Tenants in Gweru have reportedly started fleeing houses in the northern parts of the town for the high density where rentals are manageable as landlords start demanding rentals in USD, Newsday reports.
According to the publication some people are even migrating to the rural areas as the economic situation in the country becomes dire.
The migration was confirmed by Gweru Urban MP Brian Dube who said this to the publication:
Landlords in medium to low-density areas, such as Northlea, Nashville, Ivene, Lundi Park, South Downs, South View, Athlone, Riverside, Harben Park, Daylesford, Ridgemont are demanding rentals ranging from US$60 to US$250. This is completely out of reach for the majority of the working and middle-class earners.
A majority of low-income earners are now moving out of their current rented houses and renting incomplete houses without running water or electricity, mainly in parts of Woodlands, Hertfordshire and Mutausi Park. Some of our people have also given up on urban life and left town and gone to rural areas as they can’t break even. Life is becoming more unbearable day by day. This has caused serious disruption in life patterns as children are shifted from one place to another and those schoolgoing have to make abrupt transfers or have to bear with traveling long distances to school.
The situation has been exacerbated by the national lockdown which will end in 13 days which has also affected people’s incomes due to low production and low productivity.
More: Newsday