Opinion / Columnist
Thank you Chombo for residents debts cancellation order
23 Jul 2013 at 05:24hrs | Views
ZUPA, the organisation representing the interests of millions of economically disadvantaged Zimbabweans especially the unemployed would like to thank the Ministry of Local Government through Minister Chombo for finally accepting our relentless calls to direct the country's 92 local authorities ordering them to cancel debts owed by residents from February 2009 to the end of June 2013.
We are delighted following the information that has reached us that: "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."
It is on record that ZUPA started engaging relevant authorities following outcry by our members in 2011 as many faced bailiffs, court orders and threats to lose their homes. We asserted that residents who were out of employment had no other means to pay and noted that the Government of the day had failed to grow the economy, empower those out of work, or create employment.
We call upon all those councils who had already reposed poor people's houses to return them.
The order will make a huge difference to Zimbabweans who were swimming in debt. It will change lives. The move, for why ever it has come about, is commendable.
ZUPA would also like to thank the various Residents Associations and other civil organisations that have been helping us to lobby and advocate for the cancellation of the debts. Every effort was worth the result it achieved.
We now call upon local council authorities to action the order and not resist it.
We now also call upon the Minister of Power and Energy Development E Mangoma and Parastatals Minister Godern Moyo to follow Minister Chombo's example and order a write-off of residents' debts to ZESA. Surely, it would be a sad day, if Mangoma and Moyo fail to do this for the economically disadvantaged Zimbabweans.
Let us start a new parliament session with a new chapter and chance for all Zimbabweans.
We are delighted following the information that has reached us that: "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."
It is on record that ZUPA started engaging relevant authorities following outcry by our members in 2011 as many faced bailiffs, court orders and threats to lose their homes. We asserted that residents who were out of employment had no other means to pay and noted that the Government of the day had failed to grow the economy, empower those out of work, or create employment.
We call upon all those councils who had already reposed poor people's houses to return them.
ZUPA would also like to thank the various Residents Associations and other civil organisations that have been helping us to lobby and advocate for the cancellation of the debts. Every effort was worth the result it achieved.
We now call upon local council authorities to action the order and not resist it.
We now also call upon the Minister of Power and Energy Development E Mangoma and Parastatals Minister Godern Moyo to follow Minister Chombo's example and order a write-off of residents' debts to ZESA. Surely, it would be a sad day, if Mangoma and Moyo fail to do this for the economically disadvantaged Zimbabweans.
Let us start a new parliament session with a new chapter and chance for all Zimbabweans.
Source - Thamsanqa Zhou and Innocent Ndibali
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