Writ of execution for Tsvangirai

Lovemore Mataire Senior Reporter
Property belonging to MDC-T leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai was yesterday identified by the Messenger of Court for attachment in a case in which 13 former party security personnel obtained a writ of execution for unlawful dismissal in 2010.

The Messenger of Court will return to Mr Tsvangirai’s residence in Highlands, Harare, soon to take away the identified property.

The Messenger of Court descended on the house in the company of anti-riot police and identified several vehicles for attachment and execution.

According to the writ of execution, the Deputy Sheriff was required and directed to attach and take into execution the movable goods belonging to Mr Tsvangirai at his Highlands house in Kew Drive.

The movable property included 22 Isuzu trucks, eight Nissan trucks and several other vehicles listed on the writ.

The writ directed that: “If after due inquiry and diligent search you are to find that the movable goods belonging to the said respondent (Mr Tsvangirai) are insufficient to satisfy the amount due under this writ that you attach, take into possession a certain piece of land situated in the district of Salisbury called Stand 2 Strathaven Township of Strathaven measuring 4 689 square metres held under deed of transfer No. 9927/200 dated 2 November 2000 and also attach and take into possession certain piece of land situated in the district of Goromonzi measuring 150 square metres called stand 16099 Seki Township held under Deed of transfer No. 10704/2002.”

The 13 MDC-T workers are Hadson Mavangira, Munoda Gore, Edith Mashaire, Paul Goba, Tichareva Masamba, Timitia Dziva, Nhamo Mushure, Joseph Mutongoreya, Yanceuma Chikopo Ngundu, Simon Smart Mudongi, Maud Manhanga, Charles Chikomba, Tendai Chikomba.

Mr Tsvangirai’s spokesperson Mr Luke Tambarinyoka yesterday expressed ignorance of the visit by the Messenger of Court to his boss’ house and said the party was to hold a press briefing on the issue.

“I don’t know why the riot police was there (at the Highlands House) because I believe this is a matter between the party and the workers and not between the workers and Mr Tsvangirai,” he said.

“We are going to have a press briefing, you can contact me later.”

A visit to the premises by The Herald showed that workers were frantically trying to remove the property from the premises, including some vehicles cited in the writ of execution.

The 13 workers were unfairly dismissed and sent home without terminal benefits under unclear circumstances.

Arbitrator Mr Duncan Mudzengi ruled that the dismissal of the workers was unfair and that they should be paid damages and other outstanding allowances.

Two of the workers were awarded $48 260 each, while 11 others got $38 440 each.

The workers were awarded a total of $491 760 as labour damages for the unlawful dismissal.

Some were engaged as far back as 1999 when the party sponsored by the West was launched, while others were employed in 2002 and 2005.

MDC-T initially promised to reinstate the workers, but the party made a U-turn and failed to honour the undertaking, prompting them to seek legal recourse.

The 13 were working on renewable contracts and had renewed them up to August 2010 when they received two-week notices of termination of employment.

The workers approached a labour officer in July 2011 where the matter was referred for conciliation, but this failed to settle the case and a dispute was declared resulting in the arbitrator making a ruling in their favour.

MDC-T is experiencing acute financial difficulties after it was deserted by its funders angered by the party’s dismal performance in the July 31 2013 harmonised elections won convincingly by Zanu-PF.

The financial problems facing the party are so dire that at one stage the officials appealed to its supporters to donate a dollar each.

Internal strife led to a split, with one faction backing Mr Tsvangirai while the other supported Mr Tendai Biti’s call for leadership renewal.

The rival factions also bickered over party properties, including the Harvest House headquarters in central Harare.