admin Samuel Kadungure Court Reporter
FORMER Bishop Julius Makoni dragged his former employer the Church of the Province of Central Africa (Anglican Diocese of Manicaland) to court in a bid to recover $120 500 in allowances owed to him from 2009 to 2015.
On March 4, 2016 Bishop Makoni, through his attorneys Thompson Stevenson and Associates, petitioned the High Court to recover the outstanding monies.
Bishop Makoni argues that in 2009 he entered into a verbal contract of employment with the church under which the parties agreed that he be the Bishop of the Church the Province of Central Africa, Anglican Diocese of Manicaland.
“The aforesaid employment contract was later reduced to writing and signed by the said parties on 14 July 2013.
“The material terms of the aforesaid contract relevant to this matter were: that the plaintiff’s monthly salary shall be five times that of the stipend of the Diocesan Priest, including all other statutory requirements.
“That the plaintiff would be entitled to two cars; one car for office use and the other for family use; a Diocesan house, with all utility bills paid for and two domestic servants; an agreed travel and subsistence allowance which will be reviewed from time to time and that on retirement, the plaintiff would be entitled to a
salary equivalent to that of the sitting bishop and the two cars he would be using during his tenure,” reads part of the summons.
Bishop Makoni retired on June 30, 2015.
During his tenure, Bishop Makoni argues, the church erratically paid allowances due to him in terms of his contract of employment.
In 2009 he was owed $1 500, in 2010 ($18 000), in 2011($18 000), in 2012 ($18 000), calculated at a rate of $1 500 per month.
In 2013 the allowances were reviewed upwards to $2 500 per month, which the church did not pay as well as in 2014.
In 2015 he was owed $5000 for two months.
“Officials of the defendant have confirmed the aforesaid indebtedness to the plaintiff. Notwithstanding several verbal and written demands for the settlement of the above debt, the defendant has refused, neglected or omitted to pay the debt.
Bishop Makoni also stated that the diocese never bought vehicles for him and were still refusing to pay rentals for his accommodation owed to NMB Bank.
“The church’s lawyers are Mutungura and Partners Legal Practitioners. Mutungura is the Diocesan registrar who signed my contract of employment and now represents the diocese against me,’’ said Bishop Makoni.
Mutungura and Partners Legal Practitioners have entered an appearance to defend.
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