Estate agency director arrested, fined for operati...

Estate agency director arrested, fined for operating illegally

Audrey Galawu

Zuhause Properties Director, Shamiso Mburayi, was arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on January 23 and fined ZWL$25 000 for practising without a Principal Registered Estate Agent and a valid Compensation Fund Certificate.

According to the Estate Agents Council of Zimbabwe, the firm was once regularised and its former PREA expired.

“Zuhause Properties was ordered to cease operations by the Estate Agents Council of Zimbabwe until they find another PREA.

“Sometime in 2022, EACZ’s Compliance Officer discovered that Mburayi and Zuhause Properties were still in business and reported the matter to the Zimbabwe Republic Police, leading to their arrest.

“The Compensation Fund does not cover claims related to losses arising from dealings with agents who are not properly registered with the Council,” EACZ said.

The council has urged members of the public not to deal with Zuhause Properties until it has regularised its registration with the Council.

Further, members of the public are encouraged to deal only with registered estate agency firms who are in possession of a valid Compensation Fund Certificates for each current year.

The Estate Agents Council board chairman, Nico Kuipa, said Zimbabweans are losing their investments to bogus agents who are using mainstream offline and online platforms to advertise non-existent properties to members of the public.

He added that bogus property agents are now widespread in the country at all levels with the low-level ones charging people to assist them with getting accommodation.