MIDWEEK REPORTER
MASVINGO CITY-In a development that has sent shockwaves across government workers, the Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities has ordered all those with arrears to vacate its houses.
In a letter that is in possession of The Midweek Watch dated 25 October 2024, the deputy director estates management and provincial coordination identified as C. Badza, he wrote that they will not renew the lease agreements for all those with outstanding rentals and they should look for alternative accommodation in 2025.
On Wednesday the provincial housing director, Kudzai Hilton Mushangwe promised to call back as he said he was attending a workshop but did not do so and on Thursday he was no longer picking up his cellphone.
“We hereby notify you that you are owing the lessor (Ministry of National Housing and Social Amenities)…..in unpaid rent as at 1st October 2024.
“We expect you to visit our office and update your rental payments.
“Our office has no intention to extend the privilege of renewing the 2025 agreement of lease to noncomplying tenants,” reads part of the notice.
Efforts to get confirmation from Minister Daniel Garwe on whether the exercise is nationwide or confined to Masvingo were unsuccessful as he told this reporter to get information from the one who wrote the letters.
Sources who spoke on condition of anonymity said the ministry is trying to create accommodation for president’s office employees who will be deployed to Masvingo next year hence they are taking advantage of any loophole to evict government workers occupying its houses.
“This is not the employees’ problem because the ministry was supposed to get its money from the SSB directly since there is a standing agreement in existence.
“There is an agreement between the ministry, SSB and the employee so how can one be in arrears of payments that are supposed to come directly from the employer.
“The ministry should confront SSB and get their money from there not directly from the employees,” said the source.
However some government workers are said to be paying cash directly to the ministry of amounts ranging from US$40 to US$150 per month depending with the location and size of the house.
