adminZvamaida Murwira Harare Bureau
THE Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare has set November 27, 2015 as the date on which it will hear a case of suspended Premier Service Medical Aid managing director, Gibson Mandishona, who is challenging disciplinary proceedings being instituted against him by his employer.
Mandishona has approached the Ministry in terms of the Labour Act to have disciplinary proceedings against him stopped arguing that the PSMAS failed to complete the process within the 30-day period prescribed by the law.
PSMAS has since deferred a hearing that was pencilled for yesterday to allow the Ministry of Public Service to determine the complaint raised by Mandishona.
In an interview yesterday, Mandishona’s lawyer, Innocent Chagonda, said PSMAS lost jurisdiction on Mandishona when it failed to conclude the case.
“We’ve referred the case to the Ministry of Labour and we now have a date on which our case will be heard. PSMAS called us to advise that they’ve postponed a hearing that they intended to have today (yesterday),” said Chagonda.
PSMAS, said Chagonda, could no longer try Mandishona outside the prescribed 30-day period.
“In terms of section 101 (6) of the Labour Act Chapter 28:01, either party can refer a case to the Ministry of Public Service should 30 days lapse and this is what we’ve done. Our argument is, PSMAS has lost jurisdiction over my client and this is what we want the Ministry to confirm,” he said.
PSMAS chairperson, Jeremiah Bvirindi, said he was still to be advised of the latest development.
“I was away. I’ve not yet been advised on what transpired today regarding the hearing,” said Bvirindi.
PSMAS company secretary, Cosman Mukwesha, declined to comment, saying they will issue a statement soon regarding the case.
“I’m not allowed to speak to the media, but a statement will be issued in due course,” he said.
Online Reporter
Bongani Ndlovu