Ugly fight over Zanu-PF property

THERE was drama at Edro Motors - a Zanu-PF commercial property at the heart of Rusape - last Saturday, after two sides claiming right over it, Ms Mandi Majoni and Cleopas Mugomba clashed over rentals and repainting of the building.

The melee brought business to a halt and resulted in the arrest of Mugomba at Ms Majoni's instigation.

This prompted flea market tenants to refuse to give Ms Majoni rentals, citing her close association to former Presidential Affairs Minister, Didymus Mutasa.

Ms Majoni then confronted Mugomba, while instructing her son to erase Mugomba's company name on the building.

It is during the hackling, pushing and shoving that Ms Majoni accused Mugomba of malicious damage to property.

She said Mugomba had allegedly damaged a ladder her son Munyaradzi was using to repaint the outside of the building.

Mugomba denied the allegations, saying her son jumped off the ladder when he advanced towards him, resulting in the ladder falling.

Mugomba had earlier that morning printed his company's name on the building.

Mugomba, who accused police of bias, was expected to appear in court on Monday.

Rusape area prosecutor Mr Tirivanhu Mutyasira ordered police to finish their investigations and proceed by way of summons.

After failing to collect the money, Ms Majoni allegedly locked all the entry points to the showroom, denying those who had not paid their rentals entry.

This left many without option but to pay.

Each tenant pays $100.

Mugomba, who has a valid lease agreement until 2017 with M&S Syndicate, a commercial arm of Zanu-PF, was kicked out unceremoniously after political differences with the party's former national secretary for administration Didymus Mutasa.

He was replaced by Ms Majoni.

The two sides for the past months have been involved in a catfight over the property. At least $15 000 is collected in monthly rentals from flea market vendors, shops and service station - which Mugomba claims was being funnelled into Mutasa's pockets.

Party supporters were demanding explanations on how the proceeds from the properties were being used amid claims that the party's district coffers were dry.

The disturbances come after Zanu-PF had set up a committee to investigate the alleged abuse of proceeds from the building by Ms Majoni.

Zanu-PF deputy secretary for youth affairs Kudzi Chipanga leads the team, which also includes lawyer and provincial youth leader, Kelvin Manyengavana, war veterans' leader, Mike Makiweni, Kudzi Madhara and Central Committee member, Lucia Chitura.

This follows revelations that Mutasa was still getting rich pickings from the commercial property and service station at Number 29, Tongogara Street in Rusape.

"We are aware that they fought over rentals. Majoni created a scene after tenants had refused to co-operate with her following her closer links to Didymus Mutasa. She had to lock the doors and force tenants to pay, which in any way is not an ethical way of doing business. These vendors are Zanu-PF  people. We are in the process of making necessary recommendations to the relevant authorities. Some of the findings are sensitive and cannot be divulged to the media," said Chipanga.

Mutasa is also alleged to have used force to take over a building from Mr Rajoo Nathoo and handed it over to Simudza Makoni Youth Association.

He then facilitated a lease for socialite Mugomba, after the youths squabbled over proceeds from the property. Ms Majoni was recently barred from changing the name of the building to Wazvare Showroom and Nyati Service Station.

Vazvare is a term equating daughters of the Makoni (Nyati) dynasty to princesses.