By James MUTASA

Karoi Town Council’s former Acting Town Secretary, Tongai Namisala hasa been reinstated after the Labour Court has upheld an arbitral award reinstating him, after ruling that the council’s disciplinary proceedings violated mandatory statutory timelines.

Justice Motion Jaravani recently ruled that the council breached the 14-working-day rule under Statutory Instrument 15 of 2006 and unlawfully suspended Namisala twice without reinstating him between suspensions.

The court noted that the disciplinary authority lost jurisdiction as the matter extended into April 2025, months after the legal deadline.

The former acting town clerk was suspended in 2024 following his arrest on extortion allegations involving more than US$53 000. He was later found guilty following a disciplinary process which led to his dismissal.

Aggrieved by the outcome, Namisala appealed and the matter went before an arbitrator who ordered his reinstatement. Council did not reinstate hime and he appealed to the Labour Court which ruled in his favour nullifying the proceedings and ordered his reinstatement or the payment of damages.

Karoi Mayor, Alderman Kudakwashe Chigumo, said the council would soon decide whether to reinstate him or pay damages.

Residents criticised the council for costly blunders.

ZNOART provincial chairperson, Liberty Chitiya, said service delivery had collapsed while the council was pursuing legal battles that it “usually loses”.

The case is the latest in ongoing leadership instability at Karoi Town Council, which has had at least five acting town secretaries in four years.