News / National
9,000 Harare tenants face eviction
02 Jun 2025 at 08:59hrs | Views
Approximately 9,000 residents renting accommodation from the Harare City Council (HCC) are at risk of eviction due to failure to pay rentals, city officials have confirmed.
The revelation came from HCC housing manager Edgar Dzehonye, who disclosed that only a fraction of the city's 10,000 tenants are meeting their rental obligations.
"The City of Harare wishes to advise members of the public that it is concerned with the levels of default by members occupying its rented accommodation," said Dzehonye. "The City of Harare owns about 10,000 rented properties and only less than 10% are paying their obligations."
Dzehonye described the default rate as "alarming" and confirmed that the council has begun issuing final demand notices to defaulters. If payments are not made within 14 days of receiving the notice, tenants will be served with eviction notices allowing a further 14 days to vacate the premises.
He clarified that the council is not acting out of malice but emphasized the importance of residents fulfilling their financial obligations. Dzehonye also pointed out that some tenants have been illegally subletting council-owned properties, worsening the situation.
"Our intention is not to cause suffering, but to bring order and ensure the proper use of public housing," he said.
HCC's housing and community services director Addmore Nhekairo has been working alongside Dzehonye to enforce housing policies and restore order in the capital. However, their efforts have been met with stiff resistance from powerful land barons, some of whom have been obstructing attempts to regularise informal settlements.
The city's challenges in managing public housing have been compounded by political interference. Acting Harare town clerk Phakamile Mabhena recently released a report implicating politically connected individuals in protecting land barons who operate with impunity.
As the eviction process looms, the city council faces a delicate balancing act between enforcing the law and addressing the socio-economic hardships affecting thousands of Harare residents.
The revelation came from HCC housing manager Edgar Dzehonye, who disclosed that only a fraction of the city's 10,000 tenants are meeting their rental obligations.
"The City of Harare wishes to advise members of the public that it is concerned with the levels of default by members occupying its rented accommodation," said Dzehonye. "The City of Harare owns about 10,000 rented properties and only less than 10% are paying their obligations."
Dzehonye described the default rate as "alarming" and confirmed that the council has begun issuing final demand notices to defaulters. If payments are not made within 14 days of receiving the notice, tenants will be served with eviction notices allowing a further 14 days to vacate the premises.
"Our intention is not to cause suffering, but to bring order and ensure the proper use of public housing," he said.
HCC's housing and community services director Addmore Nhekairo has been working alongside Dzehonye to enforce housing policies and restore order in the capital. However, their efforts have been met with stiff resistance from powerful land barons, some of whom have been obstructing attempts to regularise informal settlements.
The city's challenges in managing public housing have been compounded by political interference. Acting Harare town clerk Phakamile Mabhena recently released a report implicating politically connected individuals in protecting land barons who operate with impunity.
As the eviction process looms, the city council faces a delicate balancing act between enforcing the law and addressing the socio-economic hardships affecting thousands of Harare residents.
Source - Newsday
