City of Masvingo (Occupation of Council Properties) By-laws, 2025
Masvingo now bars anyone from occupying council property without a registered lease, sets monthly rents from US$20 a room to US$500 for the Scout Hall and US$400 for base stations, and makes obstruction of an official a US$100 offence.
Made under section 229 of the Urban Councils Act, these by-laws govern who may occupy City of Masvingo property and on what terms.
No one may reside in or occupy council property unless they hold a registered lease, are a dependant of a lease holder, or fall within the saving provisions of section 10. A lease holder must take reasonable steps to ensure that everyone occupying the property is entitled to be there, and a tenant must be registered in the council's records and hold a council document evidencing registration.
The council must keep a register of every unit of accommodation, recording the lease or purchase agreement, the rent or instalment payable, the lease holder's particulars, the names and dates of birth of dependants, the particulars of any tenant and spouse, and the lease holder's income. Changes of particulars must be reported, and the by-laws provide for orders to vacate and for dealing with abandoned council property.
Rents and charges are set in US dollars and payable in local currency at the prevailing interbank rate. An occupation application costs US$10. Commercial rates include US$400 a month for base stations, US$200 for a wholesale LP gas stand and US$75 for retail, US$120 for reserved CBD parking, US$50 for car washes, neighbourhood kiosks, bus terminus kiosks and non-staff residential flats A–D, US$40 for small workshops and flats 1–6 and 11–16, US$30 for firewood stalls, branded kiosks and most room and plot lettings, US$25 for church stands, and US$20 for firewood shops and Type 63 rooms. Community facilities are priced separately: the Scout Hall at US$500, Rujeko Hall at US$200, Masvingo Pre-School at US$150 and Kubatana Pre-School at US$100.
Contravention carries a fine under the Second Schedule or eviction; the schedule prints a single penalty, US$100 for obstructing an authorised official.
What changed
- Occupation of council property without a registered lease is prohibited, with eviction as a remedy
- The council must keep a detailed register of leases, tenants, dependants and lease holder income
- Monthly rents set from US$20 for firewood shops to US$400 for base stations and US$500 for the Scout Hall
- An application for occupation of council property costs US$10
- Obstructing an authorised official carries a US$100 penalty, payable in local currency at the interbank rate
Who this affects
- Tenants of City of Masvingo housing, rooms and flats
- Traders renting council kiosks, stalls and stands
- Telecoms operators with base stations on council land
- Churches, schools and community groups renting council halls
Plain-language summary — not legal advice. Always read the full instrument.