Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Zambia Revenue Authority says the introduction of the Central Processing Centre over which some clearing agents were demonstrating about at the Livingstone dry Port this morning is one of the trade facilitation tools in addition to the new e-payments solutions introduced to ease the cost of doing business for its stakeholders and make processing of transaction easier and faster.
ZRA Corporate Communications Manager Mumbuna Kufekisa in a statement ZRA is also aware that not all the stakeholders are pleased with its introduction as it minimizes contacts and possible collusion between unscrupulous agents and customs officers who may fall prey to bad practices that may hinder collections of rightful taxes.
Mr Kufekisa says in addition, the CPC is aimed at improving service delivery where transactions are worked on a first in first out (FIFO) basis.
He states that ZRA is aware that there are some of the clearing agents mainly those dealing in imported second hand vehicles who are not pleased with the new system as it minimizes contact with officers, as they are in a habit of altering invoices to falsify values and year models of vehicles, which form of fraud the new system is aimed at reducing.
Mr Kufekisa says ZRA has been engaging with the Southern Freight Forwarders Association through its Chairperson Mr. Best Chikuwe this morning as the demonstrations were going on.
He adds that members of various agents associations were met by the ZRA Regional Manager on Monday this week to discuss issues of their concern and commitments and assurances were made that the Authority will look into the matters raised.
Mr Kufekisa says the demonstration is unnecessary and that the Authority urges the disgruntled parties not to hinder genuine clearing agents and any taxpayers who wish to conduct their normal businesses at its offices, as doing so constitutes an offence.
He states that ZRA will not forgo necessary controls in its effort to safeguard Government revenue.