A PROPERTY owner in Kawambwa, Luapula Province, has sued Minister of Tourism and Arts Ronald Chitotela in the Lusaka High Court for unpaid rentals of over K300,000.

Charles Mpundu, a proprietor of Plot No. 291 in Kawambwa, explained that Chitotela was a tenant of the said premises having leased a warehouse on the said land from September 2017, but that he had accrued lease rentals amounting to K397,000.

He is now claiming the sum of K397,000 due from Chitotela to him for unpaid rent relating to Plot No. 291 in Kawambwa.

Mpundu also wants an order for vacant possession of the said Plot No. 291 in Kawambwa, interest, costs and any other relief as the court would deem fit.

In a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court principal registry, Mpundu stated that the said property was leased at an agreed rent of K10,000.

He claimed that the rent was pegged at K10,000 after Chitotela’s pleas to reduce the rent from K16,000 at which it was pegged with his previous tenants.

Mpundu stated that by a letter dated April 15, 2019, he advised Chitotela of his decision to increase the rent to K16,000.

“By Statutory Notice to quit issued on or about November 25, 2019, the plaintiff (Mpundu) did give the defendant (Chitotela) the statutory six months notice to vacate the said demised premises on the ground that the defendant had persistently defaulted attending to payment of rent,” read the claim.

“As at the date of issuance of the said notice, the defendant was indebted to the plaintiff to the extent of K221,000.”

Mpundu stated that he demanded for payment of K221,000 by a letter dated November 19, 2019 but despite that, Chitotela had failed or neglected to attend to payment of the accrued rentals.

He stated that he was now desirous of taking possession of the demised premises and recover the accrued rentals.

Mpundu added that as at the date of issuance of the Writ, Chitotela had accrued lease rentals to the extent of K397,000 and which continues accruing at K16,000 per month.