The MDC-T secretary for home affairs for the Midlands South, Martin Chivhoko, and an accomplice were yesterday fined $300 after a magistrate convicted them for contravening a section of the Estate Agents Act and operating without a licence.
STEPHEN CHADENGA OWN CORRESPONDENT
Chivhoko (34) and Prosperity Chikwira (30) of Mkoba 19 and 15 respectively advertised themselves as estate agents and initiated the sale of a house in Mkoba 5.
Gweru magistrate Phathekile Msipa found the two guilty of contravening Section 60 (1) (a) of the Estate Agents Act and operating as an estate agent without a licence.
Msipa fined them $300 each, in default of which they will serve three months in jail. They were also sentenced to three years that were suspended for five years on condition that they don’t violate any section of the Act, particularly Section 60 (1) (a).
Prosecutor Munyaradzi Guveya told the court that on September 3 2012 the two, who had advertised themselves as estate agents, met one Elizabeth Mlalazi who was looking for a house to buy.
On September 5, the two brought together Joshua Mutingwende who was selling his house, with Mlalazi.
They were paid $300 for the service. But on October 26, police acting on a tip-off that the two were operating as estate agents, made investigations leading to their arrest.
