TWO factions fighting for control of the National Council of the Disabled People of Zimbabwe (NCDPZ) have resolved to open negotiations leading to the holding of an elective congress to choose a substantive board.
BY OUR STAFF REPORTER
This came after the Supreme Court bench led by Deputy Chief Justice Luke Malaba on Monday struck off the case from the court roll and advised the parties to seek a peaceful resolution.
The court urged the NCDPZ to call for a congress than to spend their meagre resources fighting endless court battles.
“Why don’t they call for elections? The incumbent executive had surpassed the four years stipulated by their constitution,” Justice Malaba said.
“They should just sit down as the two parties and call for elections. We know they have no money to hold the congress, as they said, but people can even sit under a tree and elect a president.
“For disabled people to fight and come to court, wasting money which should empower them is not called for.”
Victor Ruombwa, a lawyer representing Obadiah Moyo and others, yesterday said the dispute in the NCDPZ was sparked off by the organisation’s failure to hold a congress since 2003. NCDPZ is supposed to hold an elective congress after every four years.
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“In December 2011 an extraordinary general meeting was held where Moyo and others were elected to be on the interim board of the council,” Ruombwa said.
He said a dispute arose over the use of the NCDPZ property — Freedom House in Bulawayo — where the organisation’s offices are situated.
“On February 7 this year, the former first vice-president of the organisation, Sipho Majole, second vice-president Jairos Dube, Charles Kakoma and Josebetty Security Company, on instruction of the former president Farai Cherera, went to the property where they held a meeting with the staff and later ordered them to go on indefinite leave,” Ruombwa said.
He said the former leaders locked Freedom House and Moyo approached the Legal Resources Foundation where Ruombwa is director.
“We then made a court application for the offices to be opened and staff to be allowed in, which Cherera and others opposed,” said Ruombwa.
“High Court judge Justice Maphios Cheda granted our application on February 23 this year.”
He said his clients sought confirmation of the interim relief for a final order with High Court judge Justice Misheck Cheda, who set aside the ruling they were given, prompting them to appeal to the Supreme Court.
