The ManicaPost
Samuel Kadungure in Nyanga—
RURAL District Councils have petitioned Government seeking reversal of policy compelling farmers in resettlements to remit land levies to the lands ministry, arguing that the move was ill-advised and a recipe for disaster in RDCs.The issue of land levies took centre stage at the development practitioners retreat in Nyanga where RDC bitterly complained that their revenue base was affected by the directive, forcing them to retrench, slash salaries, trips and subsistence allowances to fund service delivery in these resettlement areas.
Government started collecting land rentals and development levy from A1 and A2 farmers and other farmers on State land backdated to 1 January 2015, towards the end of 2015.
Holders of valid letters for A2 resettlement plots, self contained plot holders with offer letters, holders of 99-year leases and holders of leases on small-scale commercial farms should pay US$3 land rentals annually per hectare and US$2 per hectare for development levy yearly.
Holders of A1 permits or temporary permits are required to pay US$10 for land rentals and US$15 development levy yearly.
Revenues from the land rentals should be used by Government to manage rural State land while income accrued from the development levy shall be devoted towards infrastructure development in farming areas which RDCs complain is coming in trickles.
Minister of State for Manicaland Provincial Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene, who officially opened the three-day event on Wednesday, said RDCs were not aggressive enough.
“If you don’t serve your purpose then there is no need to have you in the first place. How can rural councils run short of financial resources when there are farmers all over? Devise strategies, think outside the box. Change your focus. That land is under your jurisdiction, making the land levies yours, so why are you allowing yourselves to be bullied. Be aggressive, be strong and vigilant to get your dues back. If I i’s Government suppressing you, then tell me, it is my duty to represent you,” said Cde Chimene.
RDCs National CEOs Forum chairperson, Mr Edward Pise, said RDCs’ coffers were in red, adding that they had included the land levies in their 2017 budgets.
Mr Pise said RDCs would today (Friday) meet Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Cde Patrick Chinamasa to explain the magnitude of their plight.
“It has crippled rural authorities. Land levies have been the major source of income for RDCs than Central Government funding. RDCs are getting a raw deal and still expected to deliver efficient services in those areas,” complained Mr Pise.
For instance, Makoni RDC this year received a paltry $4 800 instead of $510 000, while Mutare RDC received $3 000 instead of $93 000.
“We want the Minister of Finance to reverse the decision empowering the Ministry of Lands to collect land levies because they lack capacity. They should collect the land rentals and leave RDCs to collect the land levies in 2017. We have included the levies in our budgets to demonstrate the seriousness of the matter. The Ministry of Lands has no capacity. They are collecting the monies at their provincial offices because their district offices have no personnel and vehicles for that,” said Mr Pise.
