TWO Bulawayo women are involved in a bitter wrangle over the estate of the late James Nare, a brother to former Bulawayo Labour Court president Justice Selo Nare. MTHANDAZO NYONI OWN CORRESPONDENT
Pretty Mpofu and Senzelwe Moyo are fighting over a stand in Newton West worth about $15 000.
Nare died in 2009, three years after divorcing Mpofu and the couple had three children. A decree of divorce was granted by Bulawayo High Court judge Justice Francis Bere in June 2006 and the couple was supposed to sell the land and share proceeds with Mpofu getting 40%, James 50% and the children pocketing the remaining 10%.
However, Nare married Moyo before the stand was sold and then died in 2009 before the issue was resolved.
Moyo reportedly engaged the Nare family after the death of James and the family duly declared her as the sole surviving spouse disregarding the divorce order by Justice Bere.
A sworn affidavit was reportedly signed in that regard.
However, trouble started when Moyo pushed Mpofu to sell the stand so that she (Moyo) could get Nare’s share.
Mpofu visited the Southern Eye offices in tears on Thursday saying her children were suffering and had dropped out of school due to financial problems. Mpofu said Moyo was holding onto the land’s title deeds and was conniving with Nare’s lawyer not to release them.
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Mpofu wants the land sold and all the proceeds to go to her and her children arguing that Moyo had no children with Nare. Mpofu also said she had approached several human rights organisations but to no avail.
“I don’t know what to do because of this case and it seems no one is willing to help me,” said Mpofu.
“My children are suffering and they have been reduced to beggars yet their father left land for them. They have no place to stay and as I speak right now we have been ejected from a room we have been renting due to non-payment of rentals.
“If I die today what will happen to my children since it seems there is no one willing to investigate my case? This is not fair and I need justice in this issue. I am the one who bought the land using my own resources but because I was not given a chance to explain the case in court, I have become a victim.
“I don’t want to lose my land to that woman who didn’t contribute anything to it. She instead contributed much to my divorce,” Mpofu said.
She said her children had been expelled from school and had nothing to eat, and it would have been better if they were squatters on their own land instead of being reduced to nomads.
Moyo is also allegedly refusing with Nare’s death certificate thereby denying Mpofu’s children other opportunities.
A receipt confirming that Mpofu purchased land from one Emily Kaviza, of Mulberry Lane at Newton West was given to Southern Eye.
The receipt reads: “I, undersigned Emily Kaviza I.D No. 08-13205,R42 . . . Do hereby acknowledge that I have this 3rd day of October 2001, received cheque No.614500 of Z$150 000.00 from Pretty Nare I.D No 08-466863 L28 residing at St Spencer Avenue, West Somerton, Bulawayo. This being the purchase of Stand No.8A Newton West, Bulawayo.”
Moyo could not be reached for comment as her mobile phone was not reachable.
