Africa-Press – Malawi. Sheriffs in Lilongwe have confiscated a Gam’s Kanengo Filling Station over unpaid MK744 million legal fees following a misunderstanding between the company and Masters Boreholes Drilling Company.
According to High Court documents in our possession, Masters Boreholes was awarded the money after Gam Fuels managing director Gerson Mkweza snatched a drilling machine’s keys.
Masters director Alfred Gangata told the Maravi Post in an interview that his company’s business halted because the machine could not function. While Mkweza defended the action to snatch the keys because Masters was not paying for 400 liters of fuel he took.
He however wondered why sheriffs have sold his MK2.5-billion property at MK610 million to Simama Group of Companies, adding his property is not on sale.
According to Gam Fuels director Mkweza, director of Masters Drilling Company, a subsidiary of Masters Group of Companies Alfred Gangata borrowed MK1.5 million worth of fuel which he failed to pay, despite being reminded from time to time.
“I snatched keys for a drilling machine so that Masters would pay, but realized later that the machine continued to be used.
“While waiting for my money, I was surprised to learn that Masters drilling took the matter to court because it lost business for some time since the machine could not be used, where despite Masters filing for MK1.095-billion, High Court Judge K. T Manda ruled that Gam should pay MK747 million kwacha for loss of business, of course,” worried Mkweza.
However, Masters Drilling Company managing director Gangata defended the lawsuit arguing the the company lost business. “The lawsuit was necessary because Gam Fuels held on to the keys which led to loss of business, which could be averted if the machine was working.
“My company is not to blame because the court ruled on the basis that Mkweza admitted to holding on to the keys. The court lawsuit was reached after Mkweza refused to hand over drilling machine keys despite settling MK1.5 million fuel loan as we drilled borehole at his farm,” says Gangata
When we tried to talk to Simama Group of Companies, its officials did not pick our calls nor respond to a questionnaire. According to Mkweza who claimed Simama Holdings has been offering to buy the property through other people, he wonders how long it took for the sheriffs to advertise the sale, and how Simama knew about the sale. The Judiciary which speaks for the sheriffs is yet to comment on the matter.
For More News And Analysis About Malawi Follow Africa-Press
