Masvingo council fires 6 managers on three months notice

Walter Mswazie Masvingo Correspondent
MASVINGO City Council has served six of its junior managers with notices of dismissal in conformity with the Supreme Court landmark ruling. The dismissed managers — from the accounts and public works departments — were handed their termination of employment notices on Friday last week. They were told to immediately stop coming to work.

The dismissal of the six council employees follows that of Mike Appel Engineering and the Central Mechanical Department (CMED) where a total of 65 workers were sent packing.

In a letter dated August 8 and signed by the Town Clerk, Adolph Gusha, the fired employees were asked to surrender all council property in their possession by yesterday.

“We request you to return any or all the council property obtained during your period of employment by Wednesday, August 12, 2015,” read part of the letter.

Gusha refused to comment.

He said: “My hands are tied as far as the issue is concerned.”

However, sources at the civic centre said the dismissed workers had pending cases emanating from the ongoing labour law suit that employees won against council.

The local authority was battling to honour $3,5 million in outstanding salary arrears that workers were awarded by the labour court. Masvingo City Council’s fleet of vehicles ended up being attached by the Deputy Sherriff over the issue. The attached property is still being held at Muzaya auctioneers premises, gathering dust.

“We have six junior managers who were on Friday relieved of their duties on three months notices.

“Three of the dismissed workers were members of the workers’ union and were vocal in pushing for the workers’ outstanding salaries,” said the source.

The source said top council management felt the dismissed workers were disrupting the smooth running of the local authority.

“The affected junior managers were viewed as having a negative influence on other workers and were sacrificed. I think the Supreme Court judgment presented council with an opportunity to deal with ‘malcontents’.

“The truth is those affected had their days numbered at Masvingo City Council,” said the source.

Since the Supreme Court ruling last month, over 18,000 employees have lost their jobs.