The Sunday News
Peter Matika, Senior Life Reporter
PROMINENT enigmatic Zimbabwean gospel musician, Mathias Mhere, is being taken to the washers by a Harare-based musical instrument supplier over an $11k debt.
According to High Court documents obtained by Sunday Life last week, the gospel music icon owes Tropical Sounds and Music Distributors (Pvt) Ltd, for equipment procured on credit.
The documents, which Mhere confirmed having received on Monday last week state that he owes the musical instruments suppliers a total of $11 167 75 for the equipment procured between April 2014 and May 2015.
Through his lawyers, Mutamangira and Associates, Mhere responded to the summons indicating his intention to defend the claim.
“Be pleased to take notice that at Harare on this 16th day of May 2013 (7) at 16:00, the defendant (Mhere) entered an appearance to defend in this action. The summonses were served on the defendant on the 15th day of May 2017,” read part of Mhere’s lawyer’s response.
Tropical Sounds and Music Distributors (Pvt) Ltd claimed in a lawsuit that on 22 April 2014, it entered into an agreement with Mhere for the purchase of musical instruments on credit.
The company further stated in the documents that on the same date it sold musical instruments worth $2 055 to Mhere, where he only paid a deposit of $1 000.
On 13 May 2015 the company went on to state that it sold more musical instruments worth $10 112, 75 for which the gospel artiste again paid a deposit of $2 050.
“In terms of the agreement the full purchase price was to be paid within sixty days of delivery of the musical instruments for each invoice. From May 13, 2016 to date the defendant (Mhere) has not paid anything towards both invoices despite the plaintiff’s (Tropical Sounds and Music Distributors (Pvt) Ltd) efforts and demands to the defendant to clear its debt,” the company said in its claims.
“The failure by the defendant to pay has resulted in the plaintiff engaging a legal practitioner to recover the outstanding amount of $11 167,75, therefore, the costs should be on an attorney client scale.”
Tropical Sounds and Music Distributors went on to accuse Mhere of breaching the terms of the agreement by failing to pay the outstanding amount, which led to the lawsuit.
“Despite demand the defendant (Mhere) has failed, refused and neglected to pay the claimed amount which remains due and outstanding.
“Wherefore, plaintiff’s claim is for payment of $11 167,75 being the outstanding amount for the musical instruments sold and delivered to the defendant, and interest at the prescribed rate of 5 percent per annum running from the date the amount became due to the date of full and final payment plus cost of suit on an attorney and client scale,” the company stated in the lawsuit.
@peterkmatika
