Court Orders Mwonzora to Pay USD176K to Workers Immediately – Eduzim News

Court Orders Premier Inn Disruptor, @DMwonzora to Pay $176K to Workers

By Dorrothy Moyo | ZimEye | – 8 August 2025

Barely a year after a viral incident in which he was filmed berating UK hotel staff (video below) while boasting that he “owns” ‘ my own political party,’ MDC-T President Douglas Togarasei Mwonzora has been dealt a crushing legal blow. The Harare Labour Court has ordered the Movement for Democratic Change – T (MDC-T) to pay US$176,465 (or ZiG equivalent at the official bank rate) to 14 former employees for unpaid salaries, notice pay, and compensation for loss of employment.

The ruling, delivered on 5 August 2025 by Government Arbitrator Mercy Dare, gives Mwonzora and his party just 30 days to settle the debt or face the seizure of MDC-T property.

Dire Finances and Mounting Defeats

This latest judgment follows humiliating defeats in recent by-elections, including Epworth council, and a failure to field candidates elsewhere.

It also happens at a time a UK police case awaits him over violent disturbances at Premier Inn Banbury, Oxford on 28 Sept 2024.

Mwonzora’s party is reportedly struggling to cover even the most basic operational costs — including water and electricity bills — at its headquarters, Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House (formerly Harvest House). In a controversial move to raise cash, Mwonzora has begun renting out parts of the building to small businesses, effectively turning the party’s offices into a network of tuckshops.

This financial strain mirrors the 2023 harmonized elections debacle, when Mwonzora failed to pay nomination fees to the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC), resulting in MDC-T being locked out of the parliamentary race entirely. While the party received political funding up to 2022, workers claim those funds were never used to clear salary arrears or maintain operations.

Case Background

The 14 claimants — drawn from Harare, Masvingo, and other provinces — accused MDC-T of abruptly stopping their salaries without termination notices. Some were placed on indefinite suspensions without proper disciplinary hearings. Arbitrator Dare ruled that the suspensions were unlawful and null and void, finding that MDC-T had violated both procedural and substantive fairness under SI 15 of 2006 and the Labour Act [Chapter 28:01].

The arbitrator concluded that the non-payment of salaries amounted to repudiation of contract by the employer, not the employees, and ordered full settlement of arrears, notice pay, and damages.

Payout Breakdown

The award specifies the following compensation per claimant:
1.Matthew Dondo – $18,900
2.Francis Machimbidzofa – $12,500
3.Gertrude Muchakare – $10,750
4.Everisto Chisi – $11,250
5.Samson Njovo – $8,550
6.Fungai Gumbu – $10,350
7.Trust Phiri – $15,125
8.Wallace Chibikira – $31,200
9.Godfrey Ushe – $13,160
10.Peter Chigaba – $15,500
11.Pilani Ngoniye – $9,900
12.Joshua Chanyau – $5,850
13.Josiah Nyapfumbi – $7,050
14.Victor Chidende – $6,380

Total: $176,465

Hypocrisy on Workers’ Rights?

While MDC-T publicly claims to champion labour rights, the ruling paints a damning picture of a party unwilling to uphold those principles for its own employees. The arbitrator noted that the party was represented by Mwonzora and Associates but failed to provide wage records, disciplinary documentation, or any lawful justification for withholding salaries.

Labour experts warn that if the award is not honoured within 30 days, sheriffs could move in to attach MDC-T assets, further crippling the party’s already weakened organisational structure.

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