THE Harare City Council (HCC) has agreed to pay $112 000 in damages to businessman, James Mushore, who was appointed town clerk in April 2016 before government rescinded his selection a few days later.
BY XOLISANI NCUBE
A labour officer had ruled that council terminated Mushore’s contract illegally.
A full council meeting on Monday agreed to pay him the damages for the action after its external lawyers had advised that it would be a futile exercise to oppose the ruling.
“It is resolved that noting the legal opinion provided in the matter referred to in the recommendation above by council’s external lawyers, council agrees to pay for damages amount to $112 638,10 to Mr James Mushore as per ruling by the labour officer and as recommended in the legal opinion,” part of the minutes approved at the full council read.
Mushore signed a two-year contract with HCC before being sent on forced leave a week later after government rescinded the appointment, alleging that the then mayor, Bernard Manyenyeni, did not follow procedure and violated the Urban Councils Act.
Council was supposed to submit the names of three candidates to the Local Government Board for approval. The labour officer ruled that Mushore’s contract of employment had been unlawfully terminated and ordered council to reinstate him or pay him damages.
Meanwhile, councillors have resolved to take suspended chamber secretary Josephine Ncube to the medical board for evaluation to see if she is eligible to hold office.
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Council also tasked mayor Herbert Gomba to engage in talks with her for an exit package.
Minutes from the human resources committee stated that Ncube had asked council to task Gomba to engage her for an exit package.
Council suspended Ncube and three other directors on allegations of financial abuse following a report by a tribunal set up in February to investigate council’s employment costs compliance.
The three were human capital director Cainos Chingombe, Prosper Chonzi (health services) and Tendai Kwenda (finance).
Chingombe and Kwenda were fired after appearing before the tribunal, while Chonzi was cleared of any wrongdoing and has since bounced back at Town House.
