Widow sues NRZ for $25 000
A BULAWAYO woman has taken the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ) to court over her late husband’s outstanding salaries and terminal benefits amounting to about $25 000.
Mrs Ethel Lukama whose husband, the late Sakuwa, was a senior engineman, has filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court demanding $25 587, 21 in parked salary, terminal benefits and outstanding salaries from NRZ.
In papers before the court, she cited NRZ as the defendant.
Mrs Lukama, through her lawyers Mesdames, Vundhla-Phulu and Partners said NRZ has despite acknowledging the debt continuously failed or neglected to pay.
She said NRZ only paid her $3 000 and remained with $25 587,21.
“The defendant owed my husband outstanding salaries, terminal benefits and parked salary and there is memorandum to confirm that.
“NZR has paid $3 000 towards the outstanding amount,” said Mrs Lukama.
She wants an order directing NRZ to pay the money and the legal costs.
“Wherefore plaintiff claim against the defendant is for an order for the payment of $25 587,21 being the balance for outstanding salaries, terminal benefits and parked salary,” said Mrs Lukama. NRZ has not yet filed opposing papers. The struggling parastatal which is teetering on the brink of collapse has failed to pay its workers for several months.
The workers, who are owed thousands of dollars in unpaid transport allowances, in May staged nationwide protests aimed at forcing management to pay them their outstanding salaries.
The disgruntled workers across the country recently downed tools, bringing to a halt operations, including the transportation of imported wheat and drought relief maize.
NRZ is struggling to attract investment from the private sector, a situation which has seen it failing to stem its ballooning salary debt.
The parastatal’s salary arrears continue to increase as the organisation’s fortunes continue to take a knock due to a subdued market.— @mashnets