By Rex Mphisa
TENANTS of a block of shops rented from the Municipality of Beitbridge (MoB) are asking the local authority to grant them ownership having occupied the same for more than 40 years.
These shops are built along the northern side of the Dulivhadzimu Beerhall popularly known as “Machembere”.
These self-built structures are mostly spares shops and workshops rented in the midst of other which have title deeds.
Operators of the shops pay $300 monthly despite that there are no toilets and they have to use public pay facilities.
Calculating using today’s rental rates each tenant may have paid $144 000 for a shop they continue to rent.
“We have been paying rentals for many years. I took over this shop from my family. Our late father rented it, my brothers rented it and I am renting it, maybe my children will also rent it but for how long should this go on? We have long surpased the value of the land because the structures we built ourselves,” said Zanu PF shadow councillor for Ward 4 Boyd Maphosa.
Another tenant said MoB should be rationale and award ownership to the tenants who are pioneers to Dulivhadzimu Bus terminus.
“It can only make sense that tenants are awarded ownerships after having religiously paid rentals,” he said.
Town clerk Loud Ramakgapola was surprised their tenants had not approached them.
“I am hearing it from you, they have not approached us formally so we discuss a way forward. Yes those are some of the oldest shops but I cannot believe they have been renting for 40 years,” he said.
He said MoB will wait for their official approach to see how the issue can be resolved.
Although naturally a tenant cannot assume ownership of a property merely by renting it for a long duration, as renting is considered “permissive possession” rather than hostile possession.
The tenants believe they could be asked to “buy off” by paying a lenient lump sum and be granted ownership.
“Considering we have paid rentals many times more than the value they could consider we pay off with about $500 and the shops become ours,” said another tenant.