Debt cancellation legal, not mere politicking, says Chombo

LOCAL Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo yesterday said the directive to all 92 rural and urban councils to write off debts owed by residents for rates and bills from February 2009 to June 30 was legal.

Vice President Joice Mujuru and First Lady Grace Mugabe concurred and said the directive was not a political gimmick but a move meant to cushion people from the economic hardships they face as a result of the illegal sanctions. Addressing thousands of Zanu-PF supporters in Bindura yesterday VP Mujuru said the debts accrued by residents were unjustified and accumulated at a time the country was suffering from the sanctions, illegally imposed on the country by Western countries.

"The fact that the directive coincided with the harmonised elections does not mean that it is a political gimmick," said VP Mujuru.

"Ndozvamakaita paminda vamwe venyu muchiti ipolitical gimmick mukabva masara nhasi maakutinetsa muchida minda iyoyo. Minister Chombo, in announcing the decision took the law into consideration and this is a move meant to assist our residents to come out of this mud," she added.

At a Zanu-PF rally in Mabvuku-Tafara constituency in Harare, Minister Chombo said the directive was irreversible and assured residents that the debts would not appear on their bills.

The directive followed complaints by residents' associations over arrears caused by unjustified increases in rates and bills by MDC-T-led councils, especially in urban areas. Minister Chombo recently told a press conference that he had dispatched circulars to the local authorities informing them of the policy line.

"In terms of Section 133 of the Rural District Councils Act Chapter 29:13 as read with Section 303 of the Urban Councils Act Chapter 29:15, councils are directed to write off debts in respect of rentals, unit tax, development levy, refuse charges and water and sewer fees as at 30 June, 2013.

"Similarly, amounts owed by residents in respect of rates since February 2009 stand prescribed in terms of Section 15 of the Prescription Act Chapter 8:11."

Minister Chombo urged Zesa Holdings and the Zimbabwe National Water Authority to follow suit to bring relief to the people whose livelihoods were destroyed by sanctions over the past decade.

Minister Chombo said the economic sanctions had made life difficult for the people. He said the debt forgiveness was worth US$2 billion. Minister Chombo said the MDC-T wanted to divert money collected from rates to other activities.

He said since the adoption of the multi-currency regime in February 2009 residents were failing to pay their dues to councils and had accumulated huge debts.

Minister Chombo also distributed 600 residential stands to priests and people of Malawian origin living in Mabvuku. He applauded Zanu-PF National Assembly candidate for the constituency Mr Godwills Masimirembwa for continuing to assist people in the area especially in solving the water crisis.

"In some of the suburbs in and around the city, no one has come with such a programme to provide people with clean water. If you do not vote for him, I don't think (MDC-T candidate Mr James) Maridadi would be able to do so," Minister Chombo said.

Minister Chombo said Mr Masimirembwa had bought 3 000 litres of fuel which would be used by the city council vehicles that are going to construct roads in the area. He said the Agruiculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development Minister Joseph Made had also donated 30 tonnes of wheat and rice that would be distributed to the under privilleged in the area beginning today.