The City of Harare has launched a sweeping debt recovery campaign targeting defaulters occupying council-owned properties, with eviction proceedings set to begin on Monday, May 19, 2025.
The aggressive move comes as the city battles dwindling revenue inflows, largely due to widespread non-compliance with lease agreements and rental obligations by tenants and leaseholders.
In a statement, Acting Town Clerk Phakamile Mabhena Moyo warned that all occupants with outstanding debts risk eviction if they fail to settle their dues.
“This process is not just about reclaiming revenue, but about restoring accountability and service delivery across the city,” said Moyo.
“Tenants and lessees who continue to occupy council properties without paying are undermining the municipality’s ability to provide essential services.”
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The crackdown will affect a broad spectrum of defaulters, including residents in council housing, commercial leaseholders, schools, users of guarded car parks, and other entities utilizing municipal assets.
The city will implement a phased legal approach, beginning with the issuance of formal eviction notices. This will be followed by court summonses and, ultimately, enforcement of ejectment orders.
Council authorities emphasized that the recovery campaign is crucial to safeguarding Harare’s financial sustainability and reviving essential urban services.
“We urge all those in arrears to make immediate payment arrangements to avoid legal action and the distress of eviction,” Mabhena-Moyo added.
The city says the initiative marks one of the most robust debt enforcement drives in recent years as it seeks to plug revenue leaks and enhance service delivery.
