By Mining Reporter – Tuesday 19 November 2019
HARARE (Mining Index) – ZIMBABWE Miners Federation (ZMF) president Henrietta Rushwaya yesterday won the federation’s presidency dispute against the Zvishavane-Mberengwa Mining Association (ZMMA) which had filed an application seeking to bar her from presiding over as president.
Rushwaya was elected ZMF president last year, but ZMMA led by Thembinkosi Sibanda challenged her election into office seeking the previous executive led by Ishmael Kaguru to be reinstated.
“Advocate Tapson Dzvetero has won the supreme court appeal in favour of Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF). The Supreme Court has granted the appeal lodged by the Henrietta Rushwaya led ZMF,” revealed ZMF CEO Wellington Takavarasha.
“The Supreme Court has declared Henrietta Rushwaya to have been duly and properly nominated and elected to the helm of ZMF and the entire board,” he added.
In accordance with section 11.4 of the ZMF constitution, Rushwaya was duly elected on 14 June 2018 in the presence of the then Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, Munesu Munodawafa and a legal officer in the minister office Mrs Muchinguri.
“The Supreme Court has set aside the high court orders by justice Moyo and Mathonsi as he then was. When justice Mathonsi was still a high court judge, he had granted an interim order on an urgent chamber interdicting elections which were being held as the matter was being argued. The interim order was later confirmed by Justice Moyo. This prompted the Henrietta Rushwaya led General Council to appeal to the Supreme Court,”
“Advocate Tapson Dzvetero of Antonio and Dzvetero Legal Practitioners appeared before Judges of Appeal Justice Gowora, Guvava and Bere who agreed with him that the high court erred in stopping the elections,” he said.
Rushwaya is an executive member with Shangani Gold Miners’ Association.
Founded in 2003, ZMF is the umbrella body representing small-scale miners, whose membership now accounts for more than half of Zimbabwe’s gold, chrome and other special stones. ENDS//
