Tendai Maduwa Faces Eviction From Famona Property Over US$3 200 Rent Dispute

Controversial fitness trainer and self-proclaimed martial arts instructor Tendai Maduwa is facing eviction from a property in Bulawayo’s Famona suburb after his landlord approached the Magistrates Court over an alleged rental dispute. The landlord is seeking an order terminating a verbal lease agreement and recovering US$3 200 in alleged outstanding rentals. The legal action also seeks Maduwa’s eviction from the property and holding-over damages of US$1 900 per month from September 25 until he vacates the premises. The dispute places Maduwa before the courts once again, following a separate assault case stemming from an altercation with parking marshals. Maduwa has not yet had the opportunity to defend the allegations in the rental matter, and the court will ultimately determine the issues raised by the parties.

According to summons filed at the Bulawayo Magistrates Court, Maduwa and the landlord entered into a verbal lease agreement in May this year covering both a cottage and the main house at the Famona property. The landlord alleges that Maduwa took occupation of the cottage in May before moving into the main house in June. The plaintiff claims that Maduwa initially complied with the rental arrangement by paying the agreed security deposit and the first month’s rentals. However, the landlord alleges that payments subsequently fell into arrears, resulting in an outstanding amount of US$3 200. The alleged arrears consist of US$1 200 for the cottage and US$2 000 for the main house.

The landlord claims that repeated demands for payment were unsuccessful and that the outstanding rentals remained unpaid. The alleged failure to settle the arrears reportedly led to the cancellation of the verbal lease agreement and a demand for Maduwa to vacate the property. The landlord has now turned to the court seeking a formal order to recover the property and settle the alleged financial obligations. In addition to the US$3 200 allegedly owed in rent, the plaintiff is seeking holding-over damages of US$1 900 per month from September 25 until the date Maduwa is evicted. Such damages are being sought for the period during which the landlord alleges that Maduwa remains in occupation after the termination of the lease.

Maduwa is required to enter an appearance to defend the matter within seven days after being served with the summons. This gives him an opportunity to respond to the allegations and challenge the claims brought against him through the appropriate court process. The case was filed at the Bulawayo Magistrates Court, with Mathonsi Ncube Law Chambers representing the plaintiff. At this stage, the allegations contained in the summons remain claims made by the landlord and do not amount to a final finding against Maduwa. The court process will determine whether the lease was validly cancelled, whether the alleged rental arrears are owed and whether the eviction and holding-over damages should be granted.

The rental dispute comes as Maduwa faces another legal matter arising from an incident in Bulawayo earlier this year. He was recently brought before the courts on assault charges following an altercation with two TTI parking marshals. The incident reportedly occurred on August 21 along Fife Street near the National Railways of Zimbabwe building after Maduwa’s vehicle was clamped. The case attracted considerable attention after footage of the confrontation was circulated widely on social media. Maduwa’s involvement in the incident has added to the public scrutiny surrounding him as he now faces the separate property dispute.

According to the State’s account in the assault matter, Maduwa was preparing to enter a parking bay when one of the parking marshals allegedly knocked on his vehicle window. The marshal reportedly informed him that the vehicle had been clamped because it was obstructing traffic. Maduwa allegedly disputed the decision, arguing that the vehicle was still moving and that he had indicated his intention to enter the parking bay. The disagreement reportedly became increasingly heated before developing into a physical confrontation. The incident was captured on video, allowing footage of the encounter to spread rapidly across social media platforms.

In the video that circulated online, Maduwa is seen confronting the two parking marshals during the dispute. He is also alleged to have grabbed and slapped the marshals during the confrontation. The footage generated widespread debate, with members of the public expressing different views about the conduct of Maduwa and the parking marshals. The incident demonstrated how quickly disputes involving public-facing businesses and individuals can attract widespread attention when they are recorded and shared online. However, the video and public reaction do not replace the formal court process, which will determine the facts and legal outcome of the assault case.

Following the confrontation, Maduwa initially indicated that the matter had been resolved amicably at the scene. In a statement issued after the incident, he claimed that three TTI supervisors had intervened and apologised for what he described as arrogant conduct by their employees. He also offered to conduct free public relations training sessions for TTI employees as part of his response to the incident. His account suggested that he believed the disagreement had been settled without further legal action. The situation changed, however, after the two parking marshals allegedly lodged a criminal complaint with the police.

Police subsequently arrested Maduwa on August 22, leading to his appearance before the Bulawayo Magistrates Court on the assault allegations. The criminal matter has not yet gone to trial, meaning the allegations against him have not been finally determined by the court. The latest eviction case is separate from the assault proceedings and concerns the alleged non-payment of rent and continued occupation of the Famona property. Maduwa will now have to respond to the summons within the prescribed period if he intends to defend the landlord’s claims. The outcome of the rental dispute will depend on the evidence presented and the court’s assessment of the lease agreement, alleged arrears and the landlord’s request for eviction.

The eviction proceedings add another legal challenge for Maduwa at a time when his public profile has already been affected by the parking marshal incident. The landlord’s claim for US$3 200 in alleged arrears, together with the additional US$1 900 monthly holding-over damages, could have significant financial implications if the court grants the claims. Maduwa’s response will be important in establishing whether he disputes the amount allegedly owed, the terms of the verbal lease or the cancellation of the agreement. The case also highlights the importance of clear rental agreements and timely payment arrangements for both property owners and tenants. As the matter moves through the Bulawayo Magistrates Court, the legal process will determine whether Maduwa must leave the Famona property and whether the financial claims brought against him are justified.