News / Local
MDC-T MP faces $20,000 lawsuit for defaulting on rentals
29 May 2014 at 06:51hrs | Views
THE Member of Parliament for Bulawayo Central, Dorcas Sibanda, is being sued by a city businesswoman for $20,000 for defaulting on rentals at shops she is leasing.
Sukoluhle Moyo, 52, and her brother Ndumiso Moyo, leased Mhlahlandlela general store, butchery and bottle store at Ntabazinduna Business Centre in Bubi District, Matabeleland North, to the lawmaker in 2011.
The dispute has seen Moyo approaching the civil court for recourse.
A letter signed by the Clerk of Court proposed either June 12 or June 16 as the date on which the two parties must meet for a conference.
Moyo told Chronicle that Sibanda was supposed to pay $500 a month but has defaulted for the past 26 months.
"Sibanda has been running her business at our property for 26 months without paying a cent. Efforts to make her honour her bills have failed, that's why I am now resorting to the courts," she said.
Moyo said the $20,000 lawsuit includes the outstanding rentals, legal fees and interest.
When contacted for comment, Sibanda acknowledged the dispute but said she preferred to have the matter settled in court.
"Let her go ahead. She knows my lawyers," she said.
Moyo said the MP contested the $500 monthly rentals after she renovated the shops but they failed to agree on a figure as she had done the improvements without first seeking the consent of the owners.
The parties have also failed to agree on the amount spent by Sibanda on renovations.
After the dispute on the value of the renovations, Moyo said she unsuccessfully tried to evict Sibanda but was blocked by the High Court that ruled in the legislator's favour. After the eviction bid failed, the lawmaker has not been making any rental payments for the use of the shops.
"After the High Court ruling, I approached senior MDC-T officials to try to make her pay. She is not paying anything. I checked with Umguza Rural District Council and nothing was paid there as well," said Moyo.
Sibanda was recently assaulted at the same shops after a dispute with a patron over $96 change.
Last year, Sibanda was also evicted from an office she was using in the city centre over $1,427 in unpaid rentals.
Sukoluhle Moyo, 52, and her brother Ndumiso Moyo, leased Mhlahlandlela general store, butchery and bottle store at Ntabazinduna Business Centre in Bubi District, Matabeleland North, to the lawmaker in 2011.
The dispute has seen Moyo approaching the civil court for recourse.
A letter signed by the Clerk of Court proposed either June 12 or June 16 as the date on which the two parties must meet for a conference.
Moyo told Chronicle that Sibanda was supposed to pay $500 a month but has defaulted for the past 26 months.
"Sibanda has been running her business at our property for 26 months without paying a cent. Efforts to make her honour her bills have failed, that's why I am now resorting to the courts," she said.
Moyo said the $20,000 lawsuit includes the outstanding rentals, legal fees and interest.
"Let her go ahead. She knows my lawyers," she said.
Moyo said the MP contested the $500 monthly rentals after she renovated the shops but they failed to agree on a figure as she had done the improvements without first seeking the consent of the owners.
The parties have also failed to agree on the amount spent by Sibanda on renovations.
After the dispute on the value of the renovations, Moyo said she unsuccessfully tried to evict Sibanda but was blocked by the High Court that ruled in the legislator's favour. After the eviction bid failed, the lawmaker has not been making any rental payments for the use of the shops.
"After the High Court ruling, I approached senior MDC-T officials to try to make her pay. She is not paying anything. I checked with Umguza Rural District Council and nothing was paid there as well," said Moyo.
Sibanda was recently assaulted at the same shops after a dispute with a patron over $96 change.
Last year, Sibanda was also evicted from an office she was using in the city centre over $1,427 in unpaid rentals.
Source - chronicle
