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Tendai Gukutikwa
Weekender Reporter
A MUTARE man who disappeared with his friend’s US$330 for two years has been ordered by the court to pay back the money in three months, failure of which his property will be attached and sold by the Messenger of Court.
Mutare magistrate, Mr Xavier Chipato presided over the matter.
Rudolf Mawere was accused of disappearing in 2020 after buying his friend’s car on credit.
Simbarashe Chitakatira told the court that after Mawere bought his car, he promised to settle the outstanding US$330 within a month.
He, however, went quiet and shut all communication channels.
Mawere even relocated from his Chikanga home to an unknown suburb and changed his phone number.
“I was only tipped off in January 2021 of his new workplace in town and I made a surprise visit there. He was shocked when he saw me and he told me that he had actually been looking for me as he had my money at home.
“He told me to come back the following morning to collect the money but when I did, he had left his workstation again,” said Chitakatira.
Mawere is a self-employed tailor.
Chitakatira said he tried tracking Mawere for nine months, but failed to locate him until he bumped into him in the city.
Mawere was dragged to the police station and he promised to settle the debt within a month.
“He never honoured his promise and that is when the police advised me to draft a letter of demand and submit a small claims application at this court,” he said.
Chitakatira also said he would have repossessed his car had it been still be intact.
“He broke my car and sold the body and remained with the engine. I cannot repossess the bits and pieces he has in his possession. l dragged this man to this court with a heavy heart because we used to be the best of buddies,” said Chitakatira.
However, Mawere refuted claims that he had disappeared for two years to evade paying Chitakatira’s money.
He said when the Covid-19 national lockdown measures were put in place, he moved into cheaper accommodation.
He also told the court that he sold his phone as he needed money to look after his family.
Mawere claims this is how he lost Chitakatira’s phone number.
“I honestly want to pay him back his money as a once off payment, but I cannot afford it since I am self-employed. My business is struggling to get back to where it was before the lockdown. I can only pay him back in instalments, but I promise I will cover the debt,” he said.
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