The Sunday News
Leonard Ncube
A VICTORIA Falls businessman who recently got his former employee fired from his new workplace for stealing his “exclusive” Portuguese marinated chicken recipe, is back in the limelight — this time for going into hiding to avoid paying suppliers.
Rizwaan Brown, who operates the famous Riz Chickens Restaurant, got chicken supplies from different small-scale chicken producers but allegedly refused to pay them. They have since approached the Civil Court seeking to compel him to pay.
Shelly Kadzviti, of 394 Baobab in Victoria Falls, said in her summons that she supplied Brown with 100 chickens which he was supposed to pay for before the end of last month.
“I supplied him with 100 chickens and he was supposed to pay me $529 which he has not done. I have tried to talk to him but he makes empty promises,” Kadzviti said.
Another supplier, MaCloud Ncube, of 6240 Mkhosana, supplied Riz Chicken with 50 chickens and Brown, who resides at Tatenda Lodge, has refused to pay him, he said in his summons.
“He bought 50 chickens on 26 August and was supposed to pay $320 by 9 September which he never did. I have been trying to talk to him but he makes empty promises and sometimes is not reachable. As we speak we don’t know where he is and I want my money as this is affecting my business,” Ncube said.
Contacted for comment, Brown said he was not the only businessman failing to pay for services.
“What is the basis of your story? Is that a story that I did not pay for chickens. I have paid some of the money and I am a growing businessman why would you want to tarnish my image. Instead, why don’t you write that I won a prize in Hwange recently,” he said, while threatening this reporter with unspecified action.
The cases are yet to be heard in court.
Brown is also reportedly notorious for not paying his workers who have started legal proceedings against him.
In July, Brown was dragged to court by Norest Magadu, his former chef who wanted a peace order because he was threatening him for taking his recipe elsewhere.
Magadu lost his job at Riz Chickens and got another one at Fatman’s Restaurant where he introduced the marinated Portuguese chicken thereby angering Brown who started harassing him.
“Didn’t I tell you not to use my recipe anywhere? I am the one who taught you the Portuguese chicken recipe,” Brown is said to have threatened Mr Magadu.
The two men claim rights over Portuguese marinated chicken recipe, with each claiming he taught the other to prepare it.
The magistrate granted the peace order, barring Brown from visiting Magadu whether at work or home.
