Chipinge councillor evicted

CHIPINGE Town Council’s Ward Seven councillor, Elijah Mugidho was last week evicted from a property in the town for not paying rent since 2017.

It is not the first time for Mugidho to have brushes with the law as in 2018 he was dragged to court for allegedly duping a resident after refusing to surrender a residential stand which he had sold to him for US$7 000.

The resident was seeking the councillor’s eviction from Stand Number 4443, Medium Density.

An elderly woman, Mrs Daniye Sithole (78) dragged Mugidho to court applying for his eviction from Stand Number 4159 located in Chipinge town.

She accused Mugidho for not paying rentals dating back to 2017.

Chipinge magistrate, Mr Alfred Chinembiri presided over the matter.

Mrs Sithole said efforts to recover rentals for the leased property since 2017 were in vain as Mugidho would tell her that she cannot be evicted because he is a councillor.

“The commercial shop at Number 4159 which is being used by Mugidho belongs to my son who is in South Africa. I have power of attorney over the shop. I am supposed to lease and collect rentals from the tenants. The respondent was charged US$50 per month for the whole shop which he paid once in 2017. He paid using a bag of Compound D fertiliser.

“Together with my son, we have been trying to evict him to no avail. He told me that I should report him wherever I want and that he fears no one since he is a Chipinge Town councillor. Despite several demands, Mugidho has refused to leave the property, hence I am left with no option, but to rely on this honourable court to assist me,” she said.

Mrs Sithole added: “Mugidho now owes us US$1 950 as arrears for defaulting paying the rentals. There is also a council water bill amounting to $29 644.65. I humbly pray for Mugidho’s eviction.”

Through his attorney, Mr Admire Mkhumbula of Mhungu and Associates, Mugidho opposed Mrs Sithole’s application, arguing that she is not the registered owner of the property and as such she lacks the locus standi to evict him.

“My client has never had any conversations with Mrs Sithole over the property, given that the applicant is not the owner and was never involved in the occupation of the property by Mugidho.

“His occupation has the blessings of the owner, hence the fact that the respondent is a councillor is a naive attempt to cloud the matter with political insinuations to tarnish his image. The application has no merit and should be dismissed with cost,” argued Mr Mkumbula.

In his ruling magistrate, Mr Chinembiri evicted Mugidho from the property and ordered him to pay the outstanding rent.