High Court judge Justice Happious Zhou has ordered Makoni West MP Kudzanai Chipanga (Zanu PF) to vacate party buildings he was occupying in Rusape and allow another party activist Mandi Majoni to lease the property.
BY CHARLES LAITON
Zanu PF owns the buildings at stands number 29 and 589 through its subsidiary Zidco Holdings (Pvt) Ltd. The order was granted by consent of both parties.
Part of the interim relief read: “The first and second respondents [Zidco Holdings and Kudzanai Chipanga], their workers and agents be and are hereby ordered to restore the applicant’s occupation of the premises called Zidco garage and staff cottage situated in the District of Rusape being stand No. 29 and 586 Rusape with immediate effect. The first and second respondents and or their workers and agents be and are hereby interdicted from illegally interfering in any way with the applicant’s occupation of the premises called Zidco garage and staff cottage situated in the District of Rusape being stand No. 29 and 586.”
According to court documents shown to NewsDay, three Zanu PF members — namely Chipanga, Majoni and Cleopas Mugomba have been fighting for lease of the properties.
In the court papers, Mugomba submitted his five-year lease with Zanu PF which is set to expire in December 2017, but claims the party unilaterally withdrew the same and offered the same premises to Majoni whom he (Mugomba) has taken to court under case number HC9429/14 which is still pending.
Mugomba accused Chipanga of using his political muscle to elbow him out of the property. He denied claims that he violated his lease agreement with Zanu PF by failing to pay rentals.
