Lungu distances govt from Post closure

President Edgar Lungu

President Edgar Lungu

President Edgar Lungu says government has nothing to do with the decision by the Zambia Revenue Authority to seize assets of the Post Newspapers in a move to recovered million of kwacha in tax arrears.

Speaking today when he addressed Diplomats accredited to Zambia on the upcoming elections, President Lungu says it is important for cooperating partners and stakeholders to note that Zambia values the principle of separation of power between the three arms of government.

He says as such, the decision by the Zambia Revenue Authority to close the Post was an independent action to recover tax debt as per mandate of the ZRA.

President Lungu adds that the judicial proceedings concerning ZRA and the Post Newspapers are not new, stating that the matter was there as far back as 2009.

He has wondered why some diplomats are saying the timing of the court’s decision is awkward, when they are the same people saying the tax system in Zambia is not efficient, and that the country is not efficient.

President Lungu states that those who feel the Post Newspapers is being victimized should raise money to pay ZRA and the matter will be cleared overnight.

Meanwhile President Lungu says a number of international observer missions have accepted Zambia’s invitation to observe the upcoming elections, among them Southern African Development Community Observer Mission, the European Union Observer Mission, and the Commonwealth Observer Mission.

He says government values the presence of election observer missions because they provide legitimacy to electoral and democratic processes, and thus further leads to the consolidation and enhancement of democracy.

 

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