The Mphoko family in the looting madness of Choppies

Daniel Nemukuyu Principal Reporter of the Court
The Mphoko family was criticized for allegedly misappropriating the Choppies retail business and "looting" money in the country's stores without board approval. son of former Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko, is a director of Nanavac Investments (Private) Limited, a local partner of the Choppies Distribution Center registered by Botswana (Proprietary) Limited.

A retail shareholder, Mr. Mphoko is accused of abusing his power to "loot" money from sales in various supermarkets and replace it with transfers.

Another family member identified as Nomagugu Mphoko is also accused of bulldozing several stores demanding money

. investors, are using deportation threats against Choppies employees.

The council chamber war overflowed to the High Court, with Choppies seeking to ban the Mphoko f

M. Mphoko and Mr. Nomagugu were registered as defendants in an urgent case before the High Court.

million. Choppies accuses Mr. Mphoko of being ungrateful given that he was receiving $ 10,000 a month and an annual dividend under his contract.

He also uses a company car and draws fuel from Choppies

Mphoko, according to court documents, gets benefits for his children's school fees, among other benefits.

A founding affidavit of Mr. Ramachandran Ottapathu, General Manager of Choppies, says that the Mphoko family is looting

Mphoko), without the third defendant (Nanavac Investments), signed a agreement with one of the applicants and, without asking for their consent, demanded and looted species from different supermarkets. It has diverted to date the amount of $ 45,258. He also extended unauthorized lines of credit, which led him to divert the shares and fuel of the company for $ 6,687.06.

"He also transferred without authorization Ms. Nomagugu Mphoko, who is neither a director nor an employee of Choppies, allegedly asked for and collected $ 30,230 in cash from daily holdings in various outlets in the city. Zimbabwe

"The second respondent, who is neither an employee, a member, a director nor a shareholder of the third defendant, with the apparent blessing of the first defendant, forcibly levied all the money generated by the commercial operations of the third defendant. "

Any attempt on the part of workers to deny access to money to the Mphokos, reads in a newspaper."

"The behavior of first and second respondents continued unabated, leaving the company on the brink of a financial crisis and a real fear of a potential exodus of highly qualified expatriate staff. The survival of the company is in peril and there is a real fear of irreparable damage if the first and second responders continue their destructive behavior relentlessly, "they read.According to the court, the behavior of the Mphokos was likely to to put straining bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Botswana.

Choppies claims to have invested $ 66 million in retail and employed 1,800 people. The Mphoko family has not yet responded to the urgent room request.