The Zimbabwe Down Syndrome Association (ZDSA) is searching for new premises after the Bulawayo City Council raised their rent from US$50 to US$250 per month, despite the facility’s dilapidated state.
The association, which has occupied the council-owned premises since 2011, says the rent hike is unjustified, given the building’s poor condition and the council’s failure to formally communicate their future plans for the property.
ZDSA coordinator Sibonisiwe Mazula explained that they had been paying US$50 in rent since moving into the premises in 2011.
At the time, the property was in poor condition, having previously been used by trailer operators.
“We cleaned it up, and that’s when we started our project,” Mazula said.
“All this time, we have been paying US$50 until the agreement came to an end.
“We renewed it last year, I think in August 2024.”
Mazula said the association was shocked to learn of the sudden rent increase and tried to reach out to Bulawayo mayor David Coltart to discuss the matter but they have not been able to secure an appointment.
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“I called about three weeks ago, and they told me he has a backlog of appointments for six months,” she said
“I wanted to talk to him about the rent and also about land we applied for two to three years ago.
“They initially responded and requested information about our plans, which we provided, but that was the last we heard from them.”
Although the organisation had faced some financial challenges in the past, Mazula noted that they had cleared their arrears before renewing the lease.
However, she insists that the US$250 rent is not justified, particularly given the building’s poor state.
“The ceiling is falling apart. It’s something else. I even took videos so I could show the mayor, but my efforts to meet him have been unsuccessful,” she said.
Following her attempts to get clarity from city officials, Mazula was told by a council secretary, one Sibindi, that the matter would be looked into.
However, shortly afterward, a team from the town clerk’s department visited the premises to inform ZDSA that the city council had plans to extend a road, which would affect their facility.
“They didn’t give us anything in writing. They just told us verbally.
“They did say we would be given first priority if any tenders become available, but we are still waiting,” she said.
With no official communication from the council and uncertainty about their current premises, ZDSA is now actively looking for alternative accommodation.
However, securing a new place remains a challenge as rental costs in the city continue to rise.
For now, the association remains in limbo, unsure of when they will have to vacate or whether they will be offered alternative space by the city.
