination.
Justice Kamocha ruled that basing on the final order sought, Prof Mutambara was no longer president of MDC.
He said the party was justified in launching the application to restrain Prof Mutambara from persisting with his behaviour.

Justice Kamocha said the outcome of the party congress remains valid until and unless it was set aside by a court of law.
He said the balance of convenience clearly favoured the applicants.
Through his lawyers, Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni, Prof Mutambara filed his appeal yesterday at the superior court without seeking leave to appeal.

In his notice of appeal Prof Mutambara set out his grounds to nullify the lower court’s decision and listed MDC and its secretary general Mrs Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga as respondents.

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• December 16, 2011
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First Lady dispels reports

Harare Bureau
FIRST Lady Amai Grace yesterday dispelled reports by some sections of the media that she is ill, saying she only hurt her back while exercising in the gym.