admin
Ngqwele Dube, Sports Correspondent
ZIFA have received a reprieve to appeal against a High Court judgement that compelled them to pay former Mighty Warriors coach, Shadreck Mlauzi outstanding salaries as well as allowances.
High Court judge, Justice Mercy Moya-Matshanga had ordered Zifa to fork out $187 290 to Mlauzi as dues owed during his time as Mighty Warriors head coach in October last year. However, the Supreme Court last month allowed Zifa’s appeal to stand and set aside the ruling.
The Supreme Court appeal was heard on 18 November in Bulawayo before Justice Anne-Marie Gowora, Justice Antonia Guvava, and Justice Francis Bere who ruled that Zifa’s appeal is accepted.
The ruling also dismissed the application for confirmation of the draft ruling by labour officer, Emilton Verukai, dated 5 March 2018.
Verukai had made an initial ruling stating that Mlauzi was in Zifa’s employ despite denial by the football governing body who said they did not have a contract with the coach hence they did not owe him any amount for his time in charge of the women’s national team.
A draft ruling was made by Verukai that Zifa owes Mlauzi $187 290 in March and had taken the case to the Labour Court to have the ruling confirmed.
The amount comprises unpaid salaries for the entire period of employment, camping fees, foreign matches allowances and qualification bonuses for major tournaments.
Mlauzi’s lawyer, Vezokuhle Ndlovu said they were technical errors in the initial case and said they are considering starting over again.
“The ruling does not mean we do not have a case but there were procedural flaws that we have to correct if we are to start the process again,” he said.
Zifa was represented by Ngonidzashe Mugandiwa at the Supreme Court.
In her ruling, made on 26 October 2018 (Judgement number LC/MT/164/18), Justice Moya-Matshanga had granted the confirmation of the ruling without any amendments.
Justice Moya-Matshanga said despite Zifa denying the existence of an employment contract between it and Mlauzi there was a clear employee-employer relationship between the two parties.
Mlauzi was dismissed at the women’s national team in January 2017 after he had helped the side reach the 2016 Olympics finals, the highest international level that any Zimbabwe football national team has ever reached.
@rasmthembo
Online Reporter