Ministry offers rates amnesty
Timoci Vula
Sunday, October 09, 2011
Sunday, October 09, 2011
ALL default ratepayers in municipalities around the country have been given a three-month amnesty period to allow them to reconcile outstanding records.
And the Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment also directed all municipal councils to allow a waiver of 100 per cent on all interests of rates on full payment of the principal amount.
An Information Ministry statement stated the amnesty period began in October 1 and would end on December 31.
The Ministry of Local Government states the rates amnesty period is designed to assist ratepayers upgrade their rate profile in councils' registry, and allow ratepayers that had fallen behind in their payments the opportunity to pay.
"The incentive for ratepayers to come forward is that all interest on principal amount shall be waived upon payment of overdue rates in within the specified period," the ministry stated.
"This rates amnesty program shall be a one-off exercise and no further discounts/amnesty on outstanding rates will be entertained by the Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment."
The ministry stated that all defaulters who paid their rates within the period would receive a full discount on all interest outstanding, they would not be taken to court, and they would not need to pay for any further legal costs arising through legal action.
It added that defaulters' property would not be subject to mortgagee sale, caveat placing or being a charge entered due to having rates in arrears, and they would not be registered on Credit Data Bureau.
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