Court dismisses Gweru TC application

Munyaradzi Musiiwa, Sunday News Reporter
THE High Court has dismissed sacked Gweru Town Clerk Ms Elizabeth Gwatipedza’s application challenging her dismissal which she felt did not follow the proper procedures taken in dismissing top council officials.

The case appeared before the High Court on Thursday last week and the appeal was overridden by a Supreme Court judgement on similar cases which stipulated that the council by virtue of being the employer had the capacity to dismiss the Town Clerk.

Gweru Mayor Councillor Josiah Makombe confirmed that the matter had been dismissed.

“The application by former Town Clerk Gwatipedza has been dismissed before the High Court. This followed a Supreme Court ruling on a similar matter. The matter was heard on December 31, 2020 and her application was dismissed,” he said.

Clr Makombe said after the trial the Disciplinary Authority recommended that Ms Gwatipedza be fired and the verdict was implemented by the council after notifying the Local Government Board.

Gweru City Council last month announced that it had terminated employment of Ms Gwatipedza after finding her guilty of two offences and went on to terminate her benefits immediately.

Ms Gwatipedza through her lawyers, Mutatu Legal Practitioners, approached the High Court arguing that the local authority has to wait for the Local Government Board to sit and deliberate on the matter before the employment could be terminated.

Her lawyer, Mr Valentine Mutatu argued that it was premature for Gweru City Council to act on the recommendations by the Disciplinary Authority without the approval of the Local Government Board.

However, the Local Government Board has not yet been constituted.

Mr Mutatu said Ms Gwatipedza will only cease to be the Gweru Town Clerk if and only if the Local Government Board has approved or confirmed the dismissal.