Online Reporter
Diana Nherera
RESIDENTS of Shawasha and Nenyere flats are crying foul after being locked out by the City of Harare over rentals.
In an interview, Ward 4 Mbare Councillor Boniface Maburutse said a meeting with the Director of Housing had resolved that rentals for the hostels be reduced from US$90 to US$38.
“The City of Harare workers are not accepting the US$38 and are locking out occupants of the flats saying they have not been given the directive that the rentals be reduced,” he said.
“I have tried to look for the director of housing but to no avail and they are locking out residents.”
Clr Maburutse said residents are breaking the keys after being locked out to gain entry into the flats.
Contacted for comment, City of Harare director of housing, Mr Edmore Nhekairo said tariffs charged by council are a product of a budget process that goes through consultation.
“We advertise, we submit to the Minister for his approval and this budget was approved in February, so whatever is currently happening in terms of billing, we are simply implementing a budget which was approved and was gazetted,” he said.
Mr Nhekairo said that is the process that council goes through from September to the end of the year.
“That’s how we come up with our tariff structure. And once it is approved by the minister, it is then gazetted and then becomes law. So as council, we are simply implementing an approved budget,” he said.
