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Source: War vets secure land for market stalls – herald

Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs Minister Monica Mavhunga addresses delegates at the handover of land for market stalls to former fighters in Granary along Bulawayo-Harare Highway in Zvimba District on Saturday. – Picture Charles Muchakagara.

Emmanuel Kafe-Herald Reporter

THE Government’s drive to economically empower veterans of the liberation struggle received a major boost on Saturday after the Zvimba East War Veterans Association was handed five hectares of land for  development of market stalls.

This project is expected to create jobs and sustainable income streams for ex-combatants and their families.

The land, provided through a lease agreement with Eddies Pfugari Properties, was officially handed over in Ward 30 by Minister of Veterans of the Liberation Struggle Affairs Senator Monica Mavhunga.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Mavhunga said the initiative was in line with President Mnangagwa’s vision of ensuring veterans participate meaningfully in the country’s economic development.

“Today’s event is fully aligned with that vision. The development of market stalls on this land will create a platform for veterans to engage in productive economic activities, generate income, create employment and contribute meaningfully to local economic development.”

The minister said the project reflected growing collaboration between Government and the private sector in improving the welfare of veterans.

“The lease agreement between the Zvimba East War Veterans Association and Eddies Pfugari (Pvt) Ltd is testimony to the growing realisation by the private sector of the need to complement Government efforts in improving the welfare of veterans of the liberation struggle,” she said.

She urged the association and stakeholders to work closely with planning authorities to ensure the development complies with local authority by-laws and statutory requirements.

Minister Mavhunga said once completed, the market stalls would not only provide business opportunities for veterans but also generate revenue for the Zvimba Rural District Council.

Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) spokesperson Cde Cornelius Muwoni welcomed the project, saying it would reduce dependence on Government support programmes.

“We commend Government for this initiative. It reduces pressure even on the national fiscus because people who previously depended on assistance will now have an opportunity to generate their own income.

“Resources can then be channelled to other critical areas while veterans improve their livelihoods through productive economic activities,” said Cde Muwoni.

Eddies Pfugari Properties general manager, Mr Percy Chitima, said the company partnered the war veterans as part of its commitment to supporting national development initiatives.

“We support Government initiatives and that is why we partnered in this project by providing the land to the war veterans.

“We have agreed that the land should be developed in an orderly manner and in line with local authority by-laws to ensure a sustainable and properly planned project,” he said.

The event also received logistical support from Prevail International (Pvt) Ltd, which provided tents, chairs, a public address system, refreshments and other facilities.

The market stall project comes amid renewed efforts by the Second Republic to promote sustainable income-generating ventures for veterans of the liberation struggle as part of broader economic empowerment programmes.

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Source: Landmark ruling strengthens NEC award enforcement powers – herald

In a judgment with far-reaching implications for labour relations, High Court Judge Justice Joel Mambara ruled in favour of former employee Jairos Moyo in his legal battle against Little Hearts Christian College. The court recognised and adopted a 2022 determination issued by a designated agent of the National Employment Council for Welfare and Educational Institutions, which had awarded Moyo US$13 562,84 in unpaid labour benefits.

Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo-Court Correspondent

The High Court has delivered a landmark ruling that could significantly strengthen the enforcement of labour dispute awards.

In a judgment with far-reaching implications for labour relations, High Court Judge Justice Joel Mambara ruled in favour of former employee Jairos Moyo in his legal battle against Little Hearts Christian College.

The court recognised and adopted a 2022 determination issued by a designated agent of the National Employment Council for Welfare and Educational Institutions, which had awarded Moyo US$13 562,84 in unpaid labour benefits.

Moyo was successfully represented by his lawyer, Mr Aleck Chikoro.

Justice Mambara’s ruling effectively creates a pathway for successful employees to enforce final NEC determinations through the High Court where no appeal or review is pending.

The judgment departs from previous decisions that had held there was no express legal mechanism for registering designated agent determinations for enforcement.

This could mean that final determinations issued by National Employment Council (NEC) designated agents can be recognised and adopted as judgments of the court for execution purposes.

“The true question is whether the High Court, seized with an original application, may, in the exercise of its existing constitutional and common-law powers, give effective judicial force to a final, liquid, unappealed designated agent determination,” Justice Mambara said.

“In my view, it may, and in an appropriate case it must.”

The dispute arose after a designated agent awarded Moyo US$1 925 as a retrenchment package, US$10 412,84 for wage shortfalls, US$1 050 as cash in lieu of leave, and US$175 as gratuity.

Although the determination was issued in November 2022, enforcement difficulties led Moyo to approach the High Court seeking recognition and registration of the award.

The respondent opposed the application, arguing that there was no statutory provision authorising the High Court to register such determinations and that any remedy required legislative intervention.

However, Justice Mambara held that the Constitution empowers the High Court to grant effective relief where rights have already been adjudicated and reduced to a liquid amount.

The judge relied on constitutional provisions guaranteeing labour rights, access to justice, and the court’s inherent powers to develop the common law in the interests of justice.

He said it would be irrational for the law to provide mechanisms for enforcing provisional labour rulings while denying effective remedies for final determinations issued by designated agents.

“It would be strange indeed if the law preserved executable pathways for a non-final instrument, while withholding all effective judicial relief from a final adjudication that has already disposed of the parties’ rights,” he said.

Justice Mambara further warned against creating situations where workers obtain favourable rulings but remain unable to realise the benefits awarded to them.

“The contrary view leaves successful employees with nothing more than a paper victory and thereby defeats both the Labour Act’s evident purpose and the Constitution’s remedial ethos,” he said.

The court stressed that the ruling is limited to final and liquid determinations where no appeal or review is pending and where parties were afforded a fair hearing.

