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DeMbare to pay former coach $19 000

Petros Kausiyo Deputy Sports Editor
PREMIERSHIP history-making coach Callisto Pasuwa had the proverbial last laugh yesterday when he won his labour dispute against Dynamos, with the Zimbabwe soccer kings conceding that they owe him outstanding salaries and bonuses and agreed to clear the debt.

Dynamos and Pasuwa have been haggling over the $18 950 they owe the four-time championship winning coach, whose contract with the popular club expired on December 31 last year.

The champions had been disputing that they owe Pasuwa money and had at one stage actually accused the coach of disappearing with their property.

But after the matter came before a Labour Officer yesterday, the Harare giants acknowledged that they owe Pasuwa the money that the coach had been claiming which emanates from his outstanding monthly salaries, winning bonuses and allowances.

The Glamour Boys will start paying the coach, who guided them to four successive Castle Lager championships between 2011 and last year, in monthly instalments of $1 500 as part of a plan to clear the debt.

Dynamos, now under the guidance of returning coach David Mandigora, are expected to make the first instalment of $1 500 on April 6 after the club indicated that they would raise the money from their next home match — a league clash against Premiership newboys Dongo Sawmill — at Rufaro.

Thereafter, Dynamos are expected to pay Pasuwa on or before the sixth of every month.

After having seen the initial hearing on the matter deferred on March 3 and postponed again on Tuesday, the two parties fronted by their legal teams appeared before a Harare Labour Officer Lilford Nhandara yesterday during which they agreed on a settlement after Dynamos conceded that they indeed owe Pasuwa the amount he is seeking.

The Harare giants had earlier disputed the figure which had risen to $22 000 when the legal fees were factored in as the Dynamos management argued that their records showed that they owed the unassuming coach only $3 000.

To their credit, Dynamos abandoned their hard line stance and averted the matter having to spill over to arbitration and took a more conciliatory tone yesterday with club treasurer Webster Marechera and the champions’ legal representative Herbert Mutasa of Gill, Godlonton and Gerrans agreeing with Pasuwa and his lawyer David Dhumbura of Coghlan, Welsh and Guest that they would settle the coach’s claims.

Dynamos also acknowledged that they owe Pasuwa’s former assistant Philemon Mutyakureva $3 950 and agreed with Dhumbura and the former midfielder on a specific payment plan for him.

Once the parties struck an agreement on a payment plan in which Dynamos will also cede the motor vehicle they had given the coach as a company car — a Honda CRV — Nhandara indicated that the Labour office would now issue a settlement certificate.

The move by the coaches and the club to strike an arrangement also helped avert the matter spilling into arbitration at the Labour Court.

Crucially for Pasuwa, Dynamos made a major climb down from the $15 000 they had demanded for the motor vehicle and the $1 000 they had also claimed the coach was owing, “in respect of the TV set, DVD, washing machine and TV stand’’ which the coach was alleged to have held onto.

Instead, the value of the Honda CRV was put at $3 750 with the consent of the parties.

Mutasa read out conditions of the settlement to Nhandara.

“It is agreed that the amount owed to Mr. Callisto Pasuwa is $18 954 payable as follows: $3 750 being the value of the motor vehicle by way of delivery of a Honda CRV Registration number ABX 7345 to the claimant (already delivered).

“Dynamos to assist in the change of ownership of the car into Mr. Pasuwa’s hands.

“Balance by way of monthly instalments of $1 500 on condition that the first installment shall be paid on the next home match on 6 April 2015. Subsequent instalments to be paid no later than the 6th day of the following months.

“Philemon Mutyakureva is to be paid as follows — $1 000 to be paid on 20 April 2015.

“Subsequent payments of $500 per month to be made until liquidating of the debt,’’ said Mutasa.

Dynamos, Mutasa also said would discuss with Pasuwa over the claims the coach has made for costs he incurred while servicing the car, insurance and to ZINARA for the motor vehicle licensing in the last three years.

Both Mutasa and Dhumbura were however, happy that Dynamos and their former coaches had come to some understanding without the parties relationship being clouded in acrimony.

Marechera also pledged on behalf of the Dynamos management to ensure that the club honours the commitment to pay off their former coaches and avoid being penalised for default.

Dynamos have of late seen litigation cases against them mounting with each passing week as former players, coaches and other creditors such as CBZ Bank demand what the club has been owing to them.

Former captain Murape Murape whose contract expired on December 31 last year has also claimed that Dynamos also still owe him outstanding bonuses.

Murape’s wife made a public outcry on March 3 and claimed that Dynamos still owe her husband $6 000 in unpaid salaries and bonuses.