THE High Court has reserved judgment in a case in which Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) former president Lovemore Matombo and nine other unions are challenging the outcome of the 2011 congress.
BY ALOIS VINGA
Matombo and his grouping have been in the courts since September 2011, challenging the manner in which the congress which ousted him from the powerful labour body was conducted.
In his submissions, Matombo said the 2011 congress was held on the basis of a doctored constitution which barred him from contesting after serving two terms as the labour body’s president.
However, the defendants argued that Matombo and his grouping had applied for the cancellation of the congress after realising that they were on the losing end after the former labour union leader received two nominations against 22 for the eventual winner, George Nkiwane.
Matombo did not attend the congress, but did not withdraw his nomination. He went on to lose the ZCTU presidency to Nkiwane.
After his loss, Matombo went ahead and held a parallel congress which was quashed by the High Court, which also barred him and his grouping from identifying themselves as ZCTU in any manner.
However, the defendants are dismissive of such claims, arguing that Matombo was a part of the General Council which presided over the amendments and the preparations for the congress. ZCTU lawyer Alec Muchadehama has since applied for absolution of the case after parties had made their closing submissions.
