Zimbabwe company owes Botswana govt over P1M

Nnasaretha Kgamanyane | Friday June 5, 2015 11:39

PAC learnt this when the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) gave account of its annual budget. According to details of the report, the Botswana government extended its export deal of live cattle to Zimbabwe for an indefinite period, four years ago, as Botswana grappled with foot and mouth disease (FMD) in the north and east regions. The deal between the two governments involved sending live cattle from Botswana to Zimbabwe’s CSC slaughter facilities in Bulawayo. The deal was largely seen as a sort of respite to the BMC woes at the time, since the European Union had stopped meat importations from Botswana due to the FMD outbreak.

Zimbabwe among other African countries seized the opportunity to buy live cattle from Botswana.

MoA permanent secretary Dr Micus Chimbombi confirmed that the Zimbabwean company was indebted to Botswana.

“They have owed us for four years now, but have however acknowledged this debt and we regularly communicate with them about that issue. They seem to be willing to pay us but they do not have funds right now” he said.

Chimbombi also said they had confidently worked with CSC and would like to maintain their relationship with them. He added that government was careful not to sour its relationship with Zimbabwe over a debt that they knew the company would eventually pay.

However, MP for Tati East Samson Guma Moyo, expressed skepticism that the company would settle the debt any time soon considering the long period they had not paid.

Meanwhile, Moyo expressed concern over delayed retirements.

“Why don’t you arrange that a person should get their retirement pension immediately after they retire as they give you three months retirement notice? Don’t you think that causes a lot of inconvenience to those who leave the job?” he asked.

Moyo also expressed dismay at the ministry’s failure to collect debts from former employees who had left their jobs while still owing government.