Cabinet yesterday recommended Presidential Regulations
imposing a moratorium on evictions of tenants delaying rent payments during the
lockdown and staying legal action against their landlords delaying mortgage
instalments as a result.
Presenting the outcome of the 13th Cabinet meeting in
Harare yesterday, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister
Monica Mutsvangwa said: “Further measures taken include the following, that His
Excellency the President consider promulgation of Presidential Regulations to
give relief to both tenants and landlords during the lockdown period.
“That both residential and commercial properties be
afforded a moratorium on evictions in respect of applicable lease obligations
due for the period from April to the end of the lockdown including payment of
rentals due for those months.”
“Rent deferrals should be free of any interest or penalties
of whatever nature,” continued the recommendation. Home owners and landlords
who, as a result of delayed rent, had to delay repayments of mortgage
obligations would be entitled to the same relief under the same conditions.
Other measures adopted by Cabinet as part of the Covid-19
preparedness response included testing security personnel and their families,
all medical staff and patients at all central hospitals, all returning
residents from abroad in designated mandatory quarantine facilities, and all
contacts of confirmed cases regardless of whether they showed symptoms.
All in the community around a cluster of cases had to be
tested as well as and immigration officials at Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Joshua
Mqabuko Nkomo and Victoria Falls international airports plus those at
Beitbridge and Forbes border posts.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet approved the disbursement
of $100 million by Treasury towards buying all available local stock of
personal protective equipment (PPE).
Transport and Infrastructural Development Minister Joel
Biggie Matiza should now identify strategic truck stops along the country’s
regional corridors to be gazetted as SADC Transit Truck Stops for use by
regional transit traffic when trucks cross Zimbabwe during the Covid-19
pandemic.
Minister Mutsvangwa said Cabinet approved the setting up of
isolation facilities at Rowa Training Centre for those entering Zimbabwe
through Forbes Border Post and at Vhuti High School for those entering through
Kariba and Chirundu border posts.
Cabinet approved the drilling of 13 boreholes at priority
centres identified by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and
Devolution, including one at Wilkins Hospital and two at Beatrice Road
Infections Diseases Hospital in Harare.
Disbursement by Treasury of $667 million of the budgeted
$758 million towards the fight against Covid-19 was also approved.
Minister Mutsvangwa said several ministers presented
progress reports on the 100-day priority projects. Herald
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