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Jurisdiction re: Labour Proceedings

HH84-12 : CHRISTOPHER BARNSLEY vs HARAMBE HOLDINGS (PVT) LTD AND ANOTHER
Ruled By: MATHONSI J

The applicant was employed as Group Engineering Director by the first respondent, which represented itself as a holding company comprising several subsidies with the second respondent as its Chief Executive Officer.The letter of his appointment containing the terms of employment, dated 7 May 2009, was signed by the second respondent ...
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SC23-11 : MUKUNDI PLASTICS (PVT) LTD vs ELIJAH CHASEKWA and THIRTEEN OTHERS
Ruled By: ZIYAMBI JA, GARWE JA and OMERJEE AJA

The respondents were retrenched as a result of an application for voluntary retrenchment. The retrenchment was approved by the Retrenchment Board and payment was made in the respondents' accounts on 16 January 2009. On or about 29 July 2009, the respondents, discontented by the fact that their packages were paid in Zimbabwean dollars, took the ...
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HH23-08 : EDWIN MUSHORIWA vs ZIMBABWE BANKING CORPORATION
Ruled By: GOWORA J

According to the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01], in particular section 3 thereof, the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] applies to all employers and employees, save where the employment is in terms of the Constitution. The applicant was not employed in terms of the Constitution. This application, therefore, falls under the provisions of section 89(1) of the Labour Act ...
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HH23-08 : EDWIN MUSHORIWA vs ZIMBABWE BANKING CORPORATION
Ruled By: GOWORA J

In terms of section 89(1) of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01], amongst the powers bestowed on the Labour Court by the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] is the power to, in subsection 1(d)(i), exercise the same powers of review as would be exercisable by the High Court in respect of labour matters. This was the amendment ...
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HH78-02 : CONSTANCE PANGETI vs THE GRAIN MARKETING BOARD
Ruled By: MAKARAU J

This is an application for review brought in terms of Order 33 of the High Court Rules. The facts of the matter are not in dispute. They are as follows:The applicant joined the respondent in 1990 as a typist. This appears to have been on a temporal basis, for, in ...
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HH26-10 : MEDICAL INVESMENTS LIMITED vs RUMBIDZAYI PEDZISAYI
Ruled By: MAKARAU JP

The applicant and the respondent were employer and employee respectively. The respondent was employed by the applicant as its Chief Pharmacist with effect from 1 December 2002 up to November 2008. It was a specific term of her employment that the respondent would be entitled to the use of a motor vehicle during the course ...
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HH150-09 : SOUTHBAY REAL ESTATE (PVT) LTD vs SOUTHBAY PROPERTIES (PVT) LTD and G RATISSO and CHIEF REGISTRAR OF COMPANIES
Ruled By: MAKARAU JP

The jurisdiction of this court over all matters and people in Zimbabwe is a power inherent in the court as the only superior court in the land with unlimited jurisdiction at first instance.It is not ousted save by the clearest language in a statute.In instances where this court has concurrent ...
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HH51-10 : DHL INTERNATIONAL (PVT) LTD vs CLIVE MADZIKANDA
Ruled By: MAKARAU JP

In his heads of argument. The respondent argued that this court has no jurisdiction to determine the matter, exclusive jurisdiction in the matter having been reposed in the Labour Court by the provisions of section 89 of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] The issue of when the jurisdiction of this court is ousted by ...
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SC46-15 : NATIONAL RAILWAYS OF ZIMBABWE vs ZIMBABWE RAILWAYS ARTISANS UNION AND OTHERS
Ruled By: ZIYAMBI JA, GWAUNZA JA and GUVAVA JA

This appeal, from the judgment of the Labour Court, raises the issue whether an Arbitrator can, in a compulsory arbitration, dictate the terms of a Collective Bargaining Agreement between the parties.Collective Bargaining Agreements are governed by Part X of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] (“the Act”). They are to be ...
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HH148-10 : ZIMASCO (PVT) LIMITED vs FARAI MAYNARD MARIKANO
Ruled By: MTSHIYA J

In his opposing affidavit the respondent states as follows- “1. I wish to raise a point in limine. It is common cause that on 9 October 2009, I instituted proceedings in the Labour Court challenging applicant's decision to terminate my employment contract summarily, see copy of proof of service and copy of the application of ...
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HH164-10 : KENNETH PATRICK McCOSH vs PIONEER CORPORATION AFRICA LIMITED
Ruled By: KUDYA J

