President Rupiah Banda says government is committed to ensuring that all public resources are utilized for the benefit of all Zambians.
President Banda said by maximizing the available tax payers resources, for example, government will be able to provide the public with good services and improved infrastructure.
Mr. Banda explained that through paying taxes the country will be self reliant and able to provide a reliable and predictable source of revenue for development.
He was speaking at the Zambia Revenue Authority ( ZRA )’s first Tax Payers Appreciation Day dubbed ” Develop Zambia Pay your Taxes ” in Lusaka today.
The President said ZRA has a vital role in achieving the key objectives of raising adequate domestic resources to finance development and facilitate trade and business.
Mr. Banda noted that government recognizes the innovative relationship that exits between ZRA and the Private Sector.
” I am happy on the on going reforms in ZRA which are aimed at reducing transaction costs, improving economic competitiveness and promoted good governance in the tax administration,” Mr Banda said.
He reaffirmed that government will continue to implement development programmes despite the current financial global crisis as the country is still has a stable Micro economic environment.
Mr. Banda stressed that through the 2009 Fiscal Policy government will increase its expenditure on infrastructure and social services in line with government’s objectives of encouraging diversification which will facilitate private sector development and reduce poverty.
However, president Banda urged the ZRA staff to be Professional, Transparent and Efficient when executing their duties.
He pointed out the need to clean up the negative perception surrounding Tax collections as this will encourage all tax payers to be tax Compliant.
And Acting Finance Minster Felix Mutati said the only way the country can have strong revenue is by having a strong economy.
Mr Mutati noted that by collecting sufficient taxes government is able to implement all developmental programmes in productive sectors.
He disclosed that about 9,200 new business companies were registered in 2008 adding that this will increase the revenue tax base in the country.
Meanwhile 45 tax payers have been awarded for compliance .
And ZRA Commissioner General Chriticles Mwansa says the partnership that exits between ZRA and Tax payers contributes to the economic development of the country.
Mr. Mwansa explained that ZRA has been sensitizing the public on in the need to pay Taxes as it drives all the economic actives of the country.
He however said that ZRA will continue to ensure that all Taxes are collected, accounted for, transferred and made available to government through the treasury.
Mr Mwansa further called on the government to consider rehabilitating all the border post infrastructures through out the country to the modern standards like at Chirundu and Kazungula Border posts.
And earlier ZANIS/AH/MM/ENDS/MM
I will only believe you after you upgrade the standards of my relatives in Shan’gombo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
This is a non-story. It would be newsworthy if the people concerned were people of integrity.
Stop throwing dirt in our eyes …tacles Mwansa. customs agents at border posts are the number one thieves in Zambia. They take bribes every minute and put Zambia at risk to illegal things/people entering the country . You should see how these people live and that aint from thier salaries.
Again Mr President, please note that paying taxes does not mean that we directly influence the policies that your government makes. It does not matter how much revenue is generated through tax collection, if the policies made are not favorable then the money does not benefit the country. If the policies made only favor certain areas then it does not matter how much is collected, Shan’gombo will still be a non upgrade area.
Let us combine proper reasoning with the tax payers money collected first.
People heard enough promises of this sort during the election campaign. The now want to see action.
Is it possible for the Govt and all it’s representatives to keep quite for once and let actions, results and outstanding performances speak for themselves, Zambians are not able to eat speeches they need tangible results.
WILL PAY AFTER IT SHOWS
Bwezani jus knows how to talk, and tax in zambia is too high. 30% jus to feed bwezanis extended family…
Bwezani needs therapy.I wonder if at all he has any restraints in his life.Firstly he decides to marry someone who is befiiting to be his grand daughter, what more with messing up an already messed up economy through failed privatisation? Those Sangomas camping in the country mean something to Bwezani