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Brenda Phiri Entertainment Reporter
Property worth over $9 000 belonging to Zim Gossip Modelling Agency is set to be auctioned today after the owner failed to settle a debt incurred after hosting the Miss Curvy pageant in 2013.
The agency, which is run by Mercy Mushaninga, failed to pay Treasurepoint Travel Tours for air tickets for 13 regional contestants who took part in the pageant dubbed “Diamond Queen of Africa”.
The travel agency then successfully sued Mushaninga, aka Catwalk, and Zim Gossip Modelling Agency.
A court ruling on December 16 last year ordered Mushaninga to pay for the tickets and interest which she failed to do, prompting the Messenger of Court to attach the property now going under the hammer.
The regional contest held on August 16 2013 at Harare International Conference Centre was a big flop after a low turnout. The contest featured 16 participants, most of them from different parts of Africa.
Chiedza Gwanda, a Zimbabwean who was an intern at a local law firm at the time won the pageant and walked away with $3 000 and a return trip to Victoria Falls.
Part of the property that was attached includes two desks, a front office desk and chairs, swivel chairs, portable air conditioner, printers and computers.
Yesterday Mushaninga admitted owing the travel agency but blamed one of the sponsors for not honouring their pledge.
“We are in the process of stopping the auction today (Monday). Like we mentioned in court, we were promised the money by a sponsor but unfortunately they did not honour the pledge. We engaged them and we are mapping a way forward,” said Mushaninga.
She said her agency was also pursuing a legal route against the sponsor.
“This case has inconvenienced us in many ways since last year. We are in the process of filling our papers against the sponsor,” she said.
The modelling agency has since relocated from Batanai Gardens in the CBD to the Avenues.
Online Reporter