The Sunday Mail
More than 2 000 tenants have been evicted from Harare City Council rented accommodation for non-payment of a cumulative US$8,5 million which the local authority says it needs to improve service delivery.
The Sunday Mail has gathered that the evictions have been going on since the beginning of the year and Harare City acting town clerk Mrs Josephine Ncube said more people would be affected.
“Over 2 000 writs of execution have been issued mostly in Prospect, Waterfalls, Budiriro, and Hatcliffe,” she said. “In addition, over 200 summons of eviction are being served mainly in leased properties throughout Harare,” she said.
Mrs Ncube said targeted tenants were those with debts of over US$1 000.
“We have categorised the debts as. . . US$300, US$300 to US$700, and from US$700 to US$1000. For these categories we are encouraging tenants to enter into payment plans with the council,” she said.
Harare Residents Trust director Mr Precious Shumba condemned council for demanding payment for non-existent services.
“Residents living in rented accommodation are being exploited by the council through the charging of higher monthly rentals when the council is not providing any services in these areas. Residents do their own repairs and maintenance,” he said.
“The legal processes leading to the evictions should be done according to the dictates of the law. What we have observed is that most of the victims are being evicted without appearing in any court of law, which raises questions about the council conniving with corrupt court officials to simply enter default judgments against the residents without the residents being served with summons.”
A former tenant in Glen Norah B, Mrs Tsitsi Chinonzo, alleged she was evicted without prior notice.
“There was no notice of eviction. Council attached my furniture in July despite them having been ordered by Government not to effect the eviction,” she said.
Council is also throwing out sub-tenants in council rented accommodation.
Meanwhile, a resolution has been made to sell 1 622 of council houses to sitting tenants who have been occupying them for over 20 years.
