The Zimbabwean government’s spokesperson Nick Mangwana has dismissed a statement purportedly issued by the Office of the President instructing landlords not to demand rentals from their tenants for three months in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Mangwana said President Mnangagwa “has not issued a moratorium on the payment of rentals”. The COVID-19 Taskforce discussed this request from some citizens and concluded that the government cannot interfere with civil contracts under current law, Mangwana explained.
Below is the statement dismissed by Mangagwana as fake:
Due to Coronavirus that is now a pandemic and it’s causing a lot of damage to our economy. I direct to notify all the Landlords and Landladies in Zimbabwe not to collect rent from any Zimbabwean for the period of 3 Months (90 days) from the day of Lockdown. This will include residential and Business premises, Farms and Garages.
Kindly note that for those who have received any payment as a rental for the said period must return full amount without delay by 10th of April 2020.
This is to allow Zimbabweans to stay home as we fight this war of the Corona Virus. There is a possibility to add lockdown days in Zimbabwe since we are receiving more cases of Corona Virus from other Countries as well as in Zimbabwe.
Failure by any of the Landlords and Landladies to abide by this will face the Law. Please let’s fight this Virus together and follow precautions of washing your hands and not greeting people.