Bogus estate agent fined for fraudulent land sale

Munyaradzi Mashiri

Zim Now Court Correspondent

A man 29-year-old man has been fined US$280 for selling a non-existent land.

Tatenda Muindisi appeared before magistrate Ruth Moyo at the Harare Magistrates’ courts charged with contravening the Estate Agents Act.

The State proved that sometime in January this year, Muindisi advertised in one Ruwa Business group that he was selling a stand.

Muindisi negotiated with one Sandra Severa on behalf of his alleged principal for a purchase, and they agreed on a prize of US$$8 500.

Muindisi misrepresented to Severa that US$400 was needed to carryout due diligence and Severa paid the alleged amount.

After that, it is alleged that Muindisi arranged a meeting at Sithole Legal Practitioners where an agreement of sale was signed between Severa and a man who was masquerading as one Kevin Kudinha.

The court heard that Severa paid US$7 000, which was received by the alleged Kudinha.

Muindisi was subsequently paid US$700 for his agency fees.

On February 28, Severa paid the outstanding balance of US$1 157 to Sithole Legal Practioners and instructed the latter to initiate conveyancing of the property.

Edina Gwanzura who was handling the conveyancing invited the alleged Kudinha but he became evasive.

Severa then sent construction workers to start clearing the ground and was approached by the real Kevin Kudinha who told her to vacate the residential stand.

Severa noted that she had been duped and reported the case to the police.

Investigations that were done revealed that Muindisi was not a registered estate agent or property negotiator.