Renew leases or face eviction, says council

MUTARE City Council has urged residents residing in its properties in Sakubva to either renew their leases or face eviction.

Town clerk Mr Joshua Maligwa yesterday issued a notice to all residents of Sakubva to immediately engage council for renewal of their leases.

“Notice is hereby given to all residents and ratepayers who are living in Council rented houses in Sakubva to immediately come to the Housing and Community Services Department for lease renewal,” he said.

“Council is carrying out an audit process and renewal of the lease agreement is the first step that the local authority has taken to sanitise the situation obtaining in council accommodation. Council is further advising all lessees of its rented accommodation to come to the Housing and Community Services Department to renew their council house leases.”

Mr Maligwa said failure to adhere to payment of bills will result in council taking punitive measures against the residents and ratepayers.

This, he said, would result in the revocation of resident’s lease agreements and the houses would be reallocated to other interested tenants.

“Failure to pay current council bills and to stick to the payment plan will result in council taking punitive measures.

“All residents who live in council rented houses should immediately regularise their paperwork on or before 31st of July 2018, failure of which will result in the tenants being evicted from council property.

“Furthermore, failure come to renew the lease by the tenant or lease on or before 31st of July 2018 will result in the lease agreement being revoked or cancelled and pave way for new tenants,” he said.

Council recently clashed with Sakubva residents after Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority disconnected electricity over an outstanding bill amounting to $2 million.

Council is mandated to pay the bills on behalf of the residents who later took to the streets to register their disgruntlement over council’s neglect.