News / Local
Chikomba RDC suing 170 schools for levy
11 Dec 2016 at 05:25hrs | Views
Chikomba Rural District Council is suing 117 primary and 53 secondary schools that are under its ambit for failure to remit school development levy.
The Council is demanding a total of $68 000 for the levy that has not been paid since the advent of multi-currency in 2008 Chikomba RDC Treasurer Hophini Mupamhadzi said they have engaged debt collectors from Mangwana and Partners to recover the debts.
He said Council has already served the schools with demand letters and some are coming for payments whilst some are coming and making payment plans.
Mupamhadzi said their intention is not to arrest or sue schools but to encourage them to come and arrange payment plans.
He added that clearing debts has an advantage to schools in that in cases of natural disasters like floods, the local authority can swiftly respond and assist since there will be resources available for that purpose.
However, school heads who declined to be named accused the council of not doing anything to assist schools even if it collects the levy.
"The situation is that parents are even failing to pay fees for their children so where do they get an extra dollar per child to pay to council," said one school head.
The Council is demanding a total of $68 000 for the levy that has not been paid since the advent of multi-currency in 2008 Chikomba RDC Treasurer Hophini Mupamhadzi said they have engaged debt collectors from Mangwana and Partners to recover the debts.
He said Council has already served the schools with demand letters and some are coming for payments whilst some are coming and making payment plans.
He added that clearing debts has an advantage to schools in that in cases of natural disasters like floods, the local authority can swiftly respond and assist since there will be resources available for that purpose.
However, school heads who declined to be named accused the council of not doing anything to assist schools even if it collects the levy.
"The situation is that parents are even failing to pay fees for their children so where do they get an extra dollar per child to pay to council," said one school head.
Source - Masvingo Mirror
