Chikwanda tips ZRA

Government has urged the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to use the difficult times the country is facing to reflect more deeply on strengthening tax compliance.

Speaking during the commissioning of the four by two semi detached houses for ZRA staff at Mwami border in Eastern province today, Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda says there are still visible slippages in the compliance areas.

He notes that the modernization of ZRA which government has backed with resource injection and will continue to support, has raised efficiency levels and substantially eliminated adverse human factors.

Mr. Chikwanda points out that the infusion of IT has revolutionalised revenue collection, adding online payments have added a welcome dimension even though they are incidences beyond residual or peripheral issue of large illicit consignments hitting the market.

He has appealed to ZRA to reflect on whether there no other ways of revenue mobilization and collection as long as the innovations are not drift with the internal logic of public finance which requires net revenue to exceed the attendant cost of administering any tax measure.

Mr. Chikwanda says staff welfare is key to maintaining high levels of motivation and consequently commensurate levels of efficiency and professionalism.

He has since urged the beneficiaries to realise that government has invested substantial resources in the houses thus they should maintain them to the highest standards.

And speaking earlier, ZRA Commissioner General Berlin Msiska says the houses have been constructed at a total cost of K3.65 million.

Mr. Msiska also disclosed that Mwami Border collected K44 million in 2015 and processed ten thousand and eighty three declarations.

He states that Mwami border is an alternative gateway for domestic and regional trade through the Nacala Corridor.