The Harare City Council has warned residents of Mbare flats that they face eviction over non-payment of rent.
The local authority has given tenants a 14-day deadline to clear outstanding rental arrears or risk removal from the properties.
In a notice dated 18 June 2025, the council’s Director of Housing, Addmore Nhekairo, issued an ultimatum for residents to settle the amounts owed to the municipality. Reads the notice:
“Please be advised that since you have ignored various reminders and notices to clear the outstanding rental arrears, you are hereby served with a final notice to pay the outstanding amount or vacate the property to avoid continuous prejudice to council.
“You are advised to settle your obligations within 14 days from date of receipt of this final notice.
“Failure to pay monthly rentals is a serious breach of the agreement of lease which mandates City of Harare to evoke the conditions of lease and recover holding costs from the same.
“Notwithstanding the availability or none of the lease agreement, council shall not be prejudiced in its rights to recover holding costs from the lessee for breach of mutual understanding.”
The notice is part of Harare City’s ongoing drive to recover rent arrears from tenants leasing its properties.
In Mbare, the council is also facing mounting pressure to renovate flats that are fast becoming uninhabitable.
Last year, the High Court ordered the council to upgrade the flats to meet acceptable living standards, but the city authorities have appealed the ruling.
In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com, Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) director Ruben Akili urged the council to address the root causes behind residents’ failure to pay. Said Akili:
“These are the same flats which we had a court order for renovations. As you are aware all the flats in Mbare were supposed to be renovated.
“The situation in Mbare is unacceptable sewer is gushing all over and many things are just happening and many things are happening.
“From CHRA’s perspective is that some residents are paying and some are not paying.
“Local Authority should address the fundamental problems that speaks to the reasons why residents are not paying.”
More: NewZimbabwe.com
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