HARARE - State agency, the Zimbabwe National Water Authority (Zinwa) has taken Zanu PF central committee member and former Chipinge South legislator Enock Porusingazi to court to recover a $100 000 debt.

According to a lawsuit filed in the High Court, Zinwa is demanding $134 947, 55 from Porusingazi.

The court heard Porusingazi procured raw water from Zinwa for irrigation purposes on his two farms between January 2010 and February 2012.

Porusingazi, according to court papers, was supposed to pay for the water on a monthly basis.

“The total arrears owing for raw water consumed by Defendant (Porusingazi) is in the sum of $28 810, 90 for farm 25 and $106 136, 65 for farm 29,” reads part of the court papers.

Zinwa claims despite demand, Porusingazi has “failed, neglected or refused” to pay the debt.

However, Porusingazi is contesting Zinwa’s claim, arguing that he had paid his dues.

“While it’s admitted that Plaintiff (Zinwa) has supplied Defendant with irrigation water, Defendant contends that Plaintiff’s claim is bad in fact and law. Plaintiff and Defendant never entered into an agreement for the price of the water per litre and the claim is thus based on unilateral impositions by Plaintiff.

“Plaintiff has never established functional equipment and proper systems upon which water supplied to Defendant can be ascertained per any given period. Plaintiff’s claim is thus based on pure guess work,” said Porusingazi.

The matter is still to be allocated a date for a pre-trial conference. - Tendai Kamhungira