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Midland s Correspondent
ZVISHAVANE Town Council chairperson Councillor Esau Gwatipedza allegedly ran amok and attacked a Messenger of Court who wanted to attach his property in a labour dispute. The new Zvishavane Town chairperson is allegedly being sued for underpaying a former worker. According to sources, the Messenger of Court had moved in to attach Clr Gwatipedza’s property at his butchery in Mandava high-density suburb on Tuesday morning when he allegedly became violent, threatening to beat up the Messenger of Court and his team.

“Clr Gwatipedza lost a Labour Court case in which he was sued by his former worker, Ms Margret Gobvu for under paying her. Ms Gobvu used to be paid $50 per month. She won an arbitrary award in which she is supposed to be paid about $264 for the months she worked for Clr Gwatipedza as a shop assistant,” said the source.

The source said Clr Gwatipedza failed to pay Ms Gobvu within the time prescribed by the Labour Court ruling.

The source said when the Messenger of Court moved in to attach Clr Gwatipedza’s property, he blocked the move arguing that he had appealed to the same court against the ruling.

“The Messenger of Court was left scurrying for cover after Clr Gwatipedza threatened to beat him up,” said the source.
Clr Gwatipedza confirmed that he was supposed to pay his former worker, Ms Gobvu after she won an arbitrary award in a salary dispute. He also confirmed that the Messenger of Court visited his business premises on Tuesday intending to attach his property.

“It’s true the Messenger of Court visited my business premises on Tuesday intending to attach my property. I then indicated to them that I had already made the full payment of the money which I was supposed to pay the concerned employee. I have since fired the employee,” he said.

Clr Gwatipedza said he never threatened the Messenger of Court with violence but only “engaged him” and convinced him not to attach his property.

“There was no way they could have attached my property after I paid the required money. I only reasoned out with them (Messenger of Court team) and there was no violence at all,” he said.

Clr Gwatipedza said he has since fired Ms Gobvu after she misrepresented facts to the Labour Court.
However, Ms Gobvu said she decided to approach the Labour Court after she worked for more than six months at one of Clr Gwatipedza’s shops where she alleged she was being paid $50 per month.