Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Emmanuel Mwamba
Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa Emmanuel Mwamba has urged the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to expedite investigations concerning allegations of tax evasion by some petroleum and energy import companies based in Zambia.
Mr. Mwamba says the decision by ZRA to dishonour SADC certificates of origin of oil importing companies, has created an impression that Zambia was not complying with the SADC trade protocols.
He says some players in the energy and petroleum sector are allegedly taking advantage of the rules governing tax exemption of goods and products originating from the SADC region thereby denying the Zambian government the much needed revenue.
Mr Mwamba was speaking at the Zambian Mission in Pretoria, South Africa, when a delegation from the Zambia Revenues Authority paid a courtesy call on him following their verification mission to South Africa for fuel imported into Zambia with SADC certificate of origin.
He however notes that the decision by ZRA to suspend the honouring of SADC certificates of origin that enabled importers to be tax exempted had negatively affected industries in Zambia especially the mining sector.
He has called for a speedy conclusion of their investigations to help resolve the outstanding matter.
Mr Mwamba has encouraged the delegation to carry out field verification visits to oil processing companies based in South Africa, to ascertain claims that the oil products they were importing were originating from other countries other than South Africa.
And Mr Mwamba also called on the Zambia Revenue Authority to speed up the process of clearing trucks carrying goods and entering Zambia, to help reduce the costs and inconveniences that transporters are facing.
Meanwhile Zambia Revenue Authority Deputy Commissioner, Reuben Kunda has said the risk of revenue leakage is high among oil importers as some are taking advantage of the SADC protocol to smuggle petroleum and energy products into Zambia.
He says his organisation is putting stop-gap mechanisms in place that would reduce issuance of SADC tax exemption certificates to undeserving companies.
This is contained in a statement issued to QFM News by Zambia’s High Commission to South Africa First Secretary Press and Public Relations Naomi Nyawali.