By Own Correspondent

THE problems rocking the National Employment Council (NEC) for the Food and Allied industries have reached a crescendo following the decision by the Labour Ministry to revoke the registration certificate with immediate effect.

The NEC Food made headlines early this year when the Food Federation and Allied Workers Union of Zimbabwe (FFAWUZ) secretary general, Runesu Dzimiri pressed the alarm button after raising a cocktail of allegations bordered on maladministration and corruption suspicions.

Dzimiri spearheaded a demonstration which saw a group of workers briefly closing the NEC Food offices.

Sources in the food sector said the offices have since been opened for business under the leadership of the NEC Food General Secretary Malini Mpango.

The Dzimiri led faction has since filed their concerns with the parent ministry.

But in a sudden twist of events, the Labour Ministry’s   acting Registrar has revoked the NEC Food registration certificate with immediate effect following the latter’s failure to submit an audited financial statement.

The message was contained in a letter dated April 22 2024 signed by the Labour Ministry’s acting registrar S. Gweshe and addressed to NEC Food Mpango.

“The directive was in line with Section 59 (4) as read with section 63A of the Labour Act (Chapter 28:01) which calls for the submission of a written request of the Registrar, no later than seven days after receiving the request, or after such no longer period as the Registrar may for good cause allow, such written report on any matter as the Registrar may for good cause allow, such written report on any matter as the Registrar may reasonably require in connection with its operations.

“Any failure on the part of the employment council to comply with paragraph (a) or (b) constitutes justifiable grounds upon which the Registrar may cancel its certificate,” the letter reads in part.

The National Employment Council has not submitted audited financial statements for the year 2023 to date as such I have cancelled your registration certificate with immediate effect,” reads the letter.