In the order, the court recognised, adopted and made the NEC determination a judgment of the High Court, allowing execution to proceed in the ordinary manner if the employer fails to comply.

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Source: Bata employee in court over US$12 600 stock theft – herald

Admire Moyo (43) was arraigned before magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo on a charge of theft of trust property.

Yeukai Karengezeka-Chisepo-Court Correspondent

A Chitungwiza man has appeared before the Harare Magistrates Court facing allegations of stealing footwear and other merchandise worth more than US$12 600 from a Bata Shoe Company branch where he was entrusted with managing stock.

Admire Moyo (43) was arraigned before magistrate Ms Ruth Moyo on a charge of theft of trust property.

He was granted bail.

The complainant is Zimbabwe Bata Shoe Company Limited’s Makoni Branch, represented by branch sales manager Timothy Makomeke.

Prosecutor Mr Takudzwa Jambawu told the court that between March 11 and June 13 this year, Moyo was responsible for stock under his custody at the Bata Makoni Branch.

It is alleged that during the period, Moyo unlawfully removed various footwear and non-footwear items from the branch on several occasions without authority.

The court heard that on March 18, district sales manager Paradzai Prince and an internal auditor conducted a stock verification exercise at the branch.

The audit allegedly revealed significant shortages of both footwear and non-footwear merchandise.

According to the State, Moyo was asked to account for the missing stock but failed to provide a satisfactory explanation.

Prosecutors allege that investigations established that merchandise valued at US$12 624,70 had gone missing.

The State further alleges that after removing the stock, Moyo transported it to an unknown location and converted it to his own use.

No property has been recovered.

The total prejudice to Bata Shoe Company is US$12 624,70.

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Source: Court rules against law denying workers benefits – herald

In a judgment handed down on June 17, 2026, the Constitutional Court upheld an order invalidating Section 28(2) of the Reconstruction Act, finding that it unlawfully suspended workers’ labour rights for an indefinite period.

Fidelis Munyoro-Chief Court Reporter

The Constitutional Court has confirmed a High Court ruling declaring unconstitutional a provision of the Reconstruction of State-Indebted Insolvent Companies Act that prevented former employees of SMM Holdings from accessing their terminal benefits.

In a judgment handed down on June 17, 2026, the Constitutional Court upheld an order invalidating Section 28(2) of the Reconstruction Act, finding that it unlawfully suspended workers’ labour rights for an indefinite period.

The case was brought by 27 former SMM Holdings employees who argued that the provision had denied them access to salaries, retrenchment packages and other terminal benefits following the termination of their employment.

Writing for a unanimous bench, Justice Anne-Mary Gowora held that the impugned provision was inconsistent with Section 65(1) of the Constitution, which guarantees fair labour practices, as well as Sections 2A(3) and 13 of the Labour Act.

“The applicants, having been either dismissed or retrenched by their erstwhile employer, are owed terminal benefits. That these are due is not disputed,” the court said.

The former workers told the court that many affected employees had spent years without receiving their dues, while some had died before obtaining payment. They argued that Section 28(2) effectively barred them from enforcing their rights against the company, which has been under reconstruction for more than two decades.

The Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, the Attorney-General and SMM Holdings opposed the application. They argued that the matter was not ripe for constitutional determination and that alternative remedies were available under existing insolvency legislation.

However, the Constitutional Court rejected those arguments, finding that a real and live dispute existed between the parties.

The court held that the Labour Act expressly prevails over any inconsistent legislation and that employees of companies under reconstruction remain entitled to the protections afforded by labour laws.

“It follows, inevitably, that Section 13 applies with full force to employees whose contracts of employment are terminated in the course of a company’s reconstruction,” Justice Gowora said.

The court further ruled that Section 28(2) imposed an unfair, unreasonable and disproportionate limitation on workers’ constitutional rights.

“Section 28(2) fails the proportionality test as it completely removes from employees the fair labour rights enshrined in Section 65(1),” the judgment reads.

The Constitutional Court confirmed the High Court’s declaration of invalidity but suspended the order for 180 days to allow the responsible minister to amend the legislation.

The declaration will not apply retrospectively and will not affect actions taken before the date of the order.

The judgment was concurred in by Deputy Chief Justice Elizabeth Gwaunza and Justice Paddington Garwe, Justices Ben Hlatshwayo, Bharat Patel, Susan Mavangira, and Acting Constitutional Court judge Justice Nicholas Mathonsi.

The ruling is expected to have significant implications for employees of companies placed under reconstruction, reinforcing the supremacy of labour protections over legislation that delays or suspends the payment of terminal benefits.

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LONDON — Serena Williams will play singles at Wimbledon after accepting a wild card invitation, the All England Club announced Sunday.

The move comes after the 44-year-old Williams recently returned to competition in doubles after nearly four years away from professional tennis.

And it means that Williams will play both singles and doubles at Wimbledon after already accepting a wild card for the doubles competition with older sister Venus.

“This is not a drill,” Wimbledon said on its social media accounts.

Serena’s last singles match was a loss to Ajla Tomljanovic in the third round of the 2022 U.S. Open. At the time, she said she didn’t want to use the word “retiring” and instead declared that she was “evolving” away from tennis.

Serena has won 23 Grand Slam titles in singles, including seven at Wimbledon. She’s also won 14 Grand Slams in doubles, all with Venus, and six of them at Wimbledon.

Wimbledon starts in eight days.

Serena won a doubles match with partner Victoria Mboko at Queen’s Club last week but then the pair had to withdraw after Mboko injured her knee in a singles match.

In another doubles match at the Berlin Open on Tuesday, Serena and partner Karolina Muchova were beaten by Giuliana Olmos and Erin Routliffe.

Source: AP

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