Steel unions embroiled in turf war

Fungai Lupande Senior Court Reporter
National Engineering Workers’ Union (NEWU) has approached the High Court seeking to stop the National Employment Council (NEC) for the Engineering and Iron and Steel Industry (EISAZ) officials from interfering with their operations.

NEWU, its president Wise Garira and secretary-general Shepherd Mashingaidze are suing NEC for the Engineering and Iron and Steel Industry, EISAZ and its seven executive members.

These are EISAZ’s president Bekezela Mangena, Ben Mambara, Silas Mkodza, Righton Moyo and Dennis Muchenu, Abel Gumbo and Clement Kauso.

NEWU disowns Mambara, Mkodza, Moyo, Muchenu, Gumbo and Kauso saying they are not legitimate members or holders of any office position for them or NEC for the Engineering and Iron and Steel Industry.

“It is hereby declared that EISAZ to the ninth defendants have no locus standi to act for or represent NEWU,” read their draft order.

They want defendants to be interdicted from interfering in its management and affairs.

They also want Mkodza, Moyo, Muchenu, Gumbo and Kauso to be interdicted from entering NEWU premises, using its name or logogram.

“NEC for the Engineering and Iron and Steel Industry to pay NEWU the industrial outreach monetary disbursements computed at one percent of the engineering monetary fund’s monthly takings plus one percent of the monthly takings with effect from November 1, 2018,” read the draft order.

According to the summons, in October 2017 Ray Ndhlukula, who chaired NEC for the Engineering and Iron and Steel Industry, died.

Garira, who was then deputy chairman, took over as acting chairman from November 2017 to December 31, 2019.

In January 2018, it was the turn of EISAZ to have its representative as deputy chairman and acting chairman of NEC.

One Austin Tigere took over as acting chairman of the NEC from January to August 2018 and Mangena took over from September 1, 2018 to date.

“Mangena must not have acted as chairman beyond 31 December 2018, after which the acting chairmanship of the NEC would revert to Garira,” read the papers.

“Mangena has arrogantly continued to act as a chairman of the NEC and its meetings. He has refused or failed to hand over the acting chairmanship of NEC to Garira.”

“Mangena has colluded with Mkodza, Moyo, Muchenu, Gumbo and Kauso to deny plaintiffs’ access to the NEC’s property and monetary allocations due to them.”