Justice Never Katiyo of the High Court has withdrawn a judgement he delivered on July 28, 2025, concerning a dispute involving Bulgarian state-owned Technoimpex JSC. The reversal follows a formal complaint asserting that the ruling was improperly handed down on an issue that was never actually debated in court.
On August 7, 2025, the judge issued a consent order—agreed upon by all parties—annulling the previously issued judgement under case number HCH6784/19, without assigning any costs. This judgment formed part of a protracted legal battle over the ownership of Bath Mansions Flats in Harare.
Technoimpex JSC has claimed the property since 1989, but faces opposition from Zimbabwean nationals Rajendrakumar Jogi and Sarah Hwingwiri, accused of orchestrating a fraudulent sale through a sham company. Represented by Sinyoro & Partners, Technoimpex filed a complaint with Zimbabwe’s Judicial Service Commission (JSC).
The complaint charged that Justice Katiyo finalized the judgement without a hearing and referenced oral submissions that never took place—actions described by the firm’s lawyers as dangerously close to criminal misconduct and aiding fraudsters.
The lawyers expressed deep alarm at the judge’s claim of a non-existent court appearance, describing it as “gravely worrisome” and an affront to judicial integrity. They emphasized the extensive legal costs borne by their client in attempting to unravel the alleged fraud, which they argue could not succeed without judicial complicity.
While the judge’s rescission corrects the immediate procedural flaw, it leaves unresolved the serious allegations of judicial impropriety. The property’s ownership remains uncertain, with Technoimpex’s legal team urging the High Court Sheriff to withhold enforcement of any judgement until the JSC completes its investigation into Justice Katiyo’s conduct. The outcome of this inquiry is still awaited.
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