By Jane Mlambo| There was a tense atmosphere outside the High Court of Zimbabwe after two allies of President Emmerson Mnangagwa Justice Mayor Wadyajena and Kudakwashe Tagwirei met for the trial of their $3.6 million lawsuit today.
Wadyajena and Tagwirei are locked in a legal battle in which Wadyajena is claiming $3.6 million from Sakunda Holdings for using his trucks without his consent.
Last week Wadyajena allegedly posted on his Twitter account that Tagwirei went outside the country together with his family running away from alleged corruption cases that saw most of his accounts suspended.
Wadyajena’s claims have come under scrutiny following reports that Tagwirei went outside the country for business and came back last week.
Wadyajena looked dejected when he came out of the court contrary to Tagwirei who was smiling all the way to his vehicle.
Tagwirei was accompanied by his close associate Tinomuda Machakaire popularly known as Tinmac while Wadyajena was in the company of his legal team.
This was after the legislator filed a $3,6 million lawsuit which Tagwireyi is now defending.
The Gokwe-Nembudziya MP is accusing the Sakunda Holdings owner of illegally using fuel tankers from his company, Mayor Logistics.
However, in papers filed by his lawyers, Manase and Manase Legal Practitioners on November 5 at the High Court, Tagwirei accused his rival of trying to extort money from him.
“Does the plaintiff take this claim seriously? Is this not an attempt to run an extortionist agenda?” Tagwirei asked.
“Are the plaintiff and Hon Justice Mayor Wadyajena running an extortionist cartel to fleece genuine businesses?”
The notice of appearance to defend himself was accompanied with agreements entered into between Wadyajena and Tagwirei including evidence of payment of $1 883 666.00 to the MP on May 22, 2018 through his lawyers.
Tagwirei claimed that was the last payment made to offset his obligations to the MP.
He also filed copy of a memorandum of agreement showing that the two would not to sue each other made on April 24, 2017.
However, in his application, Wadyajena insisted he is owed money for the use of the four fuel tankers belonging to his company without his consent.