LOCAL Government minister Saviour Kasukuwere was yesterday
grilled in the National Assembly over the legality of Well Cash debt collectors
that has been contracted by several local authorities and public hospitals to
attach people’s properties over debts, and charging a 10% fee for debts
recovered.
Goromonzi West MP, Biata Nyamupinga (Zanu PF) said the debt
collectors were causing suffering, particularly to women.
Kuwadzana East MP, Nelson Chamisa (MDC-T) asked Kasukuwere
to explain if it was lawful for Well Cash to get a 10% commission. He said if
Harare was owed $700 million, Well Cash would get $70 million.
“First and foremost, debt collection is legal, and if you
borrow you must pay back. However, we now need to look at their contract to see
if the 10% benefit to Well Cash was made by local authorities,” Kasukuwere
said.
Buhera South MP, Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu PF) then asked:
“When local authority budgets are crafted, they are authorised by the Local
Government minister, and so, minister, are you saying that you authorised Well
Cash? You are the one that is supposed to control this stupid thing of debt
collectors?”
Kasukuwere promised to investigate the Well Cash debt
collectors’ issue.
The Local Government minister was then asked by Mutasa
South MP Irene Zindi (Zanu PF) to explain how his ministry would deal with
touts that have become a menace at bus terminuses in various cities and towns
resulting in deaths of passengers.
“Regrettably, we lost one of our citizens a few weeks ago
because of touts pushing and jostling for that person. We have seen a rise in
young men, who work as touts, and we have discussed this concern with city
authorities,” he said.
“Harare is badly affected by touts because we still have
old bus terminuses and they load passengers from the central business district
(CBD). We have decided that the City of Harare must identify loading bays
outside the CBD, and we will be closing down loading centres within the CBD.”
Kasukuwere said his ministry was planning on bringing on
board urban transport systems like metered taxis to get rid of unregistered
operators of pirate taxis commonly known as mushikashikas.
“These mushikashikas have caused a lot of damage and
accidents to the extent that even when reversing, they can drive 40 to 50
metres backwards,” Kasukuwere said.
But, Glen View North MP, Fani Munengami (MDC-T) said the
menace of touts was being caused by the economic hardships in the country.
Kasukuwere said this was being exacerbated by corruption
where municipal police have not been arresting the touts.
Meanwhile, the question-and-answer session was disrupted
for almost 10 minutes, as Harare South MP, Shadreck Mashayamombe (Zanu PF)
demanded that Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga (MDC) withdraw allegations she
made last week in Parliament that 76% of legislators were HIV positive.
Misihairabwi-Mushonga refused to withdraw the statement, as
she had used it as an illustration, while debating a motion on children being
abused under the guise of selling sex. She had urged MPs to fight for the
affected children to access medicines because they, as MPs, were also affected
by HIV, but were lucky to get free antiretroviral treatment.
She was not asked to withdraw the statement by Speaker of
the National Assembly Jacob Mudenda. Newsday
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