adminHarare Bureau
FARMERS have expressed mixed feelings over the reintroduction of land tax of US$1 per hectare per month on A1 and A2 farms, with others saying it was long overdue while others claim it will increase the farmers’ problems.
This follows a directive from the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement recently that all A1 and A2 farmers pay land the tax.
The revenue will be used to generate funds to cater for different purposes such as infrastructural development and roads maintenance. Zimbabwe Farmers Union vice president, Berean Mukwende, said the programme was good but it came too late.
He said although the re-introduction of the land tax was good in terms of development, the charge of US$1 per hectare was too high.
“The charge should be reduced to twenty cents per hectare instead of one dollar, since it has been a tough year for farmers due to the poor rains and lack of adequate capital from Government.
“The charges should be reduced to meet the cost of production of the farmers. Since this is a new initiative, it should be affordable for most farmers who are facing high production costs,” he said.
Zimbabwe Indigenous Women Farmers Association Trust, Depinah Nkomo has dismissed the programme saying it has been a bad year for farmers following climate change that led to poor harvests.
“The charges are exorbitant and should be reduced. Areas such as Matabeland that have poor harvest annually, therefore will need to pay less since they will not be able to cater for their costs,” she said.
Zimbabwe Commercial Farmers Union vice president, Johnson Mapira, said the tax payment should be viable and should also consider high costs farmers are facing.
“It has not been much of a good season to some farmers following droughts. Already farmers are paying levy to the rural district councils and double payments will be a huge blow to the struggling farmers,” he said.
However, Thomas Chitaru, a Hurungwe farmer, said it was only “lazy” farmers who complained of positive initiatives from Government.
“There is nothing wrong with the land tax. We are in business and it’s now time that we should start supporting our Government’s initiatives. We were given land and in some cases some inputs, so let us pay these taxes so that we have good dust roads, clinics and dip tanks. Our colleagues in town pay taxes and surely why should we not pay too,” said Chitaru.
A Macheke farmer, who is also a city businessman, said the country would not move forward with such “crybabies.”
“Farming is a business and we need serious people in that sector. Surely those people are the ones discrediting our land reform programme. If they cannot stand the heat, let them get out of land and bring in more serious people on waiting list.
“Those making noise are the ones who grabbed more than what they can use. Why do you need 700 hectares when you can afford to work on 20 only?” he said.
Government plans to raise money every year from levying farmers to development infrastructure such as roads, schools and clinics in the districts.
Online Reporter