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Cde Chinotimba

Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Reporter
Zimbabwe Urban and Rural Council Workers Union has taken Buhera South legislator Cde Joseph Chinotimba to court seeking an order barring him from masquerading as the union’s president.

The union also wants Cde Chinotimba to surrender ZURCWU certificate of registration.

ZURCWU, an affiliate of the Zimbabwe Federation of Trade Unions, further wants Cde Chinotimba to stop interfering with the administration of the union.

The matter has been set down for hearing on Tuesday next week at the Harare Civil Court.

ZURCWU, through its lawyer Mr Joel Mambara of J Mambara and Partners, argues that Cde Chinotimba was a founding father of the union but he relinquished his post as president when he joined politics in 2008.

Mr Mambara contends that Cde Chinotimba resigned from City of Harare where he was a municipal policeman and is no longer qualified to hold the post.

“In terms of Section 10 of the applicant’s (ZURCWU) constitution, a member of the union can only be an employee of an urban or rural district council.

“Again for one to be elected as a president of the applicant, one has to be recommended by a branch of a local authority where one is employed,” reads an affidavit by ZURCWU secretary general, Cde Benard Dhanda.

According to the union, Cde Chinotimba has caused mayhem in local authorities.

He wrote a letter recently dismissing Cde Dhanda from the post of ZURCWU secretary-general using his powers as the union’s president.

“Unmoved by his status which had been conveyed to him by the applicant’s members, the first respondent (Cde Chinotimba) has been going around the various branches of the applicant and various local authorities masquerading as the president of the applicant.

“The first respondent has caused mayhem and confusion in the local authorities to the extent that some local authorities have suspended the check-off system to the detriment of the trade union and its members.

“In an unprecedented move and by way of a letter dated June 11 2014, the first respondent purported to dismiss the applicant’s secretary general…” reads the founding affidavit.

ZURCWU claims that three presidents were elected into office after the resignation of Cde Chinotimba but six months down the line he is back claiming “life presidency”.

The union said on Thursday Cde Chinotimba instructed CBZ Bank to stop withdrawals and any other transactions from the union’s account.

ZURCWU has since written to the bank demanding that the ban be lifted.

Cde Chinotimba is yet to respond to the application.