NSSA sues company over $12 700 insurances for late employee

By The Standard | Aug. 29, 2015

THE National Social Security Authority (NSSA) two weeks ago filed summons at the Bulawayo High Court to a Harare-based company, Munhumutapa Business Machines (Private) Limited, over payment of $12 700 insurance claims paid to one of its dead employees.

BY SILAS NKALA

NSSA said they were made to pay the amount as compensation to an employee (Luke Sikhumbuzo Sithole) who was not insured with the authority.

The summons were filed on August 18 and it stated the physical address of Munhumutapa Business Machines which is situated at number 64 Stratford Road in Tynwald, Harare.

According to NSSA’s declaration of the claim in the summons gleaned by Southern Eye, Munhumutapa Business Machines (at a time they operated from Bulawayo) failed to review premiums by the time they became payable, and in terms of Section 82 of the NSSA (accident prevention and workers compensation scheme), and Section 168 to do with late payment, which stated the defendant was liable to imposition of a penalty to the cost of accident.

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“The defendant’s employee Luke Sikhumbuzo Sithole died in an accident at a time when the defendant was not covered by foresaid Statutory Instrument,” the NSSA declaration read. “Therefore, in terms of the Statutory Instrument cited, defendant is liable to pay a penalty as determined by the general manager amounting to $12 784 to enable plaintiff to recover the insured compensation paid to the defendant’s employee.

“Wherefore the plaintiff prays for judgment, that payment in the sum of $12 784 being the penalty and the cost of the accident paid out to its employee at the time defendant was not insured, interests at prescribed rate calculated from March 1 2011 to the date of full and final payment and cost of the suit at an attorney client scale plus collection.” NSSA is represented by lawyers from Ndove, Musete and Partners.