Mahachi set for $4m windfall Dr Mahachi
Dr Mahachi

Tendai Mahachi

Innocent Ruwende Harare Bureau
HARARE town clerk Tendai Mahachi is set to get a windfall from his employer after the termination of his contract of employment on three months’ notice was technically superseded by the amendments to the Labour Act, it has been learnt.

The full council was supposed to endorse the decision before President Robert Mugabe signed into law the Labour Act, but it did not sit last week.

The Harare Municipal Workers’ Union claims that the city has set aside $4 million as a golden handshake for the ousted town clerk.

This is according to a letter written by the union to Local Government, Public Works and National Housing Minister Saviour Kasukuwere, requesting that he intervenes and direct the city to pay workers’ outstanding salaries since it had the money.

The city has, however, dismissed the claims. Yesterday the full council endorsed the decision to terminate Mahachi’s contract which was made by the human resources and general purposes committee last week, but said it will be in terms of the applicable law.

At the special council meeting, Mayor Bernard Manyenyeni was authorised to negotiate a package with Mahachi’s lawyers Magwaliba and Kwirira and brief the council on the outcome.

Moving the motion human resources and general purposes committee chairperson councillor Wellington Chikombo, said Mahachi had been on forced leave for over a month and it was prudent for the city to terminate his contract so that both parties could move forward.

“We resolved to recommend the termination of contract of employment for the town clerk in terms of the applicable law and that his worship, the mayor, be mandated to engage the town clerk pertaining to the termination of the contract of employment.

Councillor Peter Moyo urged council to negotiate in good faith for the benefit of both parties. “We do not want to condemn our senior workers to poverty, this has to be a win-win situation,” he said.

Acting mayor Tranos Moyo, said council would deal with the matter professionally for the benefit of the residents.

Mahachi demanded a golden handshake from the city and among his 22 demands, he wants the city to give him a mansion in Belvedere and two top of the range vehicles.

According to a letter written by his lawyers to Manyenyeni, Mahachi, who earned more than $27,000 monthly, wanted the city to pay him more than $100,000 for every year he served the city.

He joined the city in 2007. Mahachi is currently on an indefinite forced leave for reportedly stalling the city’s succession plan and rationalisation of executive salaries, among other issues.

His lawyers Magwaliba and Kwirira said the demands were based on comparative packages paid upon the termination of the contracts of employment of other persons in similar positions occupied by Mahachi.

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