'Insolvent' Matonga fails to pay debts, property attached

FORMER Deputy Minister and Mhondoro-Ngezi legislator Bright Matonga's property has been attached by the Deputy Sheriff for failing to settle debts.

Matonga's property will go under the hammer on Saturday at the Messenger of Court's offices in Chegutu.

The property which will be sold under case number 181/13 includes a disc harrow, a non-running YTO X804 tractor and a tractor trailer without one wheel.

Recently, the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement halted the sale of Matonga's property to raise $45,000 awarded to his ex-wife Anne Elizabeth Matonga (nee Pout) as a divorce settlement.

The ministry filed an application at the High Court arguing that agricultural equipment belonging to the State had been attached and was due to be sold on May 10, 2014 at Matonga's Nyadzonia Farm in Chegutu.

But Lands Minister Douglas Mombeshora filed a motion at the High Court seeking to stay the auction until the ministry files interpleader proceedings.

Interpleader is an action brought by a third party negatively affected by court proceedings involving two other parties.

Matonga's troubles come after two Harare lawyers, Tapiwa Mudambanuki of Mudambanuki and Associates and Ephraim Mugugu of Mugugu and Associates Legal Practitioners lost property worth thousands of dollars after they failed to repay their debts.

Several institutions and businesspeople this year lost property for failing to manage their debts.

Suspended Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation chief executive Happison Muchechetere was not spared and had his tractor attached by Chinhoyi Deputy Sheriff while Caps United boss Twine Phiri also had an assortment of office furniture auctioned for failure to settle a debt with a marketing firm.

The Zimbabwe Football Association also had its property attached at Zifa Village by the Deputy Sheriff for failing to pay an $88,000 arbitration award to former communications manager Nicolette Moyo-Dhlamini.

Former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr Gideon Gono also had his combine harvester attached over an undisclosed amount of money, and Marondera businessman, politician and leader of the Johanne Masowe YeChishanu Apostolic sect Lawrence Katsiru lost farm implements and livestock worth nearly $100,000 which the Deputy Sheriff attached after he failed to settle a debt with Tian Ze Tobacco Company.