Online Reporter
H-Metro Reporter
SCULPTOR and musician, Bryn Taurai Mteki, approached the High Court for a rescission of a default judgment following the order for the attachment of his household property.
The household property was attached after a row over outstanding school fees for his child.
The amount involved is US$500.
The child is a student at Direct Contact School, in Harare, and is said to be one of the best students at the school.
Mteki told H-Metro he also won a case at the civil court related to the dispute.
He said the school head-hunted his child, during the student’s primary school days, because of her academic brilliance.
He said the child was given a bursary and he would only pay a part of the fees but this arrangement was changed, without his knowledge.
And, all of a sudden, he claims he was ordered to pay half of the school fees.
He claimed that he has always been responsible and was surprised to hear that the school had attached his property.
The order for the attachment of his property, he claims, was a default judgment and, somehow, he was never served with the papers to defend himself.
Following the attachment of the property, which Mteki describes as “some minor household items which were in my garage,” he approached the High Court for a rescission of the default judgment.
The case is under High Court No. HC1817/26.
In one of his affidavits, Mteki claims there were attempts by some of the school authorities to allegedly extort him.
He accuses someone called Machache.
“I reported a case of extortion at Jazinda ZRP Highlands against Machache. I wish to withdraw the charge since the accused has admitted his wrongdoing and apologised for the inconveniences caused.
“The accused sent a WhatsApp message at 05:11, July 3, this year, and said that he was sorry, and I accepted the apology, and the child later registered, and we found each other as school and parent.”
However, three weeks later, Mteki wrote to Direct Contact School headmaster citing unfair practices.
“I would like to draw your attention to the fact that you are trying to ambush me.
“I told you long ago that I need to pay by month-end the proposed US$500, then you told me you have notified your lawyer, Chiturumani, about it to release the attached property.
“When I phoned Chiturumani, he said he will only write to the Sheriff upon receiving the US$500 hence now I have been making frantic efforts to call you and Chiturumani trying to reach both of you, and you are not picking up my calls.
“I called your wife two weeks ago and left a message and you ignored.
“Please kindly send me the account details to pay the agreed US$500 and I need the release letter to the Sheriff to collect my goods immediately.”
He added:
“Remember, you lost the matter at Civil Court, and you got a technical default judgment.
“We didn’t bother rescinding the judgement since you agreed before you went to London to an out-of-court settlement as a school but up to now you are running away from me.
“You sent your Mr Machache to my house with the police to persuade me to make a withdrawal of the charges before plea.
“I need to collect my property today without further delay because it’s accumulating unnecessary storage charges.
“I thank you for your urgent cooperation.”
