adminPeter Matambanadzo Senior Reporter
TWENTY-SIX investigators and intelligence officers employed by the Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission have been given the green light to attach their employer’s property to recover US$1,5 million owed to them in outstanding allowances and benefits. This comes after an arbitral award granted by arbitrator Mr Rogers Matsikidze early this year was successfully registered at the High Court.
Justice Happias Zhou then issued a writ of execution allowing seven properties belonging to ZACC to be attached to recover the amount owed since 2009.
“You are required and directed to attach and take into execution the movable goods of Zimbabwe Anti Corruption Commission of the above mentioned respondents whose address is No. 872 Betterment Close, Mt Pleasant Business Park, Harare, Zimbabwe and of the same cause to be realised the sum of US$1 530 624 30, which claimants recovered by judgment of this Hounourable Court dated 17th October 2013,” reads part of the writ, which was addressed to the deputy Sheriff of Zimbabwe.
The writ also instructed the anti-graft body to pay the workers or their lawyer Mr Joel Mambara of Mambara and Partners the sum due to them with costs.
According to the writ of execution, immovable property includes the ZACC head office in Mount Pleasant and six other properties in Harare.
These are stand 386 Quinnington, Borrowdale measuring 4 000 square metres, a stand in Glen Lorne measuring 5373 square metres, a stand in Bluff Hill measuring 4515 square metres, two stands in Greendale measuring 6172 and 4148 square metres, and another stand in Northwood, Harare measuring 4047 square metres.
According to court papers, ZACC failed to pay the workers housing, transport, cellphone and risk allowances as well as medical aid since November 2009 to date.
The workers approached the Labour Court and were granted an award, which they subsequently registered.
However, the commission appealed against the arbitral award in favour of the workers to be paid their allowance.
But Labour Court president Mrs Lilian Kudya ruled last month that the commission was in contempt of court after it failed to comply with the court order to pay the 26 workers.
She said the fact that the workers applied for registration of their award at the High Court had no effect on the award which has been appealed against in the court.
In its grounds of appeal, the commission had maintained that it had not applied for a stay of the arbitral award pending appeal because the respondents filed an application with the higher court to register the award in question.
In March this year, arbitrator Mr Matsikidze ruled in favour of the workers and awarded each of them various amounts ranging between US$53 000 and US$61 000.
He said the commission’s human resources section was in shambles and that it was unfairly treating its workers.
In the award, Mr Matsikidze urged the commission to take care of the staff, saying poor working conditions and poor salaries might tempt them to engage in corrupt activities.
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