President Emmerson Mnangwagwa has lifted the moratorium on rentals payments effected in April to cushion tenants on COVID-19 lockdown against the effects of the pandemic.
Invoking the Temporary Presidential Powers, Mnangagwa froze rental increases and stopped any evictions or court action against tenants who fail to pay their landlords.
He gazetted Statutory Instrument 96 of 2020 to give reprieve to tenants by, among other things, freezing rentals at the level they were.
The moratorium sparked controversy with landlords and pressure groups arguing that their properties were their source of income for their livelihoods.
Lifting the moratorium, Friday, the President said rent arrears can now be paid in a period of six months.
“The moratorium on rent payment, made during the early phases of the lockdown is hereby lifted. Rent arrears can be settled in instalments spread over a period of six months,” said President Mnangagwa.
The President highlighted that the country remained at level 2 as the current number of positive cases require more caution in relaxing the lockdown restrictions.
“Although our lockdown remains at Level 2, let us begin to further open up, remembering that we all have a role to play,” said President Mnangagwa.
“Under this review, we recognise that the current spike in the number of positive cases, requires that we take a more cautious approach in relaxing the lockdown restrictions.”
