adminMidlands Correspondent
GWERU motorists whose vehicles were hired by the CMED for use during the harmonised elections are up in arms with the firm after they were paid half of the amount they were supposed to get.Some disgruntled motorists told Chronicle that they were paid half their due amounts last Friday at the CMED provincial depot in Gweru.
They said the CMED management told them that they were no longer in a position to pay them the full amount.
“We were surprised on Friday when we were given half of the amount that we are owed.
“We tried to engage the management on the issue and we were told that the money we got was enough,” said a motorist.
The disgruntled motorists said they were supposed to be paid at least $800 for the 10 days their vehicles were hired according to the contract they entered into with CMED.
They said CMED officials argued that they did not get enough money from the main contractor, the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec).
“We, however, checked with Zec officials who indicated to us that they paid CMED in full. We are failing to understand why CMED is paying us half of what we are supposed to get,” fumed another motorist.
The motorists said they were considering taking legal action to get their money.
Chronicle is in possession of a letter of demand by one of the disgruntled motorists, Mr Anthony Kalubi.
In the letter, Mr Kalubi threatened to sue CMED for breach of contract, if they failed to pay him the balance on time.
“Our contract period ran from 26 July 2013 to 04 August 2013 but you have acknowledged from 26 July 2013 to 02 August 2013. You have no legal basis (reason) to forfeit the other days of the contract.
“According to the agreed rates of payment my total amount due is $968-70 and you have only acknowledged $743-70.
“You have also paid $334-67 which you regard as half of what is due to me. That is contrary to our agreement which stipulates that the total amount must be paid within seven days of the end of the contract,” read part of Mr Kalubi’s letter of demand addressed to CMED and copied to Zec.
CMED Midlands provincial manager Mr Owen Magwenzi said he was not aware of the sub-contracted motorists’ disgruntlement over payment.
He said he was out of office and would be in a position to comment today.
“I am not in office at the moment and I don’t know of any queries arising from payments of sub-contracted motorists. You can come to my office tomorrow (today) for a comment,” he said.
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