Antony Chawagarira
HARARE — Internationally recognised Zimbabwean sculptor, musician and 2018 presidential candidate Bryn Taurai Mteki has had a number of household properties attached and sold following a dispute over outstanding school fees involving his primary school-going child.
The matter was heard at the High Court of Zimbabwe under case number HC1817/26, resulting in the attachment of several household items belonging to Mteki.
Among the items attached were a dining table, a three-seater beige couch, a room divider, an electric food display, a generator, a three-piece wooden set, seven kitchen stools and a three-piece basket coffee set.
The property was subsequently sold by Ruby Auctions in Harare last week following a sale-in-execution process. Mteki confirmed that his property had been attached but said he intended to pursue legal avenues to have the judgment rescinded.
“It’s true that they have attached my property but I will try my best to have the ruling rescinded,” Mteki said.
He said the dispute arose after his child, who attends Direct Contact School in Harare, had previously been on a bursary but was later ordered to pay part of the school fees.
“My child was on a bursary but, all of a sudden, I was ordered to pay half of the school fees,” he said.
Mteki maintained that he had always tried to meet his responsibilities and said he was surprised that the matter had reached the stage of property attachment.
“I have always been responsible, but I was disappointed to hear that they were now attaching my property,” he said.
However, Ruby Auctions confirmed that the attached property had already been sold after the sale-in-execution notice was issued.
“The matter between Mteki and the school has since been resolved, and the property got a buyer on Tuesday,” said a source from Ruby Auctions.
The source said the auction house had stopped advertising the property after securing a buyer, but declined to disclose the amount realised from the sale, citing professional reasons.
Another source said the dispute followed alleged failure by Mteki to settle outstanding financial obligations to the school despite attempts to resolve the matter.
“Several attempts were made to have the matter resolved, but the outstanding fees remained unpaid, resulting in the school taking legal action,” the source said.
The amount allegedly owed by Mteki and the detailed circumstances surrounding the school fees dispute could not be independently established.
The case comes as Mteki continues to maintain a profile across Zimbabwe’s arts, music and political sectors.
Better known as Sekuru Tau in music circles, Mteki has produced several musical projects while also gaining international recognition for his sculptural works.
He also ventured into politics and contested the 2018 presidential election as an independent candidate.
The dispute highlights the potential consequences of unresolved school fee disputes when they progress to legal proceedings and enforcement measures such as a sale in execution.
