A landlord from Gweru has received a four-month prison sentence, wholly suspended by a magistrate, for assaulting his tenant over unpaid rent.
Jonah Banda (40), from Ascot in Gweru, appeared before the Gweru Magistrates’ Court to face assault charges.
The court heard that on October 1, 2024, at around 12:45 PM, the complainant, a tenant in Banda’s residence, was sewing clothes in the sitting room when Banda knocked on the door and entered before she could respond.
Banda demanded payment for the overdue rent, but when the complainant explained that she had no money, he became enraged. In a violent outburst, he pulled a screwdriver from his pocket and stabbed her twice in the head.
The complainant promptly reported the incident to the police, leading to Banda’s arrest.
Ultimately, he was sentenced to four months in prison, with the sentence suspended on the condition that he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Pindula News

A landlord in Gweru went to court for hitting his tenant who didn't pay rent. The tenant was sewing when the landlord came in demanding rent. The tenant said she had no money and the landlord got angry. He took out a screwdriver and hurt the tenant. The tenant went to the police, and the landlord got a 4-month prison sentence, but didn't go to jail if he doesn't do it again for 5 years. This happened in October 2024.

Landlord Assaults Tenant Over Unpaid Rent In Gweru

The Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Judith Ncube, has urged property owners to consider reducing their rentals which are deemed too high and unaffordable by Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Ncube said the high rentals have resulted in the closure of a number of premises as most businesses were leaving Bulawayo’s Central Business District (CBD).
Officially opening Ngamla Supermarket at Nkulumane Shopping Mall recently, Ncube said:
<blockquote>
These premises are too expensive and a lot of shops have been closed as people move out due to high rentals.
As Old Mutual, you should consider reviewing your rentals here (Nkulumane Shopping Mall) and create a user-friendly atmosphere as you can see most of the shops are vacant.
You would find major supermarkets, pharmacies and banks, hence people did not need to go all the way into the CBD from their residential areas.
However, currently, it is a different story altogether as most of the facilities are all closed up and can now be accessed in the CBD.
</blockquote>
A recent snap survey conducted by The Sunday News established that rentals for shop space in the CBD cost from US$150 for those who share and US$200 for small spaces.
Some charge rentals of at least US$1 000 depending on the size of the space and where it’s located. | <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/reduce-rentals-property-owners-told/">The Sunday News</a>

Minister Urges Property Owners To Reduce Rentals

The Hwange Local Board (HLB) has threatened to repossess about 50 residential and 60 industrial stands in Chibondo medium density suburb and industrial area after the owners failed to pay bills, or develop the stands.
In a notice, HLB advised the listed property owners to visit its offices before 20 December 2022 to pay off their outstanding bills.
The rate defaulters have not paid council for a period of more than 120 days, with some not having done so for years. Part of the notice read:
<blockquote>
Note that Council has already started the process of instituting legal proceedings against rate defaulters and measures are being taken to repossess undeveloped stands in line with the Urban Councils’ Act, which compels the local authority to repossess undeveloped stands without compensation, where necessary.
</blockquote>
HLB spokesperson Dumisani Tsingo said the failure of beneficiaries to develop their stands was hampering the growth of the town. He said:
<blockquote>
We have an ever-ballooning waiting and as a town that is envisaging growth, we can’t have land, which stays undeveloped for years.
</blockquote>
Nsingo said the local authority will likely repossess and re-sell the undeveloped stands. He said:
<blockquote>
The notice we flighted wasn’t for repossessing properties but it was to remind the property owners to come forth and make plans to pay their outstanding bills.
However, the beneficiaries of those properties will be dealt with as per policy.
Just like any other Council, we are likely to repossess. There are laws that permit us to do so such as the Titles Registration and Derelict Lands Act Chapter 20:20 and the Urban Councils Act. 
Council is empowered to repossess and resell undeveloped housing stands after five years.
</blockquote>
HLB is owed more than $200 million in unpaid rates by residents and other ratepayers. | <a href="https://www.sundaynews.co.zw/hwange-to-repossess-standsowners-defy-payment-of-rentals/">The Sunday News</a>

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