Zapu sell cattle to settle rental arrears

Cash-strapped Zapu has resolved to sell some of its donated cattle to settle its $15 000 rental arrears after the High Court last week gave the Messenger of Court the green light to attach the party's property if the debt remains unpaid.

Last week, Bulawayo High Court judge Nicholas Ndou granted the Messenger of Court a writ of execution to attach Zapu's movable property at number 18 corner Jason Moyo Street and Connaught Avenue after the party accumulated over $15 000 in unpaid rentals.

The Dumiso Dabengwa-led party moved into the property, owned by businessman Chemhere Mabudapasi in April last year after agreeing to pay $1 500 monthly in rentals.

But between July last year and February this year, the party failed to pay a cent towards its rentals, accumulating a $9 350 debt in the process.

From March this year, after the lease agreement was cancelled, Zapu has been incurring holding- over damages at a rate of $36,67 daily, forcing the debt to balloon to $15 000 excluding legal fees.

Zapu spokesperson Mark Mbaiwa told our correspondent that the party had resolved to sell its donated cattle to offset the bill.

"We have to sell the cattle that have been on a feeding programme for the past two months. We had our supporters donating cattle and we will soon be selling them," he said.

Mbaiwa said the party had also re-engaged the property owner in a bid to avoid eviction.

"We have sent our legal secretary to talk to the owner of the house to give us up to next week to settle the debt," he said.

"We respect the rule of law, but we will try to negotiate with the owner of the house. We respect (Justice) Ndou's judgment."

Zapu has been facing financial problems since its severed ties with Zanu PF in 2008.

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