*HON. MAHOKA: The issue of farms that I am talking about is of concern because the taxes have become exorbitant. At the Ministry of Lands and Rural Resettlement, you have to pay $5.00 for each hectare. Those who came up with that figure should consider the issue of fertiliser in Zimbabwe. Fertiliser is expensive in Zimbabwe. If we are to visit other countries in the region, fertiliser is $10.00 and in Zimbabwe it is $35.00.
If we look at ZINWA, water is core for farmers. We do not know how ZINWA can say they assist farmers, when they milk them. They only collect money from farmers but we do not know what that money is used for. If you sink your own borehole, ZINWA wants payment. If you build your own dam, they charge you. When that dam cracks they do not give a hand. The water that they are charging the farmers is provided by the Almighty God. ZINWA only collects revenue from the farmers but they do nothing to support farmers. We feel that the money that is being charged is too much.
On electricity, the tobacco farmers cure their tobacco using electricity but the price of electricity is exorbitant. I do not know what can be done to ensure that electricity rates are reduced so that the farmer can realise some profits. Still on farming, implements and equipment are very expensive. For example, the tractors, if you buy a tractor from South Africa, it is a challenge to bring it to your farm. Diesel has also gone up and the farmer in the end does not realise any profit. The farmer is milked from both angles for the same farm.
* THE TEMPORARY SPEAKER: Hon. Mahoka, can you wind up your debate because your time is up.
*HON. MAHOKA: The issue is of farmers who lease their farms to White farmers and they get 5% for the leases. We want to thank the Government for bringing this Command agriculture. This enables the farmers to get more money by using good methods of farming. My request is that those who are still leasing their farms, the Government should repossess those farms and allocate them to those who are serious with farming. Those who fail to produce after being given implements should lose their farms but should pay for those implements. Those farms should also be given to people who are willing to farm and produce. I thank you Madam Speaker.
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