MP evicted from office over unpaid rent

THE Member of the National Assembly for Bulawayo Central, Ms Dorcas Sibanda, has been evicted from her offices in Bulawayo over $1 427 in unpaid rentals.

Ms Sibanda of MDC-T reportedly used the premises for her salon business before she became an MP in 2008 and later converted them into a Parliamentary Constituency Information Centre (PCIC).

Indications are that Ms Sibanda continued doing her private business in the offices although the Parliament of Zimbabwe was responsible for paying rent.

The owner of the property, H M Esat initially sought to attach property but when the Messenger of Court went to the premises on Tuesday, it was established that there was "nothing worth attaching" to recover the debt, according to court documents.

Ms Sibanda was evicted yesterday morning by the Messenger of Court after the owner obtained an eviction order from the court (Case Number 1023/13).

When a news crew visited the offices housed at Trust House at the corner of Fort Street and 14th Avenue, property which included office desks, chairs, a fridge and other items was piled outside the building.

The main door to the premises which had four offices, had been locked while the staff was looking at the property seemingly pondering on the next move.

According to the eviction order, Ms Sibanda owes Esat Trust, which runs Esat properties $1 427 in unpaid rentals which accumulated  early this year.

Court documents showed that the arrears had accumulated to $4 717 as Ms Sibanda had not been paying rent for more than two years.

However, she paid part of the money with the help of Parliament but the debt accumulated again rose to $1 427 which she now owes.

The documents showed that Ms Sibanda was served with a notice of eviction last week after the owner of the building approached the courts through lawyers Webb, Low and Barry Legal Practitioners to seek an eviction order.

While Ms Sibanda maintained that it was the Parliament of Zimbabwe, which should pay the rent for the office, an official from Esat Trust said they have a lease agreement with her.
"She can say it is the Parliament that should pay rent but the lease is in her name. She started using that office as a salon long back when she was still a hairdresser before she became MP," said the official on condition of anonymity.

The official said Ms Sibanda would make payment arrangements but later renege.

Contacted for comment, Ms Sibanda confirmed that she has failed to pay rent but blamed the Parliament of Zimbabwe.

"It is true that we have been evicted but that money is owed by Parliament which should pay for the office. In any case, the matter is being looked into by the responsible Parliamentary Committee and would soon be sorted out.

"We understand the plight of the landlord and there is nothing I can do for now as I am in Harare but the Government should make a plan and get us another space either at Mhlahlandlela Government Complex or from the Bulawayo City Council," she said in a telephone interview from Harare.

Ms Sibanda confirmed that the lease agreement for the office was between her and Esat Trust but maintained that it is Parliament of Zimbabwe, which should have paid the rent.