The ManicaPost
Lovemore Kadzura Rusape Correspondent
TWO medical practitioners are locked in a wrangle over the control of a Rusape private hospital.
The dispute over the control of Makuma Medical Centre has since spilled into the courts. Dr Dunmore Kusano, a co-founder of Makuma Medical Centre, dragged Dr Stewart Karembo to Rusape Civil Court demanding rentals for “his equipment and building”.
However, Dr Karembo, who is now running the institution under a new name, said Dr Kusano ceased to be a director in 2016.
In 2010, Dr Kusano co-founded Makuma Medical Centre with Mr Patrick Majiri, before parting ways in 2016.
Dr Kusano relocated to Checheche Growth Point in Chipinge South, where he is now based.
The building which houses the hospital is owned by Rusape property magnate, a Mr Crinkovich. In his court application, Dr Kusano wants Dr Karembo to pay him US$1 620 in rental arrears from June 2019. Thereafter, the doctor should pay US$180 monthly rentals.
He also wants Dr Karembo stopped from using his equipment if he fails to pay the rentals. “I am the founding director of Makuma Medical Centre. I have been operating at the premises for many years, but the name has now been changed to Rusape New Life Medical Centre.
“Surprisingly in June 2019, I discovered that Dr Karembo was occupying some structures and property belonging to my company. I tried to explain to him that I am the founding director of the company to which the property belongs and that he should pay me 20 percent of the revenue being generated by the business every month, which translates to US$180.
“He refused to pay me the money for using my property. I have an inventory of my assets and their current market value. I also have the necessary documents to prove ownership of the property,” reads part of Dr Kusano’s application.
But in a letter to Dr Kusano, Mr Tendai Bvuma of Bvuma and Associates, who is representing Dr Karembo, stated that he (Dr Kusano) was not the owner of the property.
Mr Bvuma said his client brought the medical equipment from Mr Majiri.
“Rentals in respect of the premises being used by our client are payable to the owner, Mr Crinkovich, with whom our client has a lease agreement. These payments were being made religiously and our client does not have any arrears.
“Dr Kusano is not the owner of the premises and therefore he is not the one who leased the property to our client. He cannot at law validly lay claim as he is purporting. Our client bought the assets being referred to. He (Dr Karembo) validly entered into an agreement of sale with one Majiri who was understood to be the sole owner,” wrote Mr Bvuma.
Mr Majiri is said to have applied for a joinder which stated that Dr Kusano ceased to be the doctor-in-charge at the centre in 2016.
“By way of a letter dated January 12, 2016, Dr Kusano advised me that he was no longer the doctor-in-charge at Makuma Medical Centre. On the same date, he further advised me that his medical aid claim number was no longer valid.
“I acknowledged his notice to move away from Makuma. This was also confirmed by Dr Kusano’s lawyer. Thus from 2016, Dr Kusano had nothing to do with the operations of Makuma. He cannot just appear from nowhere and start to harass tenants,” read part of Mr Majiri’s letter.
The matter was supposed to be heard on March 20, but Dr Kusano did not turn up, thereby forcing magistrate Mr Gift Manyika to strike it off the roll.
