News / Local
Controversial MP sues bar assault patron
01 Jun 2014 at 07:57hrs | Views
CONTROVERSIAL acting MDC-T Bulawayo provincial chairperson and MP for Bulawayo Central constituency, Ms Dorcas Sibanda is suing a patron who reportedly assaulted her in a nightclub.
Sibanda was assaulted last week at her nightclub in Ntabazinduna after a scuffle over beer and change.
Ms Bekezela Nkomazana, of 15507 Nkulumane 12, reportedly punched Sibanda on the mouth during a social drinking function termed omabhija.
Through her lawyers, Sansole, Senda and Partners, Ms Sibanda is demanding $10 000 from Nkomazana as assault damages.
Contacted for comment, Ms Nkomazana confirmed receiving a letter of demand from Ms Sibanda. She admitted assaulting Ms Sibanda but said the assault was in retaliation after Ms Sibanda slapped her first.
"I bought beer from Sibanda with a $100 note and I left $96 in change. Then I returned for another beer. Sibanda demanded money for the beer and I told her to subtract from my change.
"Without cause, she slapped me and I retaliated hitting her back once," Ms Nkomazana explained.
Ms Nkomazana said she suspects that Sibanda was trying to fix her while at the same time getting media coverage and attention by pursuing the matter through the courts.
"I and Sibanda have been omabhija club members for a long time. We usually meet for our meetings on Monday, our relationship is cordial. She has borrowed lots of money a number of times from me.
"I am surprised on why she is trying to fix me now. I suspect the reason might be that I demanded my $8 from her in public and she responded by throwing it on the floor, proving that she has an axe to grind with me," said Ms Nkomazana.
Ms Sibanda declined comment, directing this reporter to seek a comment from her lawyers. Ironically, she would not divulge the telephone number of her legal practitioner.
Ms Sibanda is acting on behalf of MDC-T provincial chairperson Gorden Moyo who took a sabbatical from the party's affairs until next month.
In April last year, Ms Sibanda reportedly failed to pay her monthly rent in Ntabazinduna where she had been operating a grocer's shop, butchery and sports bar for nine months.
However, the MP accused the property owner, Ms Sukoluhle Moyo, of refusing to reimburse the $7 400 she allegedly used to renovate the building.
In August the same year, she was evicted from her offices in Bulawayo after failing to pay rent totalling $1 427.
She reportedly used the premises for her salon business before she became an MP in 2008 and later converted the place into a Parliamentary Constituency Information Centre.
The owner of the property, a H M Esat, initially sought to attach property, but when the Messenger of Court went to the premises, it was established that there was "nothing worth attaching", according to court documents.
Sibanda was assaulted last week at her nightclub in Ntabazinduna after a scuffle over beer and change.
Ms Bekezela Nkomazana, of 15507 Nkulumane 12, reportedly punched Sibanda on the mouth during a social drinking function termed omabhija.
Through her lawyers, Sansole, Senda and Partners, Ms Sibanda is demanding $10 000 from Nkomazana as assault damages.
Contacted for comment, Ms Nkomazana confirmed receiving a letter of demand from Ms Sibanda. She admitted assaulting Ms Sibanda but said the assault was in retaliation after Ms Sibanda slapped her first.
"I bought beer from Sibanda with a $100 note and I left $96 in change. Then I returned for another beer. Sibanda demanded money for the beer and I told her to subtract from my change.
"Without cause, she slapped me and I retaliated hitting her back once," Ms Nkomazana explained.
Ms Nkomazana said she suspects that Sibanda was trying to fix her while at the same time getting media coverage and attention by pursuing the matter through the courts.
"I and Sibanda have been omabhija club members for a long time. We usually meet for our meetings on Monday, our relationship is cordial. She has borrowed lots of money a number of times from me.
"I am surprised on why she is trying to fix me now. I suspect the reason might be that I demanded my $8 from her in public and she responded by throwing it on the floor, proving that she has an axe to grind with me," said Ms Nkomazana.
Ms Sibanda declined comment, directing this reporter to seek a comment from her lawyers. Ironically, she would not divulge the telephone number of her legal practitioner.
Ms Sibanda is acting on behalf of MDC-T provincial chairperson Gorden Moyo who took a sabbatical from the party's affairs until next month.
In April last year, Ms Sibanda reportedly failed to pay her monthly rent in Ntabazinduna where she had been operating a grocer's shop, butchery and sports bar for nine months.
However, the MP accused the property owner, Ms Sukoluhle Moyo, of refusing to reimburse the $7 400 she allegedly used to renovate the building.
In August the same year, she was evicted from her offices in Bulawayo after failing to pay rent totalling $1 427.
She reportedly used the premises for her salon business before she became an MP in 2008 and later converted the place into a Parliamentary Constituency Information Centre.
The owner of the property, a H M Esat, initially sought to attach property, but when the Messenger of Court went to the premises, it was established that there was "nothing worth attaching", according to court documents.
Source - SUnday News
