GARIKAI MAFIRAKUREVA

MASVINGO – Some 46 workers from Masvingo have applied to the Labour Court to have their arbitral award against the embattled Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) registered.
Once registered, it means the workers can auction Zupco’s property to recover what they are owed.
Zupco is on its knees following decades of looting and providing free transport to the ruling Zanu PF.
Philip Ncube and 45 others filed for registration of the arbitral award in terms of section 98 (14) of the Labour Act. The arbitrator T Mpofu granted the award in a labour dispute where the workers are owed 2022 bonus, 3 months’ salary arrears and leave days.
The application was supposed to be heard on August 8, 2024, but was moved to August 20, 2024 after Zupco requested for postponement as the company’s lawyer failed to show up.
Part of the application reads: “In terms of the Award, respondent was obliged to have paid me 2022 bonus, salary arrears and leave days. Respondent neglected to pay, hence rendering the whole amount due and owing to the applicant.
“In terms of the Award, respondent was made to pay in four equal instalments starting from end of July 2024 to end of October 2024. Since the respondent has neglected to pay the stated sum, the Arbitrator’s Award is now registrable with this Honourable Court in terms of section 98 (14) of the Labour Act.
I pray that this Honourable Court should proceed and register the Award to enable me to execute such judgment.”