Paul Nyathi|A former Superintendent at Mutare Prison who lost his job in 2015 for allegedly calling then First Lady Grace Mugabe (pictured) a dog, has lost an appeal against his dismissal at the High Court.

Ruben Zimondi last month appealed against his dismissal at the High Court and cited President Emmerson Mnangagwa, justice minister Ziyambi Ziyambi, Commissioner General of Prisons and Correctional Service, Paradzai Zimondi and the secretary for the Public Service Commission, Vincent Hungwe as respondents.

The matter was heard before Justice Isaac Muzenda.

The case against him was that, on 5 December 2014, he was watching television at Mutare Prison Farm in the company of other officers.

On that day while a programme featuring ZANU PF national conference was beaming on the television, Zimondi is reported to have then shouted that former first lady Grace Mugabe was a dog who was behind the problems and factional fights in Zanu PF.

“Ma problems ese arikuitika mumusangano anokonzereswa nembwa inonzi Dr Grace Mugabe asi isu musangano tinouda,” Zimondi is reported to have said.

Unfenzied colleagues reported him to his superiors, leading to his dismissal after a disciplinary hearing.

Justice Muzenda dismissed Zimondi’s appeal, ruling that he had improperly cited the PSC secretary as the first respondent instead of citing the PSC.

“The applicant improperly cited the Secretary as the first respondent instead of citing the Public Service Commission,” the judge said.

“That was a fundamental error and the preliminary point finds favour with this court and accordingly the point in limine is upheld and the application is dismissed with costs.