THE Affirmative Action Group (AAG) yesterday said it will this morning effect a citizens’ arrest on a Mutare-based estate agent for auctioning properties owned by Bulawayo businesspeople. MTHANDAZO NYONI OWN CORRESPONDENT
AAG national vice-president Sam Ncube said Hollands Estate Agents was a bogus company and his organisation would stop the auction, which includes the sale of more than 20 residential houses, as banks move to recover money they are owed by various companies and individuals in the city.
AAG said it was suspicious of the company which purported to have been authorised by the Sheriff.
“As AAG, we have taken a position to stop and effect a citizens’ arrest of the auctioneers.
“We are going to arrest them (Hollands Estate Agents) and hand them over to the police,” Ncube said.
“We don’t trust them and it is corruption at its worst. The $125 entrance fee and $10 000 deposit fee is unheard of.
“They want to turn a public auction into a private auction and we are not going to allow that to happen here in Bulawayo.
“Last time we promised blood on the floor, but this time we are going to arrest people.
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“We want a negotiated settlement. We condemn non-payment of debts, but we say there should be a moratorium. If they say the Sheriff has ordered them to come here and conduct the auction, we are going to arrest the Sheriff also because there is no one above the law.
“We have more than 20 estate agents in Bulawayo; why do they bring charlatans here?
“We tried to reason with them, but they were boastful and so we are going to show them that there are still men in Bulawayo,” Ncube declared.
Hollands Estate Agents and Auctioneers flighted an advert in the local press indicating that more than 20 houses and other properties would go under the hammer today as banks move to recover their money.
The advert indicated that interested individuals should pay a non-refundable fee of $125 and a $10 000 deposit.
Hollands Estate Agents and Auctioneers provided two addresses – one in Mutare and the other in Harare.
Ncube said they were angered by the fact that the auctioneers flighted adverts in the local press using a residential address showing that they were bogus. AAG Matabeleland chapter executive director in charge of economic and legal affairs Charles Moyo said public auctions do not charge entrance fees.
Moyo said the Sheriff should have first issued out notices to the affected people. He said the auctioneers should be domiciled in the city for them to conduct an auction in Bulawayo.
Moyo also said most of the affected people had settled what they owed and were now saddled with interest rates, which he said impoverished Bulawayo businesses and residents.
