The Labour Court has ordered the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) to pay an assistant of the party’s former acting president, Dr Thokozani Khupe, outstanding salaries and benefits.
NewsDay reports that Kudzanai Mashumba took the MDC-T to the Labour Court challenging a decision to deny him a salary and benefits for 10 months.
The matter was heard before a mediator, Constance Kadenga, who ruled in favour of Mashumba, saying he should be paid US$7 600.
Mashumba was represented by Mangeyi Law Chambers, while Khupe and MDC-T were cited as the respondents.
The MDC T argued that Mashumba was not entitled to a salary or benefits as he was a volunteer.
But Kadenga said the party failed to provide evidence proving its claim. Kadenga ruled:
The second letter dated January 28 was from the office of secretary-general to allow him access to Harvest House, No 44 Nelson Mandela Avenue. Another letter dated July 1, 2020, from the secretary-general’s office was to confirm that the claimant was employed by MDC-T and was to be allowed movement during the lockdown period.
Kadenga added that considering that a bank statement from Steward Bank showing the paid allowances and some WhatsApp conversations were availed before the tribunal, MDC-T cannot insist that there was no employer-employee relationship between the two parties. Ordered Kadenga:
I order that the claimant Mashumba be paid USD$7 600 in unpaid salaries and benefits at the equivalent Zimbabwean bank rate by the respondent.