POLICE Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga (pictured) was
on Friday left with egg on the face after more than 1 111 junior officers
successfully challenged their “intermittent transfers” at their own cost, which
they argued could not be sustained from their meagre salaries.
Detective Constable Bryn Moyo (CID Theft, Harare), Sergeant
Terrence Zireva (Budiriro) and Assistant Inspector Emmanuel Chipanda (Ruwa
Police Station) — representing more than 1 111 others — successfully filed at
the High Court, challenging what they termed intermittent transfers at their
own cost.
Chipanda, who had been earmarked for transfer to Nehanda
Police Station in Mkoba 19, Gweru, said he could not afford the transfer cost
on his $1 300 salary and pleaded with the court to note the civil servants’
call for a strike over poor remuneration.
Moyo and Zireva also submitted affidavits saying they had
no capacity to move to their new workstations, which were not disclosed in
court papers.
In an application heard before Justice Benjamin Chikowero
on Friday, the police officers said the transfer costs were beyond their means
and not in the best interests of their minor school-going children in light of
the COVID-19 pandemic.
The junior officers cited ZRP chief-of-staff, Matanga and
Home Affairs minister Kazembe Kazembe, as respondents.
“My children are enrolled at schools in Harare, which I
believe to be in their interest. I am alive to the fact that schools are still
closed, but rumours are that they might reopen soon. If the rumours are true,
it would mean that I would have to return my children to Harare from Gweru and
look for someone to take care of them,” Chipanda said.
“My transfer was effected at a time when I had already paid
my June rentals, I had already planned for the month. The financial
implications of my transfer from ZRP Ruwa include buying new school uniforms,
looking for alternative accommodation, schools and that represents gross
inconvenience and irreparable harm since no allowances have been paid to me.”
The trio’s lawyers Gift Chihuta and Paddington Chinzou from
Chakanyuka and Associates also cited violation of their clients’ rights.
“Applicants have children and have been subjected to
intermittent transfers during the last four years. The cost of securing
accommodation as well as paying school fees and buying school uniforms will
seriously burden applicants, especially in this trying economic era considering
their income,” they submitted.
Justice Chikowero granted the relief pending determination
of the transfer matter.
“Pending determination of this matter, applicant is hereby
granted the following relief: applicant’s transfers dated June 2020 from their
respective stations be and is hereby stayed pending the determination of the
appeal noted on June 8, 2020,” Justice Chikowero ruled.
Matanga recently admitted in Parliament that his officers
were prone to accepting bribes because of poor remuneration.
The transfer refusal came hard on the heels of calls by the
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions for rolling protests over government’s
failure to ensure a living wage for workers.
Civil servants last week rejected a 50% pay rise and US$75
three-month COVID-19 allowance, and demanded at least US$520 salary.
Frontline healthcare workers have already downed tools over
poor working conditions. Newsday
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