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Samuel Kadungure
A RUSAPE man has dragged controversial politician, Nathaniel Mhiripiri to the civil court in a bid to have him compelled to release a vehicle registration book that he is holding onto in a bid to grab a truck which he had offered to facilitate its importation.
Rusape magistrate, Mrs Elizabeth Hanzi, on Monday, was forced to adjourn the matter in which Mr Taurai Moses Mahupa wants the court to compel Mhiripiri to release a vehicle registration book he was holding onto claiming the vehicle was his, to February 22.
It was not immediately clear why Mhiripiri failed to turn up for the hearing where he was supposed to cross-examine Mr Mahupa’s daughter who had been brought to court as a witness. Mr Mahupa’s daughter had missed the previous court session due to illness.
Mr Mahupa made an application for delivery of a vehicle registration book at Rusape Magistrates Court on October 19, 2016.
The case went through a series of trials that occasionally left the packed gallery in stitches, one such instance being when Mhiripiri requested that they be taken to a psychiatric hospital to detect who between the two had lost his marbles. Mr Mahupa argued that in October 2015, he met Mhiripiri, of Dumukwa Tours, and told him of the challenges he was facing in bringing his Toyota Ace truck (1997 model) into the country.
“I discussed with the respondent about my vehicle that was held in Botswana. He insisted that he will assist me since he is a Zanu-PF (provincial) member with powers to liase with Zimra so that the vehicle will be transferred to Zimbabwe duty free.
“He convinced me that he has powers to import the vehicle by producing a Manicaland (Zanu-PF) date stamp and other Zanu-PF party documents which he described as more valuable for the importing of the vehicle,” said Mr Mahupa.
Having swallowed Mhiripiri’s alleged explanation, the two left for Botswana, where Mr Mahupa put documentation relating to the vehicle in Mhiripiri’s name for easy clearance.
“Surprisingly, the respondent’s documents did not work and we were charged $1 100 duty and the vehicle was impounded by Zimra. In July 2016, I was then assisted by my daughter, Fadzai to pay the $1 100 through Zimra ZB account,” said Mr Mahupa.
On arrival, all hell broke loose as Mhiripiri tried to forcibly take the vehicle arguing that it was now a Zanu-PF property.
Mr Mahupa resisted the attempts, and tried to convince him to release the other documents that had been put in his name without success.
Online Reporter