A HARARE businesswoman has approached the court seeking an interdict after she was evicted from her business premises by council barely 24 hours following the expiry of her lease.
Tatenda Chimunye cited Rufaro Marketing and its operations manager Nyasha Jongwe and City of Harare as respondents.
In her submissions, Chimunye argued that she was supposed to be given the priority to extend her lease.
According to court documents, Chimunye, who had been a tenant from December 1, 2016, had her lease renewed on a yearly basis.
Her last lease expired on November 30, 2024.
Chomunye submitted that she had a legitimate expectation for her lease to be renewed as in previous years.
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She said she was in peaceful and undisturbed possession of Kugarika Bar stand number 8167 Kuwadzana 4 Shopping Centre in Kuwadzana, Harare and had been renting the property from Rufaro Marketing (Pvt) Ltd since December 1, 2016.
She was booted out on December 2 and the respondents locked the premises without a court order when her lease expired.
“There is no other alternative remedy that can avail itself as expeditiously as required under the circumstances as applicant is a law-abiding citizen and cannot resort to unlawful means to deal with the respondent.
“The applicant want the due process of law to address the situation on an urgent basis.
“It is only the intervention of this honourable court that can stop the pandemonium that has engulfed,” she submitted.
She averred that there was no notice of eviction, adding that the matter was extremely urgent.
Chimunye said productive time was being lost as all her employees were not able to work as they had been denied access to the premises.
The businesswoman further submitted that she stands to suffer irreparable harm.
“I have been reduced to a destitute with nothing to do for survival since bar, bottlestore and butchery are my livelihood. I will, indeed, suffer irreparable prejudice.
“The requirements for spoliation and interdict have also been proved and met. I have been despoiled without resort to the law or court orders from any competent court of jurisdiction,” she submitted.
The matter is pending.