City Council Gives Mbare Flats Residents a 14-Day Eviction Ultimatum

The Mbare Flats (image Source)

Tension and anxiety now shadow Mbare Flats after Harare City Council (HCC) issued an eviction ultimatum: tenants in arrears have 14 days to clear their dues or face judicial eviction. The notice, posted across apartment blocks since August 15, has ignited outcry, legal mobilization, and urgent calls for alternatives.

Mbare residents woke to notices pinned on buildings stating that rent and levy arrears, ranging from ZWL 100,000 to ZWL 3 million, must be paid within two weeks or eviction orders would follow. Based on recent exchange rates (ZWL 250–400 per USD), these arrears translate to between US$250 and over US$7,000 — astronomical sums for most renting families, especially given Zimbabwe’s wage depreciation.

Mbare Flats are home to breadwinners such as teachers, nurses, vendors, and clerks — many of whom may have skipped rent due to inflation, salary delays, or loss of income. A teacher at a local primary school said:

“I’ve paid early when possible, but sudden rent hikes make it impossible sometimes. Eviction would send us into tents, literally.”

For many, these flats are more than just homes; they are social networks, youthful memories, and economic footholds. Eviction would dismantle years of savings, disrupt informal trading, and destabilize a fragile employment ecosystem.

The deputy mayor defended the eviction threat, insisting that rent collection is vital for funding city services such as refuse collection, road maintenance, and sanitation. However, critics argue that forcing residents to pay large sums at once is unreasonable, given the prevailing incomes and economic volatility. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has instructed residents to contest the notice in court, citing constitutional guarantees for affordable housing and procedural fairness. An emergency application is expected within days to halt mass evictions and propose humane solutions.

In Mbare’s civic groups, WhatsApp forums are buzzing with digital campaigns and flyers encouraging conditional rent withholding until relief measures are introduced. One active group is now organizing rental pooling, where residents pledge small amounts weekly to show goodwill and stave off eviction orders. Across Harare, rent arrears and chronic payment delays plague both council-run and private housing infrastructure. The eviction push lays bare the struggle between fiscal necessity and compassionate governance.

Analysts have called on the council to allow arrears to be paid in installments over several months and to adjust rates relative to tenants’ means — particularly for essential service workers like teachers and nurses. They also suggest that partnerships between HCC and legal aid clinics could prevent evictions and preserve urban stability.