Masvingo landlords who have been renting rooms to Masvingo Polytechnic and the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) students face a bleak festive season following the closure of the two institutions for the Christmas and New Year holidays.
The landlords “exploit” students by charging them very high rentals, most times they demand Rands and US dollars.
One of the landlords who spoke to Masvingo Star revealed that student rentals have been cushioning them against rising inflation. She said:
Life has become very difficult for most of us, especially family people because our salaries are extremely low to sustain basic needs which are becoming expensive daily. Therefore, if I get one or two tenants, that money for rent covers a very big gap.
Homeowners in suburbs such as Rujeko, Rhodene, Mucheke, Sisk, Eastvale, among others, are living off rental from students.
The closure of the tertiary institutions has also affected business people in the ancient town who have also been depending on rentals from the students.