District council takes farmers to court

land-holding levies for about 10 years.
The 200 farmers are the first among over 2 000 in the district who are likely to face the same action.
The RDC claims that of the 2 452 registered A2 farmers in Hurungwe, only 11 percent – or about 260 – have been paying the unit tax since they received land offer letters 10 years back. This, according to the council, affected implementation of developmental projects.
The RDC has had to use proceeds from its Sungwi Farm to fund development. The Third Schedule of the Rural District Council Act (Chapter 29:13), as read with Section 6(2) of the Finance Act (Number 3 of 2009) says A2 farmers in natural region 2a (in which Hurungwe falls) must pay US$3 per hectare every year.
Those in communal areas and villagised A1 farms pay US$2 per household and US$1 per hectare annually each.
A2 farmers have a minimum of 20ha of land.
Such a farmer is expected to pay US$60 in levies yearly.
Yesterday, HRDC chief executive officer Mr Joram Moyo said council took the farmers to court after written notices and physical visits to defaulters failed to yield results.
“The errant farmers are being served in manageable batches of 200 and very soon we are going to have the next lot of 200 also being served with the summons.
“We have been saying that one should come and make a payment plan. It is lack of commitment and will on the part of the farmers,” Mr Moyo said.
According to Mr Moyo, there has been very little development in many farming areas, which were characterised by damaged roads and bridges.
Council chairman Mr Tichaona Matthew said prominent farmers and respected community leaders were among the defaulters.