Twin Palm mall tenant dragged to court

By CHINTU MALAMBO

TWIN Palm Shopping Mall Limited has sued one of its tenants demanding more than K500, 000 in rental arrears.

The Mall wants Kapembwa Sikazwe, who is trading as Kapesika Enterprises to be ordered to pay it K505, 574.08 in rental arrears accrued for Unit 2, Twin Palm Shopping Mall, in Avondale Lusaka.

Stewart Ndhlovu a business executive and director at Twin Palm Shopping Mall stated in an affidavit in support of originating notice of motion that Twin Palm Shopping Mall Limited was the registered owner of the commercial property known as plot 862 Twin Palm Shopping Mall situated in Avondale, Lusaka.

Mr Ndhlovu said on June 1 2014, the mall entered into a tenancy agreement with Mr Sikazwe in relation to unit number 2, for occupation at monthly rent of US $2160 inclusive withholding tax per month. He claimed that Mr Sikazwe had occupied the premises from June 1 2014 to date and had as at now accumulated of K505, 574.08 in unpaid rentals.

Mr Ndhlovu said he had on different occasions made written and verbal demands to Mr Sikazwe to settle the outstanding rent arrears but to no avail.

But he said he had no intention to evict Mr Sikazwe from the property but to politely recover the outstanding rent arrears.

Mr Ndhlovu further said that Mr Sikazwe had no defence to the claim and had on various occasions undertaken to liquidate the same but failed. He further stated that the matter was a proper case for the court to grant an order for leave to issue a warrant of distress for payment of the outstanding rent arrears to allow him recover the money from Mr Sikazwe.