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Daniel Nemukuyu Senior Court Reporter
FORMER National Social Security Authority information communication technology director Mr Bright Chidyagwai is failing to pay legal fees amounting to $3 571 he owes his lawyers.

Mr Chidyagwai is one of the top five executives sacked by the Government last year for mismanagement of the pension authority by awarding themselves hefty salaries.

Negotiations brokered by the lawyers resulted in the former NSSA bosses getting hefty packages.

Government through Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Prisca Mupfumira yesterday said the executives owed NSSA substantial amounts in looted monies and they will go home empty-handed.

Minister Mupfumira’s statement came at a time when Matsikidze and Mucheche Legal Practitioners were battling to get payment for legal services rendered to Mr Chidyagwai.

The lawyers last week issued summons for $3 571 against Mr Chidyagwai at the Harare Civil Court.

According to the summons filed on January 12 this year, Mr Chidyagwai last year engaged the services of the law firm in his labour case with NSSA for the period stretching from October 20 to November 24 2015.

For the work done, the law firm charged him $3 571,25.

On December 3, Mr Chidyagwai was furnished with the legal bill and he agreed with the charges.

He failed to pay up on demand.

This prompted the law firm to issue summons claiming the outstanding debt.

The quintet of Mr James Matiza (general manager) and directors Mr Shadreck Vera (investments), Mr Patrick Mupani (finance), Mr Tendai Mafunda (corporate services) and Mr Bright Chidyagwai (ICT) made headlines last year after a forensic audit revealed that they pampered their lovers with dubious loans and awarded themselves monthly salaries of more than $40 000 each.

Minister Mupfumira said the sacked executives were going home with nothing.

“We have concluded separation with the former executives except for one (Mr Vera), who is outside the country (and is) not feeling well,” she said.

“They have signed and the money they took has to be recovered before they go. Their benefits, which they were supposed to get, will now cover for what they looted and as it stands most of them owe NSSA (money),” she was quoted as say- ing.