Panashe Nchenamilo
Landlords
in Masvingo have escalated boarding houses charges by up to 100 percent in a
move that borders both on profiteering and a fair attempt to keep up with
inflation.
in Masvingo have escalated boarding houses charges by up to 100 percent in a
move that borders both on profiteering and a fair attempt to keep up with
inflation.
Accommodation
prices have been raised from last semester’s RTGS$600 per head to RTGS$1200 per
head.
prices have been raised from last semester’s RTGS$600 per head to RTGS$1200 per
head.
The
rise in private boarding fees is said to be a response to Great Zimbabwe
University (GZU)’s decision to hike on-campus accommodation fees from RTGS$300 for
a room for two and RTGS$350 for a room for one to RTGS$500 for two and RTGS$600
for one at some campuses.
rise in private boarding fees is said to be a response to Great Zimbabwe
University (GZU)’s decision to hike on-campus accommodation fees from RTGS$300 for
a room for two and RTGS$350 for a room for one to RTGS$500 for two and RTGS$600
for one at some campuses.
A
landlord with a boarding house in Rhodene said he hiked charges to cushion
himself against increases in the cost of electricity, Wi-Fi and water.
landlord with a boarding house in Rhodene said he hiked charges to cushion
himself against increases in the cost of electricity, Wi-Fi and water.
“The
rentals per semester seem unreasonable to you but it is not that greedy but a
fair response to the increase in the cost of everything else. We have to see to
it that students have uninterrupted power, water and WI-Fi so there is no other
way I can manage.
rentals per semester seem unreasonable to you but it is not that greedy but a
fair response to the increase in the cost of everything else. We have to see to
it that students have uninterrupted power, water and WI-Fi so there is no other
way I can manage.
“It
is also even difficult for landlords to come up with a cost structure for our
services because the market is not stable. The fee might be fine for us this
week but it may not be the same the following week due to inflation.
is also even difficult for landlords to come up with a cost structure for our
services because the market is not stable. The fee might be fine for us this
week but it may not be the same the following week due to inflation.
“Things
are now expensive in the shops and it’s becoming worse every day. We need the
money to renovate the walls, beds and everything so that the students can enjoy
their stay,” he said.
are now expensive in the shops and it’s becoming worse every day. We need the
money to renovate the walls, beds and everything so that the students can enjoy
their stay,” he said.
Some
landlords of other boarding houses are said to be charging their houses at
US$120 per head per semester.
landlords of other boarding houses are said to be charging their houses at
US$120 per head per semester.
