Gono fails to pay $1.3 million debt

Former Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Gideon Gono is under fire for failing to pay $1,3 million for an undisclosed number of vehicles he bought on credit from a local dealer, Oasis Motors, six years ago.

Oasis Motors filed summons for provisional sentence at the High Court on the strength of an acknowledgement of debt signed by Dr Gono on January 31, 2009 when he bought the vehicles.

Yesterday, Justice Lavender Makoni had to refer the matter to the opposed cases roll, after learning that Dr Gono had filed his opposing papers a few days before the court day. In the summons filed by Oasis Motors' lawyers Chitewe Law Practice on January 27 this year, Oasis claimed $1 319 000 with interest.  

Gono received vehicles for his staff and operations at his companies, including Lunar Chickens on credit.

The vehicles were valued at $1 749 000, but Dr Gono partly paid the debt, leaving a balance of $1 319 000.

According to the agreement, Gono was supposed to pay the debt in full by January 31 2010, but failed.