Vubwi Council chief calls for strict grain levy compliance

THERE is need for strict grain levy compliance by the farming community in the district, Vubwi District Council Secretary Robert Mlauzi has said.

Mr Mlauzi’s call follows an incident in which a local grain trader fought with council revenue collectors in protest to pay levy for the soya beans consignment he was transporting.

He encouraged farmers to comply with council revenue collectors as they are mandated to do so.

“As you are aware, it is the mandate given to us under the Local Government Act to collect levy on grain,” he said.

He said the local authority is flexible in dealing with payments of the levies as such payments are negotiable.

“If you don’t have any, if you’re not ready to pay, you can simply negotiate with them by indicating when you’re going to be ready to come and make payments,” he said.

Mr Mlauzi noted that noncompliance attracts penalties which range from confiscation of measuring scales to fines.

“There are some consequences, one of which includes the council confiscating your scales and these can only be released after you make payments,” he said.

He added that the collection of levy on grain was consequently for the benefit of the district as it would in turn contribute to community development.

“This is for the good of the district as some of the money which will be collected will be ploughed back to the community to help develop the community,” he said.

Mr Mlauzi has since called for the community’s continued support to the Vubwi local authority in its efforts to develop the district.