Tsvangirai property attached (Pictures)

HARARE – We have just received this picture of property currently being attached from the state owned home of opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

On Tuesday the Messenger of Court attempted to seize personal property at his Highlands home and party offices over a labour dispute with former party employees.

Tsvangirai and his formation of the MDC have been embroiled in a dispute with 17 former employees who sued the party after being fired for siding with former party secretary general Tendai Biti and others that later formed a splinter party – MDC Renewal Team.

There was drama at Tsvangirai’s house on Tuesday as two truckloads of armed riot police and state media journalists accompanied the Messenger of Court as he drove into Tsvangirai’s mansion.

At the time his spokesman Luke Tamborinyoka described the raid as a “cheap, well-choreographed drama ostensibly to embarrass” the MDC leader.

“The messenger of court, with his retinue of riot police in tow, was shown a court order in which the party had successfully won a stay of execution on the matter,” Tamborinyoka said.

It has since emerged that household items were indeed seized during the raid. Party spokesman Obert Gutu is quoted saying “You may check with the deputy sheriff to have sight of what exactly was seized as he has the list.

“I can only confirm that some household property including sofas and televisions were attached,” he added. Gutu said an urgent chamber application has since been filed at the High Court to seek an order to stop the move granted by the Labour Court.

“The former employees were employed by the MDC-T and not by Tsvangirai in his personal capacity. “You will note with no doubt and appreciate the fact that the MDC – T and Tsvangirai are separate and distinct legal persona,” said Gutu.

He added: “The movable assets that were recently attached by the deputy sheriff belong to Tsvangirai and not to the MDC – T. As such we have since taken appropriate measures to instruct the deputy sheriff to commence interpleader proceedings because his office has attached property that belongs to the wrong respondent.” Nehandaradio