Labour Court grinds to a halt as officials become census enumerators

Sources within the judiciary said parties who wanted to file their cases before the Labour Court were left stranded as they were being turned away because of the staff shortage.

“Everyone is questioning the logic behind this because to our understanding no one from the judiciary was involved in the census programme save for these two. The two officials who are supposed to be taking new matters and opening dockets at the Gweru Labour Court are said to be away on census business. They could be probably the only officials from the judiciary countrywide to leave their duties for the census programme,” said the source.

The Gweru Labour Court handles cases from all parts of the Midlands Province.

The source said a number of clients, some from as far as Masvingo, have been turned away at the Gweru Labour Court as the two officials, (names supplied) are said to be still away on the census programme.

“Some lawyers have been coming from as far as Masvingo in the company of their clients only to be turned away at the Gweru Labour Court because of the absence of the critical staff members,” said the source.

Contacted for comment, the Gweru Labour Court president Mr Maxwell Takuva confirmed that two officials from his office went for the census programme but dismissed reports that the Labour Court was turning away new matters.

Mr Takuva said the Labour Court was not sitting as it was on vacation.

“We are on vacation and we are not sitting. But this does not mean new cases are not being recorded.

I wouldn’t know what is happening since I am on vacation. I will have to check. However, being on vacation does not mean the Labour Court business is at a standstill. Records are being opened with the responsible staff and the absence of two people cannot stop normal business from going on,” he said.