Ex VP Mphoko drags Welshman Ncube to court over US$$1.4 million Choppies payout

Zimbabwe’s former vice-president Phelekezela Mphoko has dragged his lawyer, MDC Alliance deputy president Prof Welshman Ncube, to court.

Mphoko is suing Ncube for allegedly “neglecting” to transfer more than $1.4m (R20.7m), part of an amount awarded to Mphoko and his son Siqokoqela after a protracted ownership battle for retailer Choppies Enterprises Ltd.

He and his son sold their shares in the supermarket giant’s Zimbabwean entity, allegedly for $2.9m (R43m), in a deal finalised in January this year.

In their suit, the Mphokos argue that since the deal’s conclusion, the former vice-president has received $517,500 (R7.7m), while his son got $730,219 (R10.8m) – leaving a balance of about $1.4m, which they claim is being held by their estranged lawyer Ncube.

“Despite demand, the defendant [Ncube] has failed, neglected and/or refused to pay the aforesaid balances of $832,500 [R12.3m] to the first plaintiff [Phelekezela Mphoko] and $619,708.50 [R9.2m] for the second plaintiff [Siqokoqela Mphoko],” reads the summons.

Ncube is yet to respond to the summons, which also demands that he pays “5% [interest] per year from January 16 2019 to the date of payment in full.”

agencies