The plaintiff, a former financial director of the defendant company, filed summons on 8 July 2009 seeking payment of the capital sum of US$72,334 and interest at the rate of 10% per annum from the date when the amount fell due to the date of the issue of summons in ...
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HH204-10 : BENSON SAMUDZIMU vs DAIRIBORD HOLDINGS LTD
Ruled By: CHIWESHE JP

The legal issue that arises in this chamber application is whether the provisions of the Labour Act [Chapter 20:01] exclude the jurisdiction of the High Court in areas where the Labour Court has jurisdiction. Section 89(6) of the Labour Act [Chapter 20:01] provides –“No court, other than the Labour Court, shall have jurisdiction in the ...
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HH254-10 : TAAZADZA MUNHUMUTEMA vs JOSHUA TAPAMBWA and SYDNEY KAZHANJE and STANBIC BANK ZIMBABWE LIMITED
Ruled By: MUTEMA J

..., on 7 July 2008, the applicant lodged contempt of court proceedings against the third respondent in the Labour Court. That application was dismissed on the basis that the Labour Court had no jurisdiction to entertain it.
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HH27-13 : ARNOLD SIKHUMBUZO MAHLANGU vs C Z L INCORPORATED (PRIVATE) LIMITED
Ruled By: MAKONI J

The respondent raised a point in limine that this court has no jurisdiction on the basis that the claim arises from the termination of the applicant's employment contract with the respondent. The matter falls within the realm of the labour law. The applicant then filed a replying affidavit in which he persisted with the issue that this ...
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HH31-11 : ESTHER CHIYADZWA vs BETTY MAGUWU
Ruled By: BERE J

On the initial day of the hearing of this matter, I invited counsel to address me on the second issue which I deemed to be quite central and decisive in this matter. After hearing what I would term extremely conservative submissions from counsel I held that this court had jurisdiction to determine the issues raised in ...
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HH94-11 : BEMBA FARM (PVT) LTD vs ZIMBABWE HORTICULTURE AGROINDUSTRIES AND GENERAL AGRICULTURE WORKERS UNION and OTHERS
Ruled By: BHUNU J

If the applicant's complaint is that the respondents are inciting its employees to embark on illegal collective job action, this becomes essentially a labour dispute subject to resolution in terms of the Labour Relations Act. It is now settled law that the High Court, or any other court for that matter, has no jurisdiction to hear ...
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HH102-11 : KAREN TUMAZOS vs TRAVEL CONECTIONS (PRIVATE) LIMITED and STEWART CRANSWICK
Ruled By: MTSHIYA J

In supplementary heads of argument filed on 8 February 2011, the respondents argued this was a labour matter which should be dealt with under section 89 of the Labour Act Chapter 28:01]. It was submitted that this was so because the applicant had indicated that she had instituted proceedings in the Ministry of Public Service, Labour ...
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HH116-11 : TELECEL ZIMBABWE (PVT) LTD vs NAQUIB OMAR
Ruled By: CHIWESHE JP

In his supplementary heads of argument, the respondent argued, in limine, that this court has no jurisdiction to determine the matter. Section 89(6) of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] provides as follows: “(6) No court, other than the Labour Court, shall have jurisdiction in the first instance to hear and determine any application, appeal or ...
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HH124-13 : HOSEA JAMBWA vs GRAIN MARKETING BOARD
Ruled By: MATHONSI J

Even if I am wrong in that conclusion, the applicant still has the insurmountable difficulty arising from the provisions of section 89(6) of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] which provides: “No court, other than the Labour Court, shall have jurisdiction in the first instance to hear and determine any application, appeal or matter referred to ...
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HB95-11 : MADINDA NDLOVU vs HIGHLANDERS FOOTBALL CLUB
Ruled By: CHEDA J

With regards to the issue of jurisdiction, I have had sight of the case of Tuso v City of Harare HH01-04 which was referred to me by counsel for the respondent for which I am grateful. I am of the view that the present case is distinguishable as it deals with an acknowledgement of debt, ...
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HH38-14 : JULIET HOMODZA vs CHITUNGWIZA MUNICIPALITY
Ruled By: TAKUVA J

The respondent filed an appearance to defend and subsequently a special plea the nub of which is that this court has no jurisdiction to determine this matter in that issues relating to non-payment of terminal benefits and arrear salaries are specifically within the purview of the Labour Court as these matters are provided for in ...
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HH171-14 : ANDREW KASERERA and JOHN SIBANDA and SYDNEY MANDIDI and MECK NCUBE and MAJORA LEMBACHURU vs RIOZIM (PRIVATE) LIMITED
Ruled By: MANGOTA J

(b) Jurisdiction This preliminary matter is easily discounted on the basis of the reasoning and findings which the court made in the first matter in limine. This entire case, it is observed, is hinged on the vindicatory, and not disciplinary action which the respondent appears to want the court to accept. The court is satisfied that ...
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HH187-14 : CHRISTMAS MAZARIRE vs OLD MUTUAL SHARED SERVICES (PRIVATE) LIMITED
Ruled By: MTSHIYA J

In response to the respondents' opposition, the applicant submitted that the Labour Court has no jurisdiction to issue a declaratur, and, as such, the applicant cannot obtain the remedy through the provisions of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01]. The Labour Act [Chapter 28:01], it was submitted, spells out what the Labour Court can do. The applicant said ...
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HB168-11 : NOKUTHULA MOYO vs NORMAN GWINDINGWI N.O. and DAIRIBOARD ZIMBABWE (PVT) LTD
Ruled By: MATHONSI J

I am in total agreement with MAKARAU JP…, when she stated in DHL International Ltd v Madzikanda HH51-10 that the Labour Court has exclusive jurisdiction in matters relating to suspensions from employment and that the possession of the employer's property by an employee in terms of the contract of employment is so interdependently linked to ...
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HH211-14 : ZIMBABWE ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY vs RONALD MUTOMBODZI
Ruled By: NDEWERE J

I have considered the submissions on jurisdiction and I have concluded that the application, being a rei vindicatio, the High Court has jurisdiction to deal with the matter on the basis of the Zimasco (Pvt) Ltd v Marikano SC181-10 matter.
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HH272-14 : TREVIGLO SERVICES trading as TADA TEAK AND IRON vs EMMERSON GWATIDZO
Ruled By: CHIGUMBA J

The applicant is guilty of failure to act timeously in seeking the appropriate remedies provided by the Labour Act. The applicant is guilty of flirtting from one legal practitioner to another like a bee that flirts from flower to flower in the never-ending search for the right pollen to improve the quality of its honey. ...
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HH295-14 : SURFACE INVESTMENTS (PRIVATE) LIMITED vs MAURICE CHINYANI
Ruled By: DUBE J

The jurisdiction of the Labour Court is governed by Section 89 of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01]. The relevant paragraphs read as follows; “89(1) The Labour Court shall exercise the following functions - (a) Hearing and determining applications and appeals in terms of this Act or any other enactment; and (b) …,.; and (c) …,.; (d) ….,. ; (e) …,.; (6) No court, other than the Labour ...
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HH566-14 : TAWADZERA ZISHIRI and SHIRELLA PETERS and ANDRA NYANDEBVU and VIOLET CHATINDO and OTHERS vs STREAMSLEIGH INVESTMENTS (PVT) LTD
Ruled By: MATHONSI J

I agree with counsel for the first respondent that to the extent that the applicants are seeking to enforce an employment contract, that dimension of the matter takes the form of a labour dispute which should be resolved by the Labour Court in terms of the ouster provisions of section 89(6) of the Labour ...
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HH586-14 : WELLINGTON TAKAWIRA vs CZI INCORPORATED (PVT) LTD
Ruled By: UCHENA J

The applicant was the respondent's employee. He resigned from employment by letter dated 1 October 2013. The respondent accepted his resignation by letter dated 6 January 2014. Through the same letter, the respondent acknowledged that it owed the applicant US$32,542=07 for salaries, pension refunds, cash in lieu of leave, and ...
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HB09-14 : ZIMPAPERS GROUP OF COMPANIES T/A THE CHRONICLE NEWSPAPERS vs MILIDZI KHUPHE and THE HONOURABLE M. MOYO-MATSHANGA
Ruled By: MOYO J

The applicant's counsel contends that the inherent jurisdiction that the High Court has includes the review of matters from the Labour Court….,. The applicant's counsel further contends that the High Court, with its inherent jurisdiction, is armed with the requisite powers to review the decisions of the Labour Court on the grounds that he has given. Section ...
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HB21-14 : JONA NDALAMA vs COMMISSIONER GENERAL OF POLICE and CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT SIGAUKE and CO-MINISTER OF HOME AFFAIRS
Ruled By: MOYO J

This is an application for condonation for the late noting of an appeal against the decision of the Commissioner General of Police (the 1st respondent herein)….,. The applicant was convicted in terms of the Police Act [Chapter 11:10] and was sentenced to pay a fine of $10= by a single officer. He appealed to the ...
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SC48-15 : ATTORNEY-GENERAL vs LEOPOLD MUDISI and PATROBS DUBE and DERECK CHARAMBA and MUSEKIWA MBANJE and MEHLULI TSHUMA
Ruled By: MALABA DCJ, GARWE JA and PATEL JA

Moreover, the High Court has the requisite jurisdiction to issue a declarator, whereas this power was beyond the competence of the Labour Court.
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SC07-17 : CHRIS STYLIANOU and FRED DRIVER AND SONS (PRIVATE) LIMITED and D.R. HENDRY (PRIVATE) LIMITED vs MOSES MUBITA AND 25 OTHERS
Ruled By: GWAUNZA JA, GUVAVA JA and BHUNU JA

Whether or not the Labour Court has the jurisdiction to grant an interdict or a declaratory order The respondents approached the court a quo on an urgent chamber application basis provisionally seeking an interdict. On the return date of the provisional order, they sought a declaratory order to the effect that an agreement by the ...
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SC53-16 : PG INDUSTRIES (ZIMBABWE) LIMITED vs MARK BVEKERWA and 34 OTHERS
Ruled By: GWAUNZA JA, GOWORA JA and PATEL JA

The court a quo made a finding that the appellant had proceeded to address the merits of the appeal before it despite denying a relationship with the respondents. The court concluded that the citation of the appellant and PG Timbers in this case was a mere technicality. It opined that it was an ...
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HH125-15 : CONFEDERATION OF ZIMBABWE INDUSTRIES vs RITA MARQUE MBATHA
Ruled By: MATHONSI J

Now that section 171(1)(a) of the Constitution of Zimbabwe has reinstated the jurisdiction of this court on labour matters, which had been ousted by the provisions of section 89(6) of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01], there is nothing stopping me from exercising jurisdiction. Section 171(1)(a) of the new Constitution provides:- “The High Court has original jurisdiction over all ...
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Appealed
SC01-18 : NATIONAL EMPLOYMENT COUNCIL FOR THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY vs ZIMBABWE NANTONG INTERNATIONAL (PRIVATE) LIMITED
Ruled By: PATEL JA, GUVAVA JA and UCHENA JA

It is trite that the High Court is a superior court of inherent jurisdiction and that there is a presumption against the ouster of its jurisdiction unless this is clearly intended by the legislature. Thus, any statutory or contractual provision that purports to oust its jurisdiction must be restrictively interpreted....,.Jurisdictional ...
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SC56-18 : CITY OF GWERU vs RICHARD MASINIRE
Ruled By: GWAUNZA JA, MAVANGIRA JA and BHUNU JA

Section 3 of the Labour Act confers jurisdiction on the Act over all employees except those it expressly excludes. It reads: “Application of Act (1) This Act shall apply to all employers and employees except those whose conditions of employment are otherwise provided for in the Constitution….,. (2) For the avoidance of any doubt, the conditions of employment of members of the Public ...
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HH92-15 : CAPRI (PVT) LTD vs HOWARD MAPONGA
Ruled By: MATHONSI J

There is absolutely no merit in this application for rescission of judgment, an application informed more by a complete lack of understanding of the role of this court in the registration of arbitral awards made in terms of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01], an Act of Parliament which, in terms of section 89(6), has sought ...
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HH126-15 : GODFREY JONGA vs CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ZAMBEZI RIVER AUTHORITY and ZAMBEZI RIVER AUTHORITY
Ruled By: MTSHIYA J

In challenging the jurisdiction of this court over the matter, the first respondent relied on section 89(6) of the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01] (the Labour Act) which provides:- “No court, other than the Labour Court, shall have jurisdiction in the first instance to hear and determine any application, appeal or matter referred to in in subs (1).” Subsection 1 ...