ZESA in court, owes US$19 million in salaries

The Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA) was last week dragged to the Harare magistrates’ court on allegations of owing its workers US$19 million which is said to have accumulated from between January 1 and September 30 last year.

Zimbabwe Energy Workers Union (ZEWU) alleges that ZESA failed to observe the employees right to fair labour practices.

ZESA which is being represented by Garikai Churu (35) the legal advisor and corporate secretary, was arraigned before Harare magistrate Anita Tshuma charged with contravening section 6 (1) (a) of the labour act chapter 28:02.

ZEWU is arguing that the money accrued after an agreement between the workers and ZESA. State led by prosecutor Oscar Madhume alleges that from January 1 2012 at a time unknown to the state, a collective bargaining agreement for the Zimbabwe Energy Industry was gazetted.

It is said that ZESA was to pay its employees the prescribed wages and salaries which was effective as from January 1. ZESA is however said to have never paid the money and the total value in question is US$18 897 848 which was accrued for more than 7000 workers until the month of September.