Shingi Munyeza and wife Wilma spared jail over US$...

Shingi Munyeza and wife Wilma spared jail over US$100k loan

Zim Now Writer

The High Court on Friday spared businessman Shingi Munyeza and his wife, Wilma, jail after their former neighbour, business executive Marjorie Mutemererwa, whom they owe US$100 000 had filed an application to have them committed to prison.

Mutemererwa had told the court that Munyeza was in default of an earlier court ruling directing that he pays five equal instalments of US$22 000 – including legal fees – by January 30, 2024.

However, Justice Samuel Deme of the Harare High Court dismissed the application, finding that Munyeza was complying with the payment order – although there was a dispute over the payment of the instalment for October.

Mutemererwa said Munyeza, who paid his first instalment in September, had only paid US$7 315 in October with Munyeza’s lawyer arguing that the remainder of US$14 685 was with the High Court Sheriff, proceeds of the sale of his vehicle which was seized.

The judge accepted Munyeza’s explanation and ruled that he was not in default, and there was no reason to send the former pastor to jail.

The next instalment of US$22,000 is due by November 30, 2023.

Mutemererwa, who was Munyeza’s neighbour in Borrowdale Brooke, sued the former cleric in March this year after he failed to pay back a US$100 000 loan.

Munyeza and his wife, who are stewing in debt as they are also indebted to a Zambian micro-finance lender, which has seized their US$1 million house and movable properties, borrowed the money on January 21 this year, promising to give Mutemererwa back the full sum by January 31 of the same month.

The couple, however failed to return Mutemererwa’s money, prompting her to file the court application.

Munyeza and his wife have even tried to convert their debt to Zimbabwe dollars as they mounted a vigorous fight and but lost at the High Court.