BCC Burombo Flats Tenant Evictions: Council Uncovers Widespread Irregularities

• An October 2025 assessment of Bulawayo's Burombo Hostels revealed widespread tenancy irregularities and severe overcrowding, with some rooms housing up to 16 people.
• Over half of registered tenants were found to be absent, with many units occupied by illegal lodgers or individuals who had failed to update their records.
• The hostels suffer from a lack of electricity since October 2023, following a child's electrocution, forcing residents to use unsafe alternative energy sources.
• Extreme overcrowding has led to common kitchens being converted into living spaces, storerooms being occupied, and significant pressure on the sewer system causing health hazards.
• The Bulawayo City Council's Health, Housing and Education department has proposed evicting illegal tenants, relocating some residents, and regularizing inherited tenancies to restore order and improve accountability.

The Bulawayo City Council's Health, Housing and Education department has now formally proposed a series of drastic measures, including widespread evictions and a regularization program, to address the severe overcrowding and systemic irregularities identified at Burombo Hostels.

The Bulawayo City Council (BCC) has initiated a comprehensive administrative verification and assessment of its Burombo Hostels, revealing extensive tenancy irregularities and severely deteriorated living conditions. This in-depth review, conducted through physical inspections and door-to-door interviews with occupants in October 2025, aimed to ascertain the tenancy status, adherence to occupancy regulations, and rental payment histories of residents. The findings painted a stark picture of a housing complex in disarray, with many units housing far more individuals than intended.

The assessment uncovered that a significant portion of the registered tenants were no longer residing in their allocated units. Council minutes indicated that over half of these official tenants had either passed away, relocated to rural areas, or secured alternative housing elsewhere. Compounding this issue, many current occupants were identified as illegal lodgers, often having no connection to the registered tenant or unaware of their identity. Furthermore, a substantial number of legitimate tenants had failed to update their tenancy records following relocation, contributing to the widespread confusion and lack of accountability within the housing scheme.

Beyond the administrative chaos, the physical conditions at Burombo Hostels were found to be alarming. Severe overcrowding was rampant, with numerous rooms accommodating five or more people, and some units housing as many as sixteen individuals. This extreme density was exacerbated by tenants converting common areas; all communal kitchens, for instance, had been subdivided into small living spaces, and some residents were even occupying storerooms that lacked essential ventilation or lighting.

The precarious living situation at Burombo Hostels is further compounded by a critical lack of essential services, notably electricity, which was disconnected in October 2023 following a tragic incident where a four-year-old child was electrocuted. This disconnection has forced residents in the already congested units to rely on alternative energy sources like gas and charcoal for cooking and heating, introducing significant safety risks within the overcrowded environment.

The excessive population density also places immense strain on the municipal infrastructure. The council noted that the sewer system is under severe pressure, leading to frequent blockages and recurrent spillages. These incidents not only create unsanitary conditions but also pose serious health and environmental hazards to the residents of the hostels and the surrounding community. Financial irregularities also emerged as a significant concern, with many tenants accumulating substantial rental arrears, some exceeding US$300 against a monthly rent of US$18.

In response to these critical findings, the Bulawayo City Council's Health, Housing and Education department has now formally proposed a series of drastic measures, including widespread evictions and a regularization program, to address the severe overcrowding and systemic irregularities identified at Burombo Hostels. The department recommends the eviction of all illegal tenants and lodgers in accordance with existing laws, aiming to decongest the flats and restore order to the housing complex. Additionally, those occupying storerooms are slated for eviction, with a recommendation for these spaces to be permanently secured to prevent future unauthorized habitation. Tenants who have converted common kitchens into living areas will also be removed to allow these facilities to be reinstated for their original communal purpose.

To alleviate the immediate overcrowding, the department has proposed relocating some residents to Vundu Hostels. For those who possess the financial means to acquire their own property, the council encourages them to engage with its Registry section to explore options for residential stands. Crucially, the council also plans to regularize the tenancy of occupants who have legitimately inherited rooms from deceased or absent parents. These individuals will be issued new tenancy accounts and tenure documents, a move designed to enhance accountability and streamline the process of rent collection, thereby ensuring a more structured and compliant municipal housing system.

The proposed BCC Burombo Flats tenant evictions underscore the Bulawayo City Council's commitment to enforcing its occupancy regulations and addressing the challenges within its municipal housing portfolio. The process of identifying and evicting illegal lodgers and unauthorized occupants is a critical step in BCC occupancy regulations enforcement, aiming to ensure that housing units are utilized as intended and that legitimate tenants are properly accounted for. This initiative also highlights the broader issues facing Zimbabwe municipal housing evictions, where local authorities grapple with balancing the need for housing provision with maintaining order and safety within their properties.

The council's dual approach of eviction for unauthorized occupants and Burombo Hostels tenancy regularization for those with legitimate claims, albeit informal, reflects an attempt to bring transparency and compliance to a complex housing situation. The issuance of new tenancy accounts and tenure documents for inherited rooms is a key aspect of this regularization, designed to improve the framework for managing municipal housing and facilitating consistent rent collection. This comprehensive strategy, while potentially disruptive for some residents, aims to rectify long-standing issues and establish a sustainable model for the management of public housing in Bulawayo.

Lawyers representing tenants in municipal housing should monitor the legal basis and process for these evictions, as they may set a precedent for similar actions across Zimbabwe. Compliance officers should advise clients on the implications of municipal housing regulations and potential regularization programs to avoid eviction or secure legitimate tenancy.

Source: Reporting based on Bulawayo City Council minutes.