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Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
Former Chitungwiza Town Council finance director Mr Goodway Mvududu, who was unfairly dismissed from work, is now claiming damages to the tune of $7,5 million.
Mr Mvududu is also claiming three top-of-the-range vehicles — Toyota Prado, Toyota Fortuner SUV and Mazda BT50 double cab.
He also wants the municipality to give him two residential stands (one acre each), a commercial stand (two acres) and an industrial stand (three acres) in the town among other properties.
Some of the items include a wheelbarrow (award for 10-year service), plough (award for 15-year service) and a bicycle (award for 20-years of service).
Mr Mvududu was suspended from work in December 2005 for alleged misconduct, but had his contract terminated in 2007.
An arbitrator ruled in his favour and found the dismissal to be unlawful.
He got a reinstatement order with all the salaries and benefits.
Failure to reinstate Mr Mvududu, council was ordered to pay his outstanding salaries and benefits and damages.
The parties failed to agree on the damages and they went back to the arbitrator for quantification.
Mr Mvududu wanted the tribunal to calculate his damages using a monthly salary rate of $2 283, which was paid to a finance director as at May 2009.
However, council argued that there was no basis for the damages to be calculated using the 2009 salary when the unfair labour practice was done in the Zimbabwe dollar era between 2005 and 2007.
Early last month, an arbitrator threw out the claim on the basis that it was not justified.
The tribunal ruled that Mr Mvududu ought to have calculated his damages using the Zimbabwean dollars applicable as at February 2008 when the first award was granted considering that he had rejected the rate of $926 monthly that he had been earlier on offered.
On Wednesday, Mr Mvududu filed an appeal at the Labour Court in which he is claiming $7 577 822,60 as damages.
Chitungwiza Municipality’s lawyer Mr Rodgers Matsikidze of Matsikidze and Mucheche law firm, is yet to respond to the appeal.
The municipality, which is struggling to pay its workers, is being haunted by debts in excess of $20 million.
The workers have gone for many months without getting salaries while the road network is now in a poor state with potholes posing danger to motorists.
Water is in short supply with some residents getting tap water one or two days a week.
The municipality owes Harare City Council millions of dollars for water supply.
Council beerhalls and recreational centres are now white elephants.
Online Reporter