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Callisto Pasuwa

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
THE case in which former Dynamos coach Callisto Pasuwa dragged the Premiership champions to the Labour Court over unpaid salaries and bonuses looks set to be concluded by March 24 after both parties made conciliation before a labour officer in the capital yesterday.

Pasuwa, through his lawyers, is demanding $22 000 from Dynamos in arrears emanating from outstanding bonuses and salaries that were due to the coach by the end of December last year when his contract with DeMbare ended.

Dynamos on their part are disputing the figure and yesterday made fresh claims that they believe they owe the coach $3 000.

Pasuwa’s lawyer David Dhumbura of Coghlan, Welsh and Guest and Herbert Mutasa of Gill Godlonton Gerrans representing Dynamos, led the discussions in the conciliation before a Labour officer, L Nhandara in the capital.

Conciliation is an alternative dispute resolution process whereby the parties to a dispute use a conciliator, who meets with the parties separately and together in an attempt to resolve their differences.

It is a process in which parties seek to reach an amicable dispute settlement with the assistance of the conciliator, who acts as a neutral third party.

Four-time Premiership winning coach Pasuwa and his former assistant at the Glamour Boys Philemon Mutyakureva also attended the hearing as did Dynamos treasurer Webster Marechera.

It has, however, emerged that Dynamos are contesting the figure demanded by their former coach and are basing their protest on allegations that Pasuwa is illegally holding onto property including a Honda CRV vehicle which they claim belongs to the club.

“As you maybe already be aware, we represent Dynamos Football Club. In respect of your client’s claim as contained in your letter of January 7, 2015, our client has taken the position that the amount claimed by yours has been set off against his indebtedness to our client as particularised before i.e.

(a) $15 000 in respect of the motor vehicle namely Honda CRV Registration Number ABX 7345 which your client has retained and

(b) $1 000 in respect of the TV set, DVD player, washing machine, TV stand and codes also retained by your client upon the expiry of his contract

“The balance of $2 954 shall be paid directly to your client in full and final settlement of his claim, we therefore advise accordingly,’’ wrote Mutasa.

Dhumbura, however, strongly protested the Dynamos claim after which Mutasa concurred with the Labour officer’s ruling that the two parties should within the next two weeks establish the whereabouts of the Honda CVR vehicle and the circumstances under which Pasuwa has been in possession of the car over the last three years and the costs he incurred in maintaining it without financial support from Dynamos.

The two parties are also expected to fully establish how the TV set, washing machine, DVD player and TV Stand were purchased and whether they are indeed Dynamos property as claimed by the club.

This is because Pasuwa contends that the TV set, washing machine, DVD player and TV stand are the property of the technical crew that he headed as they had made contributions from their winning bonuses to purchase the equipment.

Despite having earlier publicly accuse their former coach also having run away with training bibs and kits, Dynamos did not include those claims in their latest letter lodged by their lawyers and copy of which was handed to the Labour officer.

Pasuwa is also disputing the value attached to the Honda CVR which he has always maintained was in poor condition from the time it was handed to him three years ago, leading the coach to “use his personal vehicles to execute Dynamos duties in those three years’’.

The 44-year-old coach ended his four-year stint as Dynamos head coach at the expiry of his contract on December 31 and has since taken a sabbatical from club coaching, revealing that he is looking at furthering his credentials by attaining a Uefa B Licence badge.

During his reign at Dynamos Pasuwa won several cup titles, but crucially made history when he led the Harare giants to four successive Premiership titles since his arrival at the Glamour Boys in August 2011.

Pasuwa’s lawyers first wrote to Dynamos in January through the champions’ secretary-general Webster Chikengezha advising them that they had been instructed to demand payment of the outstanding salaries and bonuses.

The Harare lawyers also indicated that an officer at the Dynamos office Chikomo had also confirmed the outstanding amount through a schedule of payments he had compiled.

“We represent your former coach Callisto Pasuwa and kindly note our interest.

“Our client informs us that he was engaged by Dynamos Football Club as a head coach from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2014.

“During this period, various monetary contractual obligations were not honoured by your club as shown by annexure B hereto attached, which was compiled by a Mr Chikomo from your accounts office.

“We are instructed to make demand as we hereby do, the payment of $18 954 being the capital due, interest of $1 895,40 at 5 percent per annum and our collection commission of $1 098,85 as prescribed by the Law Society of Zimbabwe by laws. Total due is US$21 948,25.

“If we do not receive payment on or before January 16, 2015, we will be left with no option except to litigate and legal costs may be to your account,’’ read part of the lawyers letter.

Pasuwa’s legal practitioners also indicated that they were prepared to discuss a payment plan with Dynamos who are reportedly struggling for funding.