Private cattle buyers avoid paying levies

21 Aug, 2016 - 00:08 0 Views

The Sunday News

Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu, Plumtree Correspondent
PRIVATE cattle buyers operating in Bulilima District, Matabeleland South are reportedly conducting cattle sales in the middle of the night to avoid paying levies to the local authority.

In a report presented at a cattle sales meeting last week, Bulilima Rural District Council Finance Department head, Mrs Maureen Ndebele said the local authority had tried to engage private buyers on the matter but to no avail.

“We have tried to engage private cattle buyers who are operating in the district to ensure that they pay levies but without luck.

They bypass the council and go on with their activities. It is also difficult to catch them in action because some of them conduct these sales at night. Recently we conducted a public sale in Bambadzi Ward and people were not forthcoming in selling their cattle. When we left some private buyers moved in well after 6pm to buy cattle,” she said.

Mrs Ndebele said the council’s sales had dropped drastically over the past months because of private buyers’ activities. She said in June council recorded 255 sales while in July they recorded 170 and August so far only 48 have been recorded.

Mrs Ndebele said in some cases villagers were not turning up with cattle to sell at all. She said the worst affected areas were Makhulela, Khame and Bambadzi Wards, areas where activities of private buyers were rampant. She appealed to police and the Department of Veterinary Services to assist in controlling activities of private buyers.

“These private buyers take advantage of the public sales that we conduct and they arrive ahead of us and buy cattle. At the time when we arrive villagers won’t be keen on selling anymore,” she said.

She said the Department of Veterinary Services could assist by denying permits to private buyers while the police can stop clearing cattle sold to private buyers without knowledge of council.

However, some officials at the meeting pointed out that there was no legislation which authorised them to stop activities of private buyers. Bulilima District administrator, Mrs Ethel Moyo said since there was no statutory instrument guarding against private buyers then council by-laws could serve the purpose.

She said the local authority had proposed some by-laws that would govern activities of the private buyers but they were yet to be approved.

Under the proposed by-laws private buyers are expected to pay a levy to council offices after purchasing cattle. They are also expected to conduct sales from public sales organised by the local authority and they are expected to report their activities to the local authority. Traditional leaders also pointed out that cattle buyers were defrauding villagers of their money.

Share This:

Survey


We value your opinion! Take a moment to complete our survey

This will close in 20 seconds