Rip-off. Daylight robbery. Outrage. That is the growing
sense on the growing trend of property owners in Harare and other cities that
are increasingly charging in foreign currency, preferring the United States
dollar, squeezing consumers.
Ironically, when it comes to paying off their dues, such as
domestic labour and rentals, the property owners are not paying in forex,
exposing their profiteering and greed.
Stakeholders who spoke to The Herald this week slated this
practice, with some watchers noting that this could also be responsible for
market distortions.
Harare Residents Trust director Mr Precious Shumba said it
was unfair for landlords to charge rentals in forex, considering the prevailing
economy challenges in the country.
“The residents have told us that a lot of property owners
are demanding monthly rentals in US dollars. The tragedy of making this demand
on lodgers or tenants is that we are all living under the same socio-economic
environment where the US Dollar is scarce and costly to find,” he said.
He advised tenants to be given written notice of the
changes and not to be forced to pay what they cannot afford.
“The HRT urges all tenants to demand lease agreements where
the property owner must specify that they want their monthly rentals in US
dollars. They must give three months’ notice of that intended change, and they
must enter into a lease agreement to reflect the new changes. Tenants must be
aware of their rights, and they must make them known whenever they are
threatened,” said Mr Shumba.
Competition and Tariffs Commission former chairman Mr
Dumisani Sibanda said: “What is currently happening in the market has to do
with supply and demand. If property owners demand to be paid in foreign
currency its means that you are forcing the tenants to get that money from the
parallel market where the rates are very high.
“This can be regarded as an abuse of market power or
probably it is a way of maintaining value of their properties at the cost of a
tenant.”
Consumer Council of Zimbabwe executive director Mrs
Rosemary Siyachitema advised landlords to be practical if they still want to
realise value for their property.
“We can only advise landlords that are charging in forex to
trade carefully because they will end up on the losing side. If they continue
to charge in forex they will end up with voids as tenants will go elsewhere
where they are being charged affordable rentals.
“They should not push tenants too far considering that
workers are being paid in RTGS dollars,” she said. A snap survey revealed that most
landlords in the medium and low density suburbs are now charging rentals in
foreign currency.
In Damofalls a full house is costing an average of US$250,
while cottages, full houses and flats in areas such as Avondale, Greencroft,
Mabelreign, Westgate houses cost between US$250 to US$500 per month. In an interview, a tenant from Avondale said the new forex
charges were beyond the reach of many.
“The situation has become unbearable because my salary is
in RTGS. I am being charged US$200 for the house I am renting and I am looking
around for cheaper accommodation since last month but it is not easy to get one
with a reasonable price,” said Mr Brian Cherara.
Mr John Banda, from Mandara, said Government needs to
urgently address the national housing backlog as a long term measure but
regulate rentals as a short term measure.
“We need a fast-track housing programme, not only for civil
servants but all Zimbabweans. In the meantime, systems must be activated to
protect tenants.
“Psychologically, most workers are no longer productive as
they are stressed over rent. Shelter is at the top, in terms of hierarchy of
needs and if shelter is not secure, then the worker can no longer perform.
“How do we meet Vision 2030 with an unproductive
workforce,” Mr Banda said. Herald
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