Zanu-PF MP sued for aborting lease agreement

A MUTARE businessman Kudzanai Chizondo is claiming $11 000 from Zanu-PF Chipinge South legislator Enock Porusingazi for allegedly aborting negotiations over a lease agreement for a fuel service station at Checheche growth point.

Chizondo and Porusingazi recently appeared before magistrate Innocent Bepura at the Mutare Civil Court and the matter is set for judgment on Monday.

Through his lawyer Blessward Mungure of Makombe and Associates, Chizondo said in his particulars of claim that he went into a deal with Porusingazi to rent the MP's filling station at Checheche growth point.

Chizondo said he refurbished the filling station and paid part of rentals in advance.

''Sometime in October 2016, the parties had negotiations for a lease agreement wherein defendant was to let his filling station in Chipinge to the plaintiff at an agreed monthly rental of $1 000 per month,'' reads the claim.

"During the negotiations it was agreed that plaintiff was to make a six-month rental advance payment to the defendant (Porusingazi), In anticipation of the conclusion of the agreement, plaintiff made payment of $3 500 to the defendant and renovated and refurbished the service station incurring total costs of $7 233.99 and plaintiff sold fuel worth $77 to the defendant on credit.''

Chizondo said the agreement failed to materialise and he was now demanding $10 733 from Porusingazi, being for the deposit paid, costs of renovations carried out and fuel sold to him on credit.

The plaintiff said he was shocked after the legislator indicated that he was no longer interested in the deal and wanted him to immediately remove his property.

Chizondo said renovations costs were incurred in anticipation of the conclusion of a lease agreement which was being negotiated by both parties.

Mungure said they were waiting closing submissions from Porusingazi's lawyer Christopher Ndlovu.