adminmeet the deadline would see more than 7 000 tenants being kicked out of the buildings. The Harare City Fire Department yesterday said they did not have the resources to make follow-ups on condemned buildings.
However, most of the buildings are still in breach of several city by-laws and are a danger to occupants and the public. The Fire Department yesterday said they had no transport to make follow-ups on the condemned buildings.
“We are still to make a follow-up on the buildings because we don’t have transport.
“We should follow up and check if they have complied with our requirements and if not we will hand over the case to Harare Municipal Police for further action,” acting divisional officer fire prevention Mr Sydney Mavhurume said yesterday. Most of the condemned buildings are still operating. The buildings are over-crowded with mostly self-employed people operating businesses such as dressmaking and mobile phone selling, among others.
When The Herald visited the condemned buildings — Robin House, Dublin House, Daventry House, Stewart & Lloyds, Bush House, Roslin House, Msasa House, Mahachi Quardum Building and Winston House — it was business as usual.
Tenants interviewed said they were not concerned as it was the owner’s responsibility to comply with council’s requirements.
“We cannot stop because council has ordered our landlord to refurbish his property.
“We have families to feed and school fees to pay,” one tenant at Robin House said.
Another tenant at Daventry House said property owners were just pocketing rentals without paying attention to their properties.
It was the same situation at Vivandelphi Court, a flats complex in Eastlea, where council has ordered the eviction of families from the dilapidated flat but they have been resisting for several years. The building is located along McChlery Avenue and houses more than 30 tenants although it was designed for six families.
Online Reporter