FORMER Vice-President Phelekezela Mphoko and his son,
Siqokoqela, have exited Choppies Supermarkets after offering to be bought out
of the company to end a protracted ownership wrangle.
The Mphokos’ lawyer, Professor Welshman Ncube last night
confirmed to The Chronicle that his clients were no longer shareholders of
Botswana based Nanavac Investment, trading as Choppies Supermarkets Zimbabwe.
Prof Ncube said he has since released a joint statement
with Choppies Enterprise lawyer Mr Munyaradzi Nzarayapenga notifying the public
about the latest development.
“We have been instructed by our clients Choppies
Enterprise, Phelekezela Mphoko and Siqokoqela Mphoko to advise the public and
all staff of Nanavac Investments trading as Choppies Zimbabwe that on 9 January
2019 the shareholders and directors amicably resolved and settled all issues,
matters, cases and disputes between and among themselves so that there are no
longer any outstanding between our respective clients, who further advise that
the Mphokos have disinvested from Choppies Zimbabwe and have no further
interests in the company and its business,” reads the statement.
“Our respective clients wish each other well in their
present and future endeavours.”
In an interview, Prof Ncube said his clients would be paid
for 51 percent shareholding, but could not state the amounts of money involved.
At the height of their legal battles, Choppies Enterprises
Mr Ramachandran Ottapathu alleged that that the Mphoko family owned only seven
percent shareholding.
He said the other 44 percent was given to them to fulfil
the indigenisation laws of the country. However, Prof Ncube insisted that his
clients held 51 percent of the shares.
The fight became messy when Mphoko’s son Siqokoqela and his
wife Nomagugu were dragged to court on charges of interfering with the operations
of Choppies Distribution Centre and Choppies Enterprises. This followed
accusations that they swindled the businesses of a combined $80 000.
Siqokoqela, who was shareholder in the retail business and
a non-executive director, is accused of abusing his power to “loot” $50 000 in
cash realised from sales at different supermarkets and replacing it with
transfers. His wife, Nomagugu is accused of allegedly bulldozing various
Choppies outlets in Bulawayo and demanding cash. Chronicle
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