By Staff Reporter
DESPITE being subjected to living in deplorable conditions, Mbare residents have been put on notice by the Harare City Council over non-payment of rentals of flats they are residing in.
Harare City Council has given the Mbare flats residents a 14-day notice to settle rental arrears or risk being evicted.
In a notice dated June 18 2025, the director of housing, Addmore Nhekairo gave the residents an ultimatum to settle the arrears the City Council is owed by the residents.
“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,” read the notice.
The notice comes on the back of Harare City, on the drive to recover money it is being owed by tenants leasing their properties.
However, in Mbare, Harare City is under pressure to renovate the flats which are becoming uninhabitable.
Last year, the High Court ordered Harare City Council to renovate the flats to match decent living standards. The City fathers have appealed the judgement.
In an interview with NewZimbabwe.com, Combined Harare Residents Association (CHRA) director, Ruben Akili, said the deplorable living conditions have dissuaded tenants from paying their rentals.
“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,” said Akili.