herald

The Messenger of Court yesterday attached 10 vehicles belonging to Zinwa to raise US$38 982,76 owed to two workers who were unprocedurally dismissed from the water utility.

The vehicles are two Mazda Rustlers, a Toyota Hilux, two Mitsubishi Canter trucks, a Mazda T35 truck, a Nissan CK10 lorry, a Mazda B1600, a Nissan double cab truck as well as a single cab.

Marondera Municipality employed Tapiwa Madhoro and Clifford Matoro as pump attendants.

When Zinwa took over the local authority’s water, the entire workforce in the department was transferred to the utility and placed on three months probation.

Their contracts were renewed every month with the employer promising them permanent jobs thereafter.

After three months, they were not made permanent employees, but continued going to work.

Eight months later, Zinwa asked the employees to sign casual contract forms but the two refused.

The water authority proceeded to withhold the duo’s April and May 2008 wages, arguing that they would only be paid after signing the contract forms.

The two then approached the Labour Court for recourse and the latter ruled they had been unprocedurally dismissed.

Zinwa was ordered to reinstate the employees without loss of benefits and salaries.

If reinstatement was no longer possible, the employer was to pay wages up to the date of the hearing, leave days and 36 months damages for loss of employment.

The High Court issued a Writ of Execution for attachment of the property when the utility failed to pay the dues.