$500 000 debt haunts Zupco

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31 Zupco buses attached over a half-a-million dollar debt owed to retrenched workers.

THE Deputy Sheriff has attached 31 Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (Zupco) buses over a half-a-million dollar debt owed to retrenched workers.

GAMMA MUADRIKIRI OWN CORRESPONDENT

The writ of execution was obtained at the Bulawayo High Court after the bus company failed to owner an arbitrary award dated April 10 2013 in the matter between the parastatal and 67 of its retrenched workers.

According to the writ, the Sheriff or his lawful deputy, was directed to attach property at Zupco Limited at No 2200A, Khami Road, Bulawayo.

“You are hereby required and directed to attach and take execution of movable goods (from) Zupco Ltd and of the same cause to realise the sum of $648 931,96 which they recovered by judgment of this court dated 30 of September 2013 in the above-mentioned suit and also all costs and charges of the applicant in the said suit to be hereafter duly taxed according to law, besides all costs thereby incurred,” part of the writ reads.

“Further pay to the said applicant the sum or the sums due to them with costs as above-mentioned and for your so doing, this shall be your warrant. And return you this writ with what you have done thereupon” the writ reads.

Southern Eye was informed that 11 Zupco buses had already been impounded and were at the Deputy Sheriff’s offices in Bulawayo while space was being sought for the remaining 20 buses.

In addition, the Deputy Sheriff has attached three vehicles which are also set to be impounded. Zupco retrenched 117 employees in 2010, but has only managed to pay 50 of them their retrenchment packages.