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Herald Reporter
A RUSAPE businesswoman has been ordered to stop interfering with the operations of hundreds of informal traders she has been trying to evict from a Zanu-PF-owned property in Rusape.
Magistrate Mrs Patience Madondo granted an interim relief order against Ms Mandy Majoni, who has been fighting local businessman and farmer Mr Cleopas Mugomba over the control of the property at 29 Herbert Chitepo Street in the town.

The property is owned by Zidco Holdings, a Zanu-PF company, and is being rented by Mr Mugomba who signed a five-year lease agreement in 2012.
After signing the lease agreement, Mr Mugomba turned the warehouse into business premises mainly comprising a giant flea market with over 200 traders, a service station and a convenience shop.

Problems started early this year when Ms Majoni ordered the traders to pay rentals to her or move off the premises claiming that she had the support of powerful people.

She is alleged to have disrupted business activities on a number of occasions prompting Mr Mugomba to seek the intervention of the court which ruled in his favour.
“Pending the determination of this matter, the applicant is granted the following relief: That the respondent be and is hereby interdicted from collecting rentals from tenants at No. 29 Herbert Chitepo Street, Rusape,” reads part of the interim relief order by Mrs Madondo.

The affected traders said they hoped that the case would be resolved soon to enable them to resume their business operations.
“I have been dealing in motor vehicle tyres from these premises for the past 15 years and I have been told to leave. Everyone in Rusape knows me as ‘Tyre man’ because I am well established. We were not having any problems when we were dealing with Mr Mugomba,” said one of the affected tenants, Mr Tendekai Makoni.

Another trader, Mr Nesbert Chasara, said many youths had been left unemployed after Ms Majoni ordered them off the premises.
“Of the people who have been affected, at least 150 of them are youths and most of them were even instrumental in campaigning for the ruling party in the run-up to the July 31 harmonised  elections.

“If we are serious about black economic empowerment and fighting unemployment then these youths should be allowed to transact their business without interference,” said Mr Chasara.

Mr Mugomba said he intended to honour the rest of his lease agreement with Zidco adding that the disruption of business had also affected his income.
Ms Majoni could not be reached to comment on the issue yesterday as she was said to be in court in a separate fraud matter.