Mpilo director files papers against $1m lawsuit

Mashudu Netsianda Senior Court Reporter
MPILO Central Hospital’s director of operations, Duduza Regina Moyo has filed opposing papers against the $1 million lawsuit filed against her by Bulawayo businessman, Ashton Mpofu.

Mpofu, who owns Ashy’s supermarkets, commuter omnibuses, cross-border buses and a petrol station in Nkulumane, is accusing Moyo of lying that she received death threats from him following the cancellation of a $3 million tender awarded to his company.

The tender was for the refurbishment of the hospital’s radio therapy centre and the supply of cancer treatment machines.

Moyo, who allegedly wrote to the Mpilo Central Hospital’s chief executive officer, Dr Lawrence Mantiziba on February 12, to ask for a security guard because she felt “unsafe,” on Thursday filed a notice to defend the lawsuit at the Bulawayo High Court.

In an article published by this paper on February 17, 2015, Moyo reportedly told detectives that Mpofu showed her a gun and told her that the hospital could not cancel his tender.

He allegedly said a directive on the tender issue would come from Harare to reverse the decision and allow his company, New Planet, to continue with the construction work.

According to the summons filed at the Bulawayo High Court on February 24 by Mpofu, the businessman is the plaintiff while Moyo was cited as the defendant.

Mpofu, who is a self-actor in the matter, stated in the plaintiff’s declaration that the statements uttered by Moyo were malicious and defamatory.

The businessman, who has won a number of tender projects in Zimbabwe and South Africa, also denied claims by Moyo that he was a corrupt and unscrupulous businessman and a “touting gangster.”

“The allegations that I am a touting gangster, a fraudster and corrupt businessman are unfounded and false and solely meant to defame me and tarnish my good social standing as well as influence the government to cease dealing with my company,” he said.

Mpofu said following Moyo’s statements, people were now shunning him on social media.

In his lawsuit, Mpofu is also claiming a five percent interest per annum from the date of summons to the date of full and final payment and the cost of suit at attorney-client scale.