Zambian company sues Biti for $50 000

A Zambian company has sued Finance minister, Tendai Biti and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) commissioner-general, Gershem Pasi, after the revenue collector's employees destroyed its 30-tonne consignment of potatoes under unclear circumstances.

The Bulawayo High Court deputy registrar has given the respondents 10 days to respond. Failure to do so will see the case going  before a judge as undefended.

According to court papers filed at the Bulawayo High Court on Friday, the Zambian company, Jamist Company Limited, is demanding US$50 000 from Biti and Pasi as compensation for the destroyed consignment.

This was after a Zimra employee, identified as Tafadzwa Charamba, stationed at Beitbridge Border Post, allegedly confiscated and ordered 30 tonnes of the firm's  potatoes imported from South Africa.

The potato consignment, which was in a hired South African truck, registration number ZKT71 GP, was destroyed in January this year at Beitbridge Border Post despite that Jamist Company Limited, who were transporting the consignment to Livingstone via Zimbabwe,  produced all the documents required.

The Zambian company, which is based in Kitwe, Zambia, cited Charamba as the first respondent while Zimra Beitbridge Border Post station manager is cited as the second respondent. Zimra regional manager, a Mr Swarres, is the third respondent.

Pasi, Zimra as an entity and Biti are cited as fourth, fifth and sixth respondents respectively.

"Due to the 1st respondent's failure to act expediently, the plaintiff's potatoes, which are highly perishable, all went bad and could no longer be sold and were as a result, destroyed.

"The plaintiff has suffered unnecessary financial loss due to 1st respondent's negligence and inefficiency," said Jamist Company through their lawyers in the court papers.

The Zambian company, which is involved in import and export business, is represented by advocate SKM Sibanda and partners legal practitioners of Bulawayo.

Lawyers representing the Zambian company added that: "The respondents are jointly or ordered to pay loss of anticipated profits plus costs of transport, storage fees and cost of the potatoes".

Comments