Former ZNA Senior Official Loses Bid To Recover Seized Retirement Benefits
Former Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA)’s Colonel Shakeman Terrence Chizengwe has lost a High Court bid to recover seized retirement benefits.
The court ruled that his application was defective in that he failed to cite President Emmerson Mnangagwa as one of the respondents.
Chizengwe, who was Director of Ordinance, retired early this year after refusing to go through a disciplinary hearing over an undisclosed offence.
His superiors withdrew his terminal benefits according to the law as punishment for refusing to go through the process.
He then approached the courts citing ZNA commander David Sigauke and Zimbabwe Defence Forces (ZDF) commander Philip Valerio Sibanda as respondents.
Chizengwe wanted the court to declare as unlawful, his former employer’s decision to keep his retirement benefits.
But High Court judge, Gladys Mhuri struck his application off the roll for being defective, according to ZimLive. Mhuri is quoted as saying:
Applicant was a Colonel and for him to be promoted to the next rank, it was the President who was bestowed with such power to promote him. This is provided for in s15 of the Defence Act.
It follows therefore that the order prayed for by the applicant would require the president to do something.
It will therefore require that he be joined in the proceedings. As I found earlier, that there was material non-joinder of the President, it will follow therefore that the application be struck off and it also follows that the determination of the other points in limine is no longer necessary at this juncture.
Court papers say allegations against Chizengwe were too gross to an extent that his case was handled privately.
Therefore, facts regarding his dismissal remain unknown to the public.
Chizengwe had the option of either going through prosecution or retiring without benefits and he chose the latter.
He later decided to approach the High Court insisting that he had the right to be promoted and receive benefits.
However, Vario Sibanda opposed the application arguing that Chizengwe had not cited Mnangagwa who is responsible for promotion.
Sibanda argued that Chizengwe was only trying to avoid the consequences of his own wrongdoing.
The Defence Forces boss said in fact, Chizengwe himself was not even prepared to disclose to the court the allegations he was facing.
He said Chizengwe pursued his desired remedy without establishing good cause for the High Court’s interference with the primary administrative authority.
Chizengwe had told the High Court that he was subjected to duress during the meeting leading to his dismissal.
However, Sibanda said Chizengwe was offered an extension of six months in employment if he wished to undergo a General Martial Trial but he declined that offer.
