Kaseke sued over vehicle hire

ZIMBABWE Tourism Authority (ZTA) chief executive officer Karikoga Kaseke is embroiled in a vehicle hire dispute with a local company, Led Travel & Tours (Pvt) Ltd, which has now taken him to court over a $30 537 debt for a Mercedes-Benz C180 allegedly hired in 2015.

Led Travel & Tours issued the ZTA boss with summons sometime in May last year and the matter remained unresolved after Kaseke denied ever entering into a rental agreement with the car hiring firm.

"The defendant (Kaseke) denies that he entered into a rental agreement in the terms alleged and further that there was never an agreement for rentals in the sum of $130 per day. The plaintiff (Led Travel) shall be put to strict proof thereof," Kaseke said through his lawyers from Mahuni, Gidiri Law Chambers.

"The defendant will maintain there was never a contractual relationship between the parties and that whatever the arrangement between the parties, it was never meant to extract any pecuniary benefit by either party."

Last Tuesday, both parties appeared before High Court judge Justice Joseph Musakwa for a pre-trial conference.

In its court papers, the company said during the proper hearing of the matter on merits, it shall call two witnesses to confirm that the vehicle was collected on behalf of Kaseke by one George Kanyama and that since then, it had not been returned.

"On or about August 29, 2015, the applicant and the defendant entered into a rental agreement in terms of which the plaintiff, as the owner and lessor, leased out its Mercedes-Benz C180, whose registration is ACA 5341, to the defendant, as a lessee for a rental amount of $130 per day," the firm said through its lawyer Isiah Mureriwa of Scanlen and Holderness.

"Acting in accordance with its contractual obligations, the plaintiff availed the vehicle to defendant, which was collected by a Mr George Kanyama, on behalf of the defendant's chief executive officer Mr Karikoga Kaseke."

However, the firm said in breach of his contractual obligations, Kaseke "has neglected, refused and/or failed to pay the cost of hire for the motor vehicle, which at the present stands at $30 537, which amount is due and payable".

The firm further said as a result of the breach, it had cancelled the lease agreement and communicated its demand of not only the return of the vehicle, but also payment of the outstanding amount.

"Wherefore plaintiff's claim is for an order confirming cancellation of the lease agreement between the plaintiff and the defendant in respect of a Mercedes-Benz C180, registration number ACA 5341; an order directing the defendant to return to the plaintiff a Mercedes-Benz and payment of the cost of hire of the Mercedes-Benz amounting to $30 537."