Chipata District Commissioner, Nicholas Banda, has called upon business entities in the district to always pay taxes to the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) because it was their legal obligation to do so.
Mr. Banda said it was important that citizens paid taxes to help government generate the resources, especially this time when the world was undergoing an economic crisis.
He reminded the business persons that if they evaded tax, they were contributing to the underdevelopment of the country.
He was speaking when he officially launched the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) seminar on the tax payers’ appreciation week, at a meeting held at Luangwa Lodge in Chipata.
Mr. Banda said Zambia was not spared from the economic crisis and therefore, there was need for ZRA to embark on an aggressive tax enforcement campaign so that tax payers could comply.
“Evading paying taxes including offences like smuggling goods in and out of the country will not develop this nation and if citizens do not participate in developing it, no one from outside the country will do it,” he said.
Mr. Banda said every citizen had a responsibility in the development of the nation and complying in tax obligations was one of them.
He has since called on citizens to access information about ZRA in order for them to appreciate authority as an important ally in national development and not as an enemy of tax payers.
Mr. Banda noted that ZRA was tasked with providing statistics, enforcing all relevant legislation on behalf of government, giving advice on tax policy to government and facilitating international trade.
He challenged the business persons, who attended the seminar, to know the national annual budget.
ZRA Assistant Commissioner, Mathias Mwela, commended government for its tireless efforts in upgrading and putting up modern infrastructure at some of the borders areas such as Chirundu and Katima Mulilo.
Mr. Mwela said the authority was looking forward to beginning improvement works at Nakonde, Kazungula, Mwami and Kasumbalesa border posts.
He said the poor state of infrastructure at some border posts has remained a challenge to the Zambia Revenue Authority.
ZANIS/SM/KSH/ENDS
Taxes, taxes, taxes, seems like nobody want to pay..they are a pain though, don’t blame them!
We always pay tax and need no reminders from u as it is the duty of the ZRA to issue such statements.Teti batuleke ba ZRA
Abanda namwe, tuziba khani ya tax. Bvuto niyakuti, tiliye ndalama! Njala baba, njala.
Great stuff, but on “He has since called on citizens to access information about ZRA in order for them to appreciate authority as an important ally in national development and not as an enemy of tax payers” let ZRA diffuse its own activities to the Zambian general public.
It is more difficult for lay people to start chasing after ZRA information than for ZRA to go on a massive sensitisation programme on ZNBC TV, MUVI TV, ZNBC Radio and other media.
It gives the taxe payer pleasure when the money is used prudently for public wellbeing unlike what we see in our leaders with their bottomless pockets
And how do you espect people (Business Entities) to pay Tax when the Labour laws are so weak such that an employee is getting less than six hundred thousand per month and when they complain to the relevant authority they don’t act. I think ZRA & Ministry of Labour should work hand in hand if this campiagn is to produce expected results.
ZRA its about time you pulled up your Socks especially your friends (Ministry of Labour) who have allowed much Tax evasion from the so called business entities who they do not follow up to make sure that they follow the Labour Laws for ZRA to operate smoothly.
#6. Lusaka. I doubt if ZRA’s socks have enough elastic to hold them once they are pulled up.
Paying of tax should be inculcated in every Zambian as a duty(obligation).The worst animal is our dormant ZRA who doesnt want to broaden the tax base so as to relieve the overburdend formal sector.Get it from me,guys in the informal sector make big money but pay less or no tax all.Thanx to our ZRA.