Gvt sets rental relief measures for lockdown period

Harare, (New Ziana) – The government on Tuesday said regulations allowing landlords and tenants leeway to defer their financial obligations for the Covid-19 lockdown period until it is lifted are being put in place.

Zimbabwe effectively went under lockdown on March 30 as government sought to curtail spread of the virus that has shaken the world killing tens of thousands of people and infecting millions others.

While the first round of the national lockdown ended on April 20, it was further extended to May 3.

Noting that sources of income for tenants had been affected as a result of the lockdown, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister, Monica Mutsvangwa told a post cabinet media briefing that Cabinet had resolved President Emmerson Mnangagwa promulgates regulations to “give relief to both tenants and landlords during the lockdown period.”

“In view of the foregoing, Cabinet resolved that any unpaid rentals due for the period from April to end of the lockdown be paid in equal instalments after the declaration of the end of the lockdown period together with the rental payments due for those months and that all rent deferrals shall be free of any interest charges or penalties of whatever nature,” she said.

She added that it was also resolved that “homeowners obliged to make repayments on their properties or on any other property to which the rent deferrals apply be entitled, in respect of their mortgage obligations, to similar relief mutatis mutandis which will apply to tenants.”

Evictions for tenants on both residential and commercial properties have also been put on hold for the period of the lockdown.

Meanwhile, Mutsvangwa said President Mnangagwa will soon present a COVID-19 economic recovery and stimulus package.

Already funding has been availed to cushion youth owned businesses and small to medium enterprises for losses suffered during the lockdown.
New Ziana