Masvingo engages lawyers to evict tenants

Masvingo Correspondent
THE Masvingo City Council has engaged its lawyers to evict tenants from leased properties over non-payment of rentals. The tenants for the People’s Shop at Mucheke Hall have outstanding rentals amounting to over $100 000. According to the latest council report the director of Housing and Community Services, Mr Levison Nzvura, said the tenants led by the Masvingo Informal Traders Association (MTA) president Mr Gilbert Chikwata to which council leased a Hall are owing more than

$100 000 and the arrears have not been settled despite the local authority’s consented efforts to suggest a flexible payment plan.

“Consideration was given to the report of director of Housing and Community Services Mr Levison Nzvura on outstanding leased rentals with Masvingo People’s Shop operating at Mucheke Old Hall which have accumulated to over $100 00 since January. It was reported that the People’s Shop did not submit their payment plan but instead they are disputing the rental figures,” reads the report.

The report said the committee of housing and community services raised concern on the tenants’ failure to submit a payment plan to council towards the outstanding lease rentals and are not up to date with their rentals.

“The committee agreed that the lease agreement with the People’s Shop be terminated for failure to pay outstanding rentals. “The city treasurer Mrs Thandiwe Dube was instructed to engage council lawyers to evict the People’s Shop from Old Mucheke Hall and recover outstanding lease rentals,” added the report.

Council recently reviewed downwards rentals on all its leased properties by at least 50 percent as tenants struggle to pay, partly because of the prevailing economic challenges.