By Judith Nyuke
A UK-based Zimbabwean woman has issued a 14-day demand letter to her tenant residing in her Westgate property, requiring the settlement of a US$3,850 arrear and the immediate vacation of the premises.
This follows after the tenant Wendy Kugara reportedly misrepresented that she took a loan after she encoured legal costs amounting to US$2 400 on behalf of Chipunza and then she stopped paying rentals
Through her lawyer, Mr. Scott Mamimine of Sande Legal Practice, Chipunza has demanded that Kugara provide proof of the alleged loan transaction and identify the lawyer who rendered the services.
According to their agreement, Kugara was to pay a monthly rental fee of USD$350.00, starting in June 2024.
“We have also been advised that you demanded the sum amount of USD$2400.00 to cover legal costs which you purported you took a loan to cover legal costs of fees to evict Mr Prince Pagiwa.
“Our clients then gave you reprieve to pay rentals from June to December 2024 as set-off which ordinarily would have covered the sum amount of US$2 450.00 you purportedly incurred without evidentiary proof.
“We however demand to know the law firm which carried out the instructions, the lawyer who did so and a detailed account of proof of the loan you took to cover the legal fees you incurred, the receipt of the payment from the law firm, a detailed fee note of the work carried out by the lawyer and the hours he or she spent which warrant him or her to charge such fees for a day’s legal work and any relevant pleadings filed at Court to carry out your instructions.
“Without the above we have been instructed to lodge a police case and report fraud and simultaneously demand that you pay all the rentals from June to December 2024 valued at USD 2450.00 and USD$ 1750.00 from January 2025 to April 2025,” read part of the letter.
According to Mr Mamimine, Kugara has already been served with a notice to vacate the premises and has since ignored it.
“Our client has also indicated that you were served with a written notice for you to vacate the property and we have it on record that you have made an undertaking that you were going to vacate the premises but despite your undertaking you have also refused and failed to vacate same.
“We are instructed to demand as we hereby do that, you pay your arrear rentals within 14 days of service of this letter from June 2024 to December 2024 unless clear record of the work done is produced and furnished to us,” read part if the letter.
Seeking information about the alleged legal costs, Mr. Mamimine contacted Mr. Prince Pagiwa, the former tenant whose eviction was facilitated by Kugara.
He asked if Mr. Pagiwa had received any documents prior to his eviction indicating the involvement of legal counsel, and he confirmed he hadn’t.
