Mutoko Rural District Council Chief Executive Officer, Brian Siagauke, told The Zimbabwean that most people who were resettled under the controversial agrarian reform programme were failing to pay their debts. “We are having problems with these people living in resettlement areas as they are not committed to pay us anything. Council has engaged a debt collector to help us collect our money from these defaulting farmers,” said Sigauke.
Sigauke said the broke local authority also owes Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority(ZESA) and Zimbabwe National Water Authority(Zinwa) a total amount of US$90 000. Villagers interviewed said they were keen to pay to the local authority but most of them were not employed.
“We cannot pay because we are unemployed. We have other commitments such as fees, food and health to take care of,” said Rangarirai Karondora of Mudzi. Other villagers said the local authority should borrow money from the Central government to kick start income generating projects rather than to rely on villagers as their cash cow.
Post published in: News