News / National
US$22m expected from farm levies
16 Nov 2015 at 20:25hrs | Views
The recent harmonisation of farm and development levies for resettled farmers is set to increase transparency and accountability in the handling of land funds.
Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora said funding of development and infrastructure projects within the rural districts will be enabled.
A total of US$22 million is expected to be collected from farm levies every year by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement, who will in turn send it off to treasury.
Dr Mombeshora said the process and structures to kick-start the new arrangement has started with the training of personnel to handle the funds.
"Levies for resettled farmers is set to increase transparency and accountability in the handling of land funds as well as funding of development and infrastructure projects," he said.
Turning to all farm owners who have not been paying their farm levies to the rural district councils, Dr Mombeshora said the government has absorbed the debt and all farmers are to start on a clean note.
"They will not be asked to pay debts from previous years as government is set to start on a new note. The starting year is 2015 and those who will not pay risk losing farms," he said.
The Finance Act published by the government last week states that resettled farmers with permits and 99 year lease in all regions are expected to pay both farm and development levy quarterly.
Lands and Rural Resettlement Minister, Dr Douglas Mombeshora said funding of development and infrastructure projects within the rural districts will be enabled.
A total of US$22 million is expected to be collected from farm levies every year by the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement, who will in turn send it off to treasury.
Dr Mombeshora said the process and structures to kick-start the new arrangement has started with the training of personnel to handle the funds.
"Levies for resettled farmers is set to increase transparency and accountability in the handling of land funds as well as funding of development and infrastructure projects," he said.
Turning to all farm owners who have not been paying their farm levies to the rural district councils, Dr Mombeshora said the government has absorbed the debt and all farmers are to start on a clean note.
"They will not be asked to pay debts from previous years as government is set to start on a new note. The starting year is 2015 and those who will not pay risk losing farms," he said.
The Finance Act published by the government last week states that resettled farmers with permits and 99 year lease in all regions are expected to pay both farm and development levy quarterly.
Source - zbc
