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Energy Mutodi

Fidelis Munyoro Chief Court Reporter
Energy Mutodi’s embattled housing trust has been provisionally barred from accessing funds in its AfrAsia Kingdom Bank account until an application by a member of his National Housing Development Trust seeking a garnishee order is decided.Harare magistrate Ms Tatenda Manhanzva last week granted an application by Mr Tafirenyika Mataka to freeze NHDT account with AfrAsia until the dispute between the two parties is resolved.

Mr Mataka, a teacher, sought an order to freeze the NHDT account to ensure that his money was secure until his dispute is decided. The application for the garnishee order will be heard on August 7.

Through his lawyers Chambati and Mataka Attorneys, Mr Mataka argued that there was a high risk that the NHDT might withdraw all the money in its account any time once it got to know about his application for the garnishee order.

Mr Mataka, who had contributed nearly US$1 600 towards the crumbling trust, obtained an order against the NHDT in April, in which it was ordered to give him back his money.

He attached the NHDT property to raise the amount, but the goods were of no value because the Trust had no more assets.

Mr Mataka then applied for a garnishee order against NHDT’s account held by AfrAsia.

Mutodi is accused of fleecing US$588 000 from home-seekers under his housing trust.

Harare provincial magistrate Mr Vakayi Chikwekwe ruled that the account was wrongly frozen after the courts were led to believe that it belonged to Mutodi and not NHDT.

Mutodi’s lawyers — Mr Charles Chinyama, Mr Freddy Machokoto and Mr Ray Tsvakwi — had said the trust bought several residential stands from Pinnacle Holdings, represented by Dr Philip Chiyangwa, for US$3 250 000, which they were now failing to pay for since the bank account was frozen.