Action Aid Executive Director Pamela Chisanga has observed the need for adequate and qualified personnel if the Zambia Revenue Authority is to execute its mandate professionally and to the satisfaction of the Zambian people.
Speaking in an interview Ms. Chisanga said questions will continue being asked as to whether the Authority has the capacity to collect the right taxes on behalf of the Zambian people as well as effectively handle the country’s tax administration effectively as long as cases such as the refund claims by the mining companies continue to arise.
Ms. Chisanga noted that building the capacity at ZRA will not only enhance the operations of the Authority but will lead to effective collection of taxes as well as an increase in the money that government will be receiving from companies from taxes.
“Obviously the capacity of ZRA is very questionable in terms of collecting taxes or handling tax administration because when you look at the issue of tax refunds as an example; the companies used to claim their refunds on the basis of the documentation that they provided in the past. ZRA obviously accepted that because of the documentation which were provided in the past but now they have realized that have not been doing the right thing as provided in the guidelines and suddenly they want to be implementing them.
When you look at those examples clearly in terms of capacity we have a lot of issues at ZRA and this needs to be addressed.
She added: “this needs to be done very quickly because for a long time now we have been told that government is doing every possible to support ZRA build their capacity but we are not seeing any progress in terms of the capacity that is being felt in ZRA to effectively collect taxes.”
ZRA needs serious RESTRUCTURING its not in order right now they can do better there is too much money in our economy that needs collecting to fund projects
Action Aid is Pamela Chisanga, so sleep-able…. Which donor would deny her money? Even ZRA would want o hold a “capacity building” course with her organisation anywhere anytime.
ZRA is doing a commendable. For that, ZRA deserves a pat on the back. However, like most of the institutions, departments, agencies, offices, units and what-not in the Developing Countries, more could be done. Capacity building certainly is one area of possible intervention and this applies to each and every government entity. Refresher courses, proper recruitment, specialized training institutes, internships, exchange programs, broad based liberal education, promotions, performance bonus, all these areas are critical to manpower planning and debelopment.
Useless Dr. you are. That ZRA was well run under Christicles Mwansa, not that cadre Msiska, 5th Zambian I wouldn’t want to meet in life.