The High Court in Mzuzu has ordered the recently elected Civil Service Trade Union (CSTU) national executive council to stop conducting business on behalf of the union.
The injunction restraining the officials comes after some civil servants dragged to court the CSTU executive elected at the fourth conference on December 28 last year on grounds that the election did not follow procedures and that it was unlawful.
The civil servants claim the election process violated the CSTU constitution and denied most CSTU members their right to vote.
“An order of injunction is hereby granted restraining the defendants [CSTU leadership], their agents or any members of the national executive council elected on the 28th December, 2013 from executing any duties or any transactions in the name of Civil Service Trade Union [CSTU] or on behalf of Civil Service Trade Union [CSTU] or dealing in any manner with the activities of the Civil Servants Trade Union until determination of the matter or until a further order of court,” reads the injunction signed by Mzuzu High Court registrar Dick Sankhulani.
According to an affidavit signed by one of the civil servants, Steve Changaranang’ombe Munyenyembe, members of the national executive council were nominated on the day of elections without written acceptance which is contrary to the provision of the CSTU constitution that nominations be done a day before the election.
Madalitso Njolomole, who was elected CSTU secretary general, acknowledged receipt of the injunction on Monday, but refused to comment on the matter.
