Thu, 28 Dec 2017 09:45:45 +0000
By Chintu Malambo
FORMER Ministry of Lands Permanent Secretary Inutu Etambuyu Suba has sued Mulungushi Village Complex seeking a declaration that as a former civil servant, she is entitled to 3 months free accommodation from the time of receipt of her terminal benefits and repatriation allowance.
Ms Suba claimed that she had been subjected to degrading inhuman treatment, undue pressure and psychological warfare to haunt her out of the house she now occupies and has been threatened to be evicted or “locked out” on numerous occasions, contrary to the procedure.
In a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Ms Suba indicated that during the course of her employment as a civil servant, she became entitled to official accommodation at the virtue of instruction from cabinet office.
Ms Suba claimed that it was also a condition of service that upon termination of her service she would be paid all her terminal benefits inclusive of repatriation allowance prior to surrendering the official accommodation.
She alleged that sometime in September 2014, her service was terminated but she continued living at the complex as her terminal benefits had not been paid in full while her repatriation dues had also remained unpaid to date.
Ms Suba claimed that according to the civil service conditions of service, upon full payment all post termination payments she became entitled to accommodation for a further period of 3 months.
She indicated that she and the Mulungushi complex village management agreed that once Government surrendered tenancy of the house and all dues paid, she would give the house owners a notice of such occurrence so that she either enters in a tenancy agreement or vacates the house.
She alleged that government purportedly transferred the tenancy agreement to her at one stage under a mistaken belief that she had already been paid her dues but that the mistake was corrected.
Ms Suba claimed that she had been under pressure from Mulungushi Complex village to recover the rentals from government and she is being forced to settle the arrears of rent incurred by government and also transfer the tenancy agreement into her name prematurely.
Now Ms Suba seeks a declaration that she is entitled to be accommodated by government up to receipt of the balance of her terminal benefits inclusive of repatriation allowance.
Further an order restraining Mulungushi Complex village from harassing, demining and treating her in any inhuman manner unbefitting.
