Bryn Muteki shamed as household property attached, auctioned over dispute related to his child’s outstanding school fees

INTERNATIONALLY-ACCLAIMED sculptor Bryn Taurai Mteki, who is also a musician and politician, has lost household property, which has been auctioned, over outstanding school fees for his primary school-going child.

The celebrated visual artist lost a range of household goods after allegedly failing to settle school fees for his child, who attends Direct Contact School, in Harare.

The dispute spilled into the High Court of Zimbabwe (case No. HC1817/26), where Mteki lost several household items, including a dining table, three-seater beige couch, room divider, electric food display, a generator, three-piece wooden set, seven kitchen stools and a three-piece basket coffee set.

Ruby Auctions in Harare subsequently auctioned the household property last week.

Mteki confirmed the incident.

“It’s true that they have attached my property but I will try my best to have the ruling rescinded,” he said.

“My child was on a bursary but, all of a sudden, I was ordered to pay half of the school fees.

“I have always been responsible but I was disappointed to hear that they were now attaching my property.

“It was unfair to me, considering that I am a well-known figure, and I deserved to be consulted first.”

Despite Mteki’s claims that he was set to seek legal recourse to have the judgment rescinded, it emerged that the property had already been sold after a sale-in-execution notice was issued.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.

“We had been running an advert in your paper, but we have since stopped running it after finding a buyer.

“It’s unfortunate that we cannot reveal the figure for professional reasons, but just know that the property was sold,” said a source from Ruby Auctions.

Another source said the matter arose after Mteki allegedly failed to meet his financial obligations to the school.

“Several attempts were made to have the matter resolved but the outstanding fees remained unpaid, resulting in the school taking legal action,” said the source.

“It’s sad that Bryn Mteki has offered to embarrass his child.

“He should have settled the school fees on time or sent the child to a school that he could afford.

“This kind of embarrassment is unnecessary for an innocent child.”

The development has added an unexpected chapter to the public life of Mteki, who has established himself across several fields, including visual arts, music and politics.

Mteki is widely recognised for his sculptural works and has also pursued a music career, making appearances in Zimbabwe’s entertainment and cultural circles over the years.

The case highlights the consequences that can arise when school-fee disputes escalate into legal proceedings, particularly when attempts to reach an agreement fail.

Details surrounding the amount owed and the circumstances leading to the auction could not be independently established by the time of going to print.

Better known as Sekurutau in music circles, Mteki is also a talented musician who has recorded several albums.

In 2018, he even entered the Presidential race as an independent candidate, but was unsuccessful. _*HMetro*_