Members of Parliament have called on the government to deal decisively with debt collectors.
Chegutu West MP, Dexter Nduna, requested Deputy Home Affairs Minister, Mike Madiro to clarify if it was government policy to let debt collectors disregard the law in their operations. Said Nduna:
Is it government policy that the debt collectors that are engaged willy-nilly without an Act of Parliament will always put a 10 per cent on top of the figure that is owed if that money has not been paid on the date of the collection?
If so, what is it that he is able to do to stop that wanton disregard of law?
Meanwhile, Zengeza West MP, Job Sikhala weighed in, demanding that the government has to put in place mechanisms to protect members of the public. He said:
If these debt collectors are still existing in our local authorities and also in our hospitals masquerading as legal practitioners, what enforcement mechanisms have you put in place since the High Court has already made a ruling and minister Moyo has already given us a statement here so that these debt collectors will not be seen anywhere near service delivery?
We want protection mechanisms which you as the government have put in place to protect the consumers.
Madiro promised to look into the issue to ascertain what is taking place, and if the law has been broken, to deal with the offenders.