A member of the Political Actors Dialogue (POLAD), Patrick Mugadza, was last week evicted from his lodgings in Glen Norah high-density suburb, Harare after he failed to pay US$40 rent.
Mugadza is the vice-president of Violet Mariyacha’s United Democratic Movement.
He told NewsDay that his family was given the notice to vacate their lodgings and he is currently in Mutare “hustling”. Said Mugadza:
What really happened is that, yes, because of the lockdown I still have to struggle to pay my rentals, which I did for March and for April.
My landlord said I must pay the rentals, which I didn’t as of now and as a result, he said I must leave.
Mugadza is not happy that his landlord has ignored the government’s recent directive deferring payment of rentals and stopping tenant evictions during the lockdown period. He said:
But what is of concern is that the government said people should not be evicted during this lockdown, but landlords seem to be ignoring the directive.
I have a few days to move my family, but because of the lockdown, it will be difficult and I may report to the police to get a reprieve.