By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE-
PATRIOTIC Front (PF) Kabwata Member of Parliament (MP) Given Lubinda has sued fellow MP, Vincent Mwale for alleged failure to pay rentals exceeding K167,000.
The rental arrears are in connection with Mr Lubinda’s property at plot number 21/27/4586, which is also known as Namakau House, situated in Chilenje Township in Lusaka.
The property was operated by Mr Mwale, who is MMD Chipangali MP, as a restaurant and discotheque under the name of East Point Discotheque.
Mr Lubinda wants the Lusaka High Court to order Mr Mwale to pay him K167,600 being rental arrears and lost rental income under the lease agreement between the two.
He also wants Mr Mwale to be ordered to pay him damages for loss of income for non-use of the plot from June to November last year due to refusal or neglect by the Chipangali parliamentarian to hand over the property to him in breach of clause 2(1) of the lease agreement.
Mr Lubinda wants Mr Mwale to be ordered to pay him damages for damage caused to the property and his business partners or agents contrary to the agreement.
He said Mr Mwale should be ordered to pay for water and electricity arrears or be refunded so that he settles the bills.
He said that by the lease agreement, monthly rent was agreed at K27,000 net of withholding tax which Mr Mwale agreed to pay to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
Mr Lubinda said in April last year, he reduced the monthly rentals to K20,000 upon request from Mr Mwale but by then, he already owed K90,000.
He said in June last year, Mr Mwale, through his business partners, terminated the tenancy agreement. At the time he owed K111,000.
Mr Lubinda said Mr Mwale refused or neglected to surrender or hand over the property to him and only handed over the property and keys in November last year.
He said he had lost out on rental income due to the delayed handover, and that Mr Mwale had ripped off the ceiling and doors from the property.
He said the money owed to him now stood at K167, 600 in rental arrears and lost income which Mr Mwale had refused to pay.
