adminSukulwenkosi Dube Plumtree Correspondent
A PLUMTREE farm worker has dragged his former employer to court over unpaid wages amounting to $2,000 which he claimed have been outstanding since 2011.
Godfrey Sibanda, 53, told the court that he was employed at Sunridge Farm in Dombodema area, Bulilima as a builder.
He said the farm owner, Julia Zelda James, who is also a Plumtree businesswoman, had agreed to pay him for building structures at her farm compound but later reneged on the pledge.
Sibanda said he had made numerous efforts to recover his money since 2011 through engaging his former employer but she always dismissed him.
“I sought a job from Mrs James and she employed me as a farm worker. She later engaged my services as a builder and I constructed a three-roomed house, two toilets within the compound and a chicken brooder which were all for her use.
“I did all this work for my former boss and she agreed to pay me in full by 2012. She was paying me in instalments and she still owes me some money. I calculated the money she owes me and it now adds up to $2, 000,” he said.
Sibanda said he did not sign any contract with James or compile a written document indicating the payment arrears but made a verbal agreement with her as he trusted her.
He said he had charged James R20, 000 for building the homestead, $500 for the chicken brooder, and R5, 700 for the two toilets he constructed.
Sibanda said his former employer later employed him as a farm worker but fired him after he kept asking for his money.
“She got me a peace order as I kept demanding that she pays me my outstanding salary. At first she admitted that she owed me money but she later turned against me alleging that she never employed me and that she doesn’t owe me money,” he said.
James, however, disputed the allegations.
She said all the work which Sibanda did at the farm was on voluntary basis as he was a farm labourer and not a builder.
James said Sibanda was staying at the farm but not as a worker. She said she had agreed with Sibanda that he would assist with some of the work at the farm at no cost.
“When you came to the farm you came as a thatcher and not a builder. You fell in love with one of my farm workers and that was how you started living at the farm,” she said.
James said Sibanda volunteered to construct the three-roomed house and a toilet for his personal use so that he would use it with his family.
She said she had advised Sibanda that he could not perform any farm duties as he would not get paid but he insisted on helping.
James said Sibanda left the farm on his own accord.
Sibanda and James presented their case before Plumtree magistrate, Livard Philemon, who advised them to return to court on August 19 for continuation of trial.
Online Reporter