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Fight for MDC offices spills to High Court
26 mins ago |
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The opposition MDC-T has approached the High Court seeking an urgent spoliation order after a senior party official allegedly locked out the leadership from Morgan Richard Tsvangirai (MRT) House, the party's national headquarters, amid a dispute over unpaid medical bills.
In court papers, MDC-T secretary-general Tapiwa Mashakada accused Shakespeare Mukoyi, a former party security chief, of violently taking control of the building on November 12. Mashakada cited Mukoyi, Norest Marara and the Zimbabwe Republic Police officer commanding Harare province as respondents.
The MDC-T and its leader Douglas Mwonzora are asking the High Court to compel Mukoyi and Marara to immediately return possession of MRT House. They have also asked the court to authorise the sheriff to enforce the order should the respondents refuse to comply.
Mashakada said Mwonzora was elected MDC-T president at the extraordinary congress on November 20, 2020, and subsequently appointed Mukoyi as secretary for defence. He added that Marara was expelled from the party in 2023 and no longer holds any position in the movement.
In his affidavit, Mashakada narrated that the party had been in lawful occupation of MRT House since acquiring the building in 2001. He said the leadership was shocked to discover that Mukoyi and others had seized control of the premises without authority.
"Without the consent of the applicants, they changed the keys to the premises and locked themselves inside while applicants were locked out," reads part of the affidavit. Mashakada alleged that some party staff members were assaulted and kidnapped during the takeover, including Maria Sazera, whom he described as a married woman.
He said Mukoyi and Marara later held a press conference in which Mukoyi claimed his actions were motivated by the party's failure to pay his medical bills. According to Mashakada, the duo declared that Mwonzora was no longer welcome at the building and subsequently expelled all MDC-T staffers before barricading themselves inside with about 20 supporters.
"As things stand, the respondents and their 20 hooligans are camping inside the premises and they are being supplied food by unknown people from outside," Mashakada alleged, arguing that the occupation amounted to unlawful and violent dispossession of property.
He added that the illegal takeover disrupted key party business, including a scheduled national council meeting intended to finalise the 2025 budget and kick-start fundraising initiatives. The situation, he said, was also threatening the party's preparation for upcoming by-elections in Nkulumane, Bulawayo.
Mashakada accused the respondents of "taking the law into their own hands" and violating the MDC-T constitution by purporting to act on behalf of the party without any legitimate mandate.
"It is just and equitable that the applicant's possession of the property be restored in accordance with the law," he submitted while urging the court to intervene urgently.
The High Court is expected to set a hearing date for the application.
In court papers, MDC-T secretary-general Tapiwa Mashakada accused Shakespeare Mukoyi, a former party security chief, of violently taking control of the building on November 12. Mashakada cited Mukoyi, Norest Marara and the Zimbabwe Republic Police officer commanding Harare province as respondents.
The MDC-T and its leader Douglas Mwonzora are asking the High Court to compel Mukoyi and Marara to immediately return possession of MRT House. They have also asked the court to authorise the sheriff to enforce the order should the respondents refuse to comply.
Mashakada said Mwonzora was elected MDC-T president at the extraordinary congress on November 20, 2020, and subsequently appointed Mukoyi as secretary for defence. He added that Marara was expelled from the party in 2023 and no longer holds any position in the movement.
In his affidavit, Mashakada narrated that the party had been in lawful occupation of MRT House since acquiring the building in 2001. He said the leadership was shocked to discover that Mukoyi and others had seized control of the premises without authority.
"Without the consent of the applicants, they changed the keys to the premises and locked themselves inside while applicants were locked out," reads part of the affidavit. Mashakada alleged that some party staff members were assaulted and kidnapped during the takeover, including Maria Sazera, whom he described as a married woman.
He said Mukoyi and Marara later held a press conference in which Mukoyi claimed his actions were motivated by the party's failure to pay his medical bills. According to Mashakada, the duo declared that Mwonzora was no longer welcome at the building and subsequently expelled all MDC-T staffers before barricading themselves inside with about 20 supporters.
"As things stand, the respondents and their 20 hooligans are camping inside the premises and they are being supplied food by unknown people from outside," Mashakada alleged, arguing that the occupation amounted to unlawful and violent dispossession of property.
He added that the illegal takeover disrupted key party business, including a scheduled national council meeting intended to finalise the 2025 budget and kick-start fundraising initiatives. The situation, he said, was also threatening the party's preparation for upcoming by-elections in Nkulumane, Bulawayo.
Mashakada accused the respondents of "taking the law into their own hands" and violating the MDC-T constitution by purporting to act on behalf of the party without any legitimate mandate.
"It is just and equitable that the applicant's possession of the property be restored in accordance with the law," he submitted while urging the court to intervene urgently.
The High Court is expected to set a hearing date for the application.
Source - NewsDay
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