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Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
THE Nelson Chamisa-led MDC-T could lose property worth over $665 000 after the Labour Court ruled that it unfairly dismissed 17 employees and must pay damages.
Labour Court judge Justice Betty Chidziva, with the concurrence of Justice Lawrence Murasi, this week struck off the roll a labour appeal by the MDC-T.
This exposes the opposition party ‘s property to execution. MDC-T owes the ex-workers $665 000.
Former MDC-T director-general Mr Toendepi Shonhe and 16 others were fired in 2014 on allegations that they were linked with Mr Tendai Biti’s Renewal Team. An independent arbitrator in 2015 ordered the reinstatement of the 17, but the opposition party found it impossible to rehire the employees.
The workers, through their lawyers, Matsikidze & Mucheche Legal Practitioners, claimed damages which were subsequently quantified.
Each of the 17 were awarded damages ranging from $10 140 to $264 000.
An attempt by the 17 to attach and auction the party’s property was put on hold by the High Court pending determination of the Labour Court appeal.
This week, Justice Chidziva ruled that the appeal was fatally defective before removing it from the court roll.
Justice Chidziva ordered MDC-T to pay legal costs associated with the matter.
“It is ordered that the appeal be and is hereby struck off the roll by reason of the notice of appeal being defective. Appellant to pay respondents’ costs,” reads the order of the Labour Court.
The group’s lawyer, Mr Caleb Mucheche, said his clients will now proceed with the attachment of the MDC-T property.
“The High Court had temporarily stayed execution pending determination of the Labour Court appeal. Now that the MDC-T appeal is now up in smoke, our clients can now proceed with execution,” he said.
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