The Supreme Court has declared Henrietta Rushwaya the duly elected President of the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) after a challenge by Zvishavane Mberengwa Miners’ Association led by Thembinkosi Sibanda.
Rushwaya was elected ZMF President on June 14 last year, but her election was challenged by a group of miners under the banner of the Zvishavane-Mberengwa Miners’ Association (ZMMA) through their lawyers Mutuso, Taruvinga, and Mhiribidi Attorneys.
The group wanted an order barring the holding of the elections and to have the polls indefinitely postponed, arguing that Rushwaya wanted to take the leadership by unorthodox means.
In March this year, the Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Nokuthula Moyo ruled in favor of the group leading to Rushwaya filing an appeal at the Supreme Court.
In her Supreme Court appeal, Rushwaya stated: “The appeal be allowed. That the operational part of the court a quo’s order be substituted with the following: That the provisional order granted by this court on June 14 and be is hereby dismissed with costs.”
The Supreme Court then ruled that Rushwaya was duly elected by a nomination court which matter wasn’t contested hence it dismissed the application with costs.
“After hearing arguments it’s hereby declared the matter is now moot as the applicant has since been elected. She was duly elected by a nomination court which matter wasn’t contested. The two orders by the court aquo are hereby set aside.
“The application has no merit before the court and its dismissed with costs. The applicant is, hereby, declared the duly elected president of ZMF,” read the ruling.
Reacting to the Supreme Court ruling in an exclusive interview with Great Dyke News 24, Rushwaya appealed for cooperation from all stakeholders including the litigants.
“I am extending an Olive Branch to those that had taken us to court. There are certain areas where they are good at and we can tap into their expertise and work together.
“Zimbabwe needs people who are hard-working and who can exercise team spirit, patience, effort, and collective thinking. ZMF does not belong to Rushwaya, it belongs to all the miners and let’s forge ahead in achieving the 12 billion target by 2023 and make Zimbabwe great,” she said.