ActionAid wants ZRA Chief to have more powers

ActionAid Zambia Country Director Nalucha Ziba

ActionAid Zambia has recommended that the powers of the Commissioner General of Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) should be extended to allow for the withdrawal of incentives if an investor has not fulfilled any of their investment pledges under the ZDA Act 2006.

And the organization has noted that there is lack of capacity and political will to ensure full collection of revenue especially among multinational corporations operating in the country.

The organization was responding to the announcement by the ZRA Commissioner General that Zambia is likely to end the fiscal year with a loss on revenue collection with the current budget deficit in terms of tax revenue collections amounts to K23.1 billion, which is significantly less than the annual K32.5 Billion threshold.

ActionAid Zambia Country Director Nalucha Ziba says the Commissioner General should be able to withdraw incentives if investors fail to fulfill obligations under the Acts administered by his office such as filling of returns, paying taxes among others.

Ms Ziba says incentives should only be given on the basis of evidence of the investors working and that agreements should be in the public domain.