Controversial businessman and Zanu PF legislator Ozias Bvute is embroiled in fresh allegations of leveraging his political clout to evade financial obligations.
This time, he halted the auction of his vehicles attached to a $215,250 debt owed to Blue Breed Investments Private Limited.
The latest incident adds to a growing list of legal battles and scandals haunting the polarizing figure, reigniting concerns about accountability among Zimbabwe’s political elite.
The Debt Dispute: A Pattern of Broken Promises
In July 2022, Bvute’s company, Uniharvest Private Limited, purchased nine brand-new UD Nissan trucks from Blue Breed Investments for $360,000.
After an initial payment of $150,000, Bvute allegedly reneged on the agreed-upon monthly instalment plan of $50,000 starting October 2022.
Despite a High Court judgment on October 18, 2023, ordering him to settle the outstanding $215,250, Bvute reportedly ignored the ruling.
This prompted Blue Breed to secure a writ of execution to attach and auction his vehicles through Prolific Auctions.
The auction, scheduled for January 17, 2025, was abruptly halted after Bvute allegedly intervened.
A frustrated Blue Breed director, who requested anonymity, accused the legislator of deploying deceptive tactics and exploiting his political stature:
“He uses his power as a Zanu PF legislator to take people’s goods and does not pay. This tarnishes the ruling party’s name. We followed the law, but he continues to act above it.”
A History of Defaults and Court Battles
This is not Bvute’s first brush with litigation over unpaid debts. In 2021, Megalink Investments dragged him to court after he failed to pay $227,000 for equipment supplied in 2015.
Similarly, that year, the Harare High Court ordered him to pay Robvel Investments $129,500 for earth-moving equipment used at his Goromonzi farm. In both cases, courts authorized the attachment of his assets, yet Bvute allegedly dodged full accountability.
Broader Scandals: From Banking to Cricket
Bvute’s contentious reputation spans decades. During his tenure as Potraz board chair and MetBank executive, he faced accusations of financial mismanagement.
He was later implicated in the Namibia SME Bank scandal and charged in 2009 for illegally funneling $1.5 million abroad while heading Zimbabwe Cricket.
Legal Frustration Mounts
Blue Breed’s lawyers, Mhishi and Nkomo Legal Practitioners, have now demanded answers from the High Court Sheriff after Prolific Auctions failed to proceed with the vehicle sale.
In a letter they wrote:
“It is disturbing that the sale has not occurred… We seek a comprehensive explanation for this delay.”
Silence from Bvute
Repeated attempts to contact Bvute for comment were unsuccessful. His evasion mirrors past behavior, where legal challenges were met with silence or “fake promises,” as creditors alleged.
