By Flata Kavinga
Municipality of Redcliff officials say proposed increases in monthly rentals for council-owned houses in Torwood were introduced as part of a move to rehabilitate council properties in line with urban renewal, a major component for attaining City status by 2030.
The issue emerged after councillors Christine Sigauke and Munyaradzi Munikwa raised concerns over the proposed increase in rentals from US$30 to US$60 for council properties that they said were currently uninhabitable.
Responding to the concerns, Acting Town Clerk Nyararai Gomba said the local authority adopted the position after noticing the inhabitable state of the houses.
He said the increases were among the major rehabilitation.earmarked to take place in the town.
Mayor Cllr Vincent Masiiwa said the local authority was considering ring-fencing revenue generated from the rentals to rehabilitate the ageing housing units.
“My thinking is that we should ring-fence the money from the rentals and use it to renovate the houses,” Masiiwa said.
He acknowledged that some of the council houses were in poor condition and required urgent repairs.
“The houses are not habitable. Recently one of the houses collapsed, which forces us to act with urgency,” he said.
Masiiwa said funds raised from rentals could help the local authority carry out renovations to make the houses habitable.
“Whatever is raised from the rentals must be used to fix the houses,” he said.
The proposed rental increases have drawn concern from some councillors, who argue that tenants should not be charged higher rates for properties that require major repairs.
Council is expected to continue deliberations on the matter as it implements its 2026 budget with proposals to sell the houses on the table.
