Makoni sues Anglican church for $116,000

FORMER Anglican Church Manicaland bishop, Julius Makoni, has taken the Church of the Province of Central Africa (CPCA) to the High Court seeking to recover $116 314 he allegedly paid in legal fees on behalf the diocese.

In his summons issued under case number HC9922/16 dated September 30, 2016, Makoni said sometime in 2009, he was approached by CPCA's finance and standing committees and requested to assist the church in paying for its legal fees.

"At the request of defendant's (CPCA) finance and standing committees, plaintiff (Makoni) made the following payments on behalf of defendants from his personal resources on the understanding that the money would be repaid to plaintiff," the former banker said, while outlining several amounts that were allegedly disbursed to Gill Godlonton & Gerrans and Nyamwanza law firms respectively from December 2008 to October 2011.

"From the time of the above disbursements up to 2015, defendant, through its representatives, made several promises to pay the said outstanding debt, but defendant did not honour its undertakings."

Makoni further said on August 18 this year, his lawyers delivered a final letter of demand to CPCA, which was received by Rev Jackson Kuwani the following day.

"Notwithstanding plaintiff's (Makoni) several verbal, telephonic and written demands and defendant's (CPCA) promises to pay over the years up to 2015, defendant has omitted, neglected or refused to settle the outstanding amount," he said.

"Wherefore plaintiff demands the payment by defendant to plaintiff of: the amount of $116 314 being the debt defendant owes as outlined supra and interest at 5% per annum on the amount of $116 314 from the date of summons to the date of full and final settlement of the debt."