MUTINTA MULAYE writes
THE Boma Local Court in Lusaka has reconciled a man and a woman who differed over payment of an unsettled debt.
William Malangisho, 36, of Kabanana, took Christine Mubiana, a businesswoman (money lender) of Libala, to court for threatening him for failing to pay back a debt he owed her on time.
Malangisho testified before senior local court magistrate Sylvia Kabunda that he borrowed K5,000 from Mubiana about four months ago of which he paid K1,600.
“The reason I came here is that she has been threatening me. I was supposed to pay her in March and April, but we couldn’t sit down and agree and find a way forward as to how I’ll pay,” he said.
“She threatens to take me to the police, to go direct to my boss and she uses unpalatable language towards me,” Malangisho said.
He said Mubiana tried to force him to sign some papers but he refused to go because of the way she had been talking to him.
Malangisho said he decided against telling her where he lived because she was too agitated and he did not know the lengths she would reach.
“She texted me the other time and told me to meet her by Chimbokaila Court and told me if I didn’t go I was going to mess up things for myself and make my life difficult.
“I refused to tell her where I live because she can come and shout in front of my wife or my kids,” Malangisho said.
In her response Mubiana told the court that she was a money lender who lent Malangisho K5,000 in Febuary this year.
She said before he paid her back he borrowed another K2,000 saying it was his friend who wanted it.
“That friend he claimed was supposed to pay back K2,600 but when I asked the person who works for me about that friend of Mr Malangisho who borrowed the K2,000, he said Mr Malangisho had gone alone to borrow that money and was not accompanied by anyone,” Mubiana said.
She said Malangisho started giving him difficulties to pay and when she asked for his friend’s number, he refused and told her to just deal directly with him.
“When I call him to meet up, he always makes excuses. He borrowed K5,000 and the K2,000 he signed for it as well. He doesn’t want to meet up and when I asked if I could just go to his home, he refused to tell me where he lives,” Mubiana said.
She said the interest from the K5,000 was supposed to be K1,500 and he only gave her K1, 000. From the K2, 000, he only gave her K600,” Mubiana said.
The court found that it was in dispute that the money owed to Mubiana was K5,000.
But because both parties had agreed for the K5,000 to be paid in three installments, the court ordered it to be so and reconciled Malangisha and Mubiana.
