More Woes For Former Reserve Bank Advisor

Court papers seen by Radio VOP show that NSSA filed summons in the High Court demanding $17 137 from Kereke whom the social security body accused of not remitting workers’ pension contributions at his Pamene farm in President Robert Mugabe’s home province of Mashonaland West.

NSSA charged that Kereke had reneged on paying contributions to the pensions and other benefits schemes during the period February to December 2009. The state run body said non payment of the contributions were a contravention of the NSSA Act, which compels all employers in the country to deduct from the salaries or wages of their employees and remit to NSSA the workers and the employers’ share of pension contributions.

Out of 17 137, NSSA says $11 425 is the principal debt and $5 712 is for surcharges and penalties on the principal debt “The defendant (Kereke) refuses, avoids and or neglects to settle the amount notwithstanding written demand by plaintiff (NSSA) and dated 8th of July 2010,” reads part of NSSA’s summons filed in the High Court recently.

Kereke was elbowed out of the RBZ at the end of January after a serious fallout with central bank boss Gideon Gono. He is currently embroiled in a legal fight with a subsidiary of the state run, Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority which is demanding payment of electricity allegedly consumed at Kereke’s Pamene’s farm. However, Kereke disputes the ZESA allegations.