HARARE, Apr.11 (NewsDayLive) -A UK-based Zimbabwean woman has given her tenant based in Harare a 14-day ultimatum to pay US$3 850 in rental arrears and vacate the property located in Tynwald North, Westgate following a nasty fallout.
The tenant, Wendy Kugara was served with the notice papers on Thursday by lawyer Scott Mamimine of Sande Legal Practice on behalf of her landlady Shiela Chipunza.
Chipunza accuses Kugara of breach of contract and dishonesty.
The property owner claims that the agreement was that Kugara would pay US$350 monthly rentals, but the latter says she was only asked to look after the property and help in carrying out renovations.
According to the lawyer, Kugara reportedly misrepresented that she had incurred legal costs amounting to US$2 400 in legal costs on behalf of Chipunza.
When Chipunza demanded that Kugara provide proof of the alleged legal costs incurred and identity of the lawyer who rendered the services, the latter allegedly failed to do so.
According to Chipunza's lawyer, Kugara claimed to have paid US$2 400 to a lawyer who facilitated the eviction of her co-tenant identified as Prince Pagiwa.
“We have also been advised that you demanded the sum amount of US$2 400 to cover legal costs, which you purported you took a loan to cover legal costs of fees to evict Mr Prince Pagiwa.
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“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 US$2450.00 and US$$ 1750.00 from January 2025 to April 2025,” read part of the letter.
According to Mamimine, Kugara has already been served with a notice to vacate the premises and has since ignored it.
The lawyer added: "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 (the) 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 a clear record of the work done is produced and furnished to us."
Contacted for comment, Kugara said her landlady had deviated from their initial agreement.
She told NewsDayLive that she occupied the property in June last year on the understanding that she would not pay rent but help in carrying out renovations as the house was rundown.
She said all hell broke loose in December last year when Chipunza asked her to start paying rental fees.
"I couldn't raise the required amount then, so I asked for a grace period," Kugara said.
"To be frank, I don't understand why my landlady has turned her back on me when all along I have been helping her to look after the house, carrying out renovations using my money. Since December she has been sending her cousin and children to threaten me with eviction.
"I have since secured alternative accommodation and have asked her to allow me to stay until monthend, but she does not want me to stay here a day longer. One of her cousins even had the audacity to change some of the door locks in a bid to push me out of the house, " she said.
