Harare car dealer, Matthew Musengezi, has filed a US$3 million lawsuit against businessman Brighton Ushendibaba, director of Pan Jap Motors and sponsor of Premier Soccer League outfit Simba Bhora.
The lawsuit accuses Ushendibaba of fraud and failing to pay for a number of high-end vehicles entrusted to him for selling.
The lawsuit details a business deal entered into by Musengezi and Ushendibaba sometime in 2018.
Musengezi alleges that he gave Ushendibaba 19 high-end vehicles, including Range Rovers, Mercedes GLEs, and Toyota Land Cruisers, with the agreement that Ushendibaba would sell the vehicles, cover storage fees, and pay Musengezi the remaining balance.
However, after selling the vehicles, Musengezi claims he hasn’t received a single cent from Ushendibaba.
The lawsuit extends beyond the car deal. Musengezi further alleges that Ushendibaba proposed a joint venture in the gold buying business.
Musengezi states he provided Ushendibaba with US$221,000 for licenses, permits, and starting capital.
But Ushendibaba, according to the lawsuit, has not paid back this sum and has offered no explanation for the missing funds.
The lawsuit also implicates Musengezi’s former lawyer, Tawanda Takaindisa of Takaindisa Law Chambers.
Musengezi accuses Takaindisa of unprofessional and unethical conduct, alleging that the lawyer failed to protect his client’s interests for four years. The lawsuit suggests that Takaindisa might have colluded with Ushendibaba to prevent Musengezi from recovering his money.
Musengezi claims Takaindisa altered documents in Ushendibaba’s favor and was potentially on Ushendibaba’s payroll. A complaint has already been filed against Takaindisa with the Law Society of Zimbabwe.
The lawsuit further names prominent business people who allegedly purchased several vehicles from Ushendibaba but never paid for them.
Musengezi alleges that Ushendibaba has used the non-payment by Tagwirei as an excuse to withhold Musengezi’s money. The named defendants have not yet filed a defense to the lawsuit.
According to rumors, Musengezi has fled the country due to threats allegedly made by Ushendibaba and his former lawyer.
The lawsuit further details the toll this ordeal has taken on Musengezi, including personal life deterioration, health complications, and the collapse of other business ventures.