Calm has returned at Nakonde border post following Zambia Revenue Authority-ZRA management’s discussion with the aggrieved parties. On Saturday clearing agents at the border post staged protests disrupting operations alleging that some ZRA officers are corrupt and charge exaggerated fees to the public.
A statement released to the media by ZRA Corporate Communication Unit says the authority has launched investigations on the allegations raised by the clearing agents. ZRA has called on all stakeholders to pursue the option of dialogue with respective authorities.
Customs clearing agents staged a protest to press for the removal of alleged corrupt customs officers who have formed a cartel with some of the clearing agents to defraud the Government by under valuing goods.
The agents have complained that some Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) workers at Nakonde have been conniving with some agents to under value goods such as second hand Japanese cars.
The agents have said some ZRA workers secretly allow some motor vehicles to pass through the border without paying tax under what is called ‘soecial delivery. Special delivery was banned by station commissioner Kwegyer Msimuko sometime back, but the curtail of ZRA workers have been breaking the law.
The agents have particularly named a Ms Chama from ZRA Nakonde as the major culprit in the whole saga.
Business came to a stand still at Nakonde border in Muchinga Province following protests by the clearing agents.
Meanwhile, armed police have been deployed to keep vigil in the customs clearing yard at the border post.
The agents are demanding for, among other things, the removal of alleged corrupt customs officers.
Trucks and small vehicles coming into Zambia are marooned at Tunduma, a border town on the Tanzanian side as there is no one to facilitate there entry into Zambia.
The protesting agents have also passed a vote of no confidence in their Zambia f Freight and Forwarders Association (ZAFFA) leadership for allegedly failing to represent them adequately.
A Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) reports that the customs cash office and the ZRA ASYCUDA clearing room closed.
Clearing agents were found gathered outside the customs yard while customs officers were spotted chatting in the ASYCUDA room.
Team leader of the protesting agents Kelvin Malama said they have decided to protest by refusing to present any entries for clearing any vehicle or goods because of alleged rampant corruption among some named officers.
Malama alleges that some named officers have made a cartel with some clearing agents and they under value goods at the expense of the much needed revenue.
He said cited an example of a Toyota Progress car which was under valued and paid duty of less than K10 million on 24th May this year adding that a Toyota Spacio is being cleared for as little as K7.5 million because some corrupt officers are conniving with certain clearing agents.
Malama said that this cartel of customs officers conniving with some agents was putting them out of business adding that the named agent who was conniving with the customs officers is managing to clear as many as 26 vehicles in a day which areall allegedly under valued.
“Under valuing goods is a serious offence because the Government loses billions of the much needed revenue at the end of the day and this is the money that we need as a country to put up good roads, construct hospitals and schools, “said Malama.
Malama also disclosed that some agents were changing the model numbers for the vehicles they were clearing so as to pay less duty.
The protesting clearing agents are also unhappy that despite the commissioner of customs Kwegyer Msimuko having banned the special delivery facility because it was being abused, some customs officers still connive with some agents to use the banned facility.
And independent investigations carried out have revealed that some agents were allegedly changing the commodity code to enable them under value goods and pay less than the expected duty.
The commodity code which is being used to defraud the Government is
commodity code number 87032290 for a Toyota Corolla.
Investigations revealed that about 26 vehicles were cleared on 24th May 2012 by the named agent which were actually under valued and these included a Mitsubishi pick up on CC number 20716, Toyota Avesis on number 20545, Volvo on number 21995 and Toyota progress on number 22988.
Malama said the protesting agents want auditors to be dispatched to Nakonde to investigate the anomalies.
ZAFFA chairperson for Nakonde Marks Mbulo when reached for a comment said he would only comment after talking to the assistant commissioner who was not in the office at the time.
Efforts to get a comment from the assistant commissioner Msimuko failed as he was not in office by press time.
ZANIS
Ba LT why are you using grade 7-level reporters?
I don’t even know how much money the government actually raises from these border posts. The government has to pay these criminals and yet they just line their own pockets. It is about time the government did something about it.
Iwe #1 before you criticise LT you should make sure you know what you are talking about. This article was written and uploaded by ZANIS. LT are better than any Zambian run website. Look at The Post, Daily Mail and Times. They do not update their websites for weeks. That’s Zambians for you! They are clueless.
there is even an officer i know, uyu ena chikkalahh he moves with entries in the pocket.he
doesn’t conduct physical examination he just charges a fee.he deals with a selected group of argents.he is stupid,pompous and paranoid
@Mukume, ZRA collects taxes at Nakonde border post alone averaging K60 billion kwacha per month.
use the uk way job done
Why is the electronic computerised system to cut off scavenger-businessmen, and corrupt ZRA officers? Both the Agents and ZRA officers are the same, unless one has not dealt with them before, it is difficult to know that among this whole lot, there is non righteous.
The Agents further inflate the high costs of importing goods into Zambia.
Bakabwalala ba kolwe aba. Just have them join uncle Liato. I mean…
I blame the government for all this.The tax is too high that’s why corruption is rampant at the borders.Honestly how does GRZ charge over 50% in taxes when one buys a vehicle.Its ridiculous.I live in the midwest and I pay less than 8% in taxes every time I buy a car.Its insane for poor country like Zambia 2 be charging so much when 1 buys a vehicle.
Too many theives. We need to have a new compusary subject in secondary schools Called intergrity studies to teach Zambians on the importance of honesty in relation to the development of ZED. Zambia needs to breed a whole new generation of honest people because it is too late to change the minds of the older generation.
When Clearing Agents complain about a particular Customs Officer at the border, just know the officer is doing the work right. Imagine a thief praising a police officer!!!
I was going to get worried if Clearing Agents were praising particular officers. It is common knowledge that if there is a tough officer at a particular station, some Agents instigates others to riot and have the officer removed. However, ZRA must not go to sleep, they should inverstigate these allergations no matter how absurd they are.
Thats why the prices of these cars are so different when they are been sold to clients they true value is not there meaning some of these car dealers are making a killing on these secondhand vehicles and depriving govt if taxes
It is the nature of tax collecting, even the Bible says so. The tax collector and taxayer cannot be friends and that is the more so reason why Customs Officers are transfered every so often to avoid that. IF THE CLEARING AGENTS AT NAKONDE BORDER ARE COMPLAINING ABOUT SOME OFFICERS THERE IT IS A VERY GOOD SIGN FOR GOVERNMENT. Believe me, it is!!
Can someone please teach ZANIS how to use spell check…. and also the difference between there and their?
It’s an embarrassment to see the “national information service” always make so many careless mistakes.
No 11 you are spot on they probably want to get rid of this officer because the officer is tough. If there are corrupt people its clearing agents they have swindled alot of people.
Am based in Nakoz, the officer named as a culprit is innocent in this allegation. she does not entertain corruption and she is very helpful if you approach her with a genuine issues. It is a male collector(ZRA) who caused the protest,we don’t know what that agent called sick lion gave him because I hear the chap uses black magic in his businesses. Most of agents are involved in black magic female agents inclusive,they move with their items mutuma small purses they carry. And if you want to know the truth about this issue go round and ask most of the established clearing companies, they will tell you that they are not affected only those who are in motor vehicle clearance are the ones making noise because they do not have manifested or cooperate clients. Please leave Madam Chama!!!!!!!!!!!
ZRA officers are known thieves for a long time now, if they have nothing to gain they will not even attend to u and are the rudest and arrogant bastards u can come across. About time something is done about them as they are bringing down development to this country big time, thieves once again.
I dont understand why we hate hardworking people in society.jst because one hasnt been accepting your bribes,you want her to be involved mufyabupuba fyenu?? mwafilwa nokulanwa amenshi.you see any strange number you ignore it with a lot of questions,who could this be?lets work like officers and help each other,lets stop finger pointing.Madam Chama is ok and she is so hardworking,always punctual,smart and serious with work.its only that most of the affected agents likes jump shorts and cheats clients on values they dont give and in the end you say its because she is around.leave the smart woman alone.Thumbs up for ms chama!!!!!!
Ms Chama is very innocent…the culprit is another human being…
These corrupt officials are found on all points of entries. I have experienced this type of thumb suck exhorbitant taxes at Chirundu border post. So all these borders must be investigated thoroughly without delay. They are defrauding the country. You should check out the mansions that most of these buggers have built for themselves in Livingstone!!!! The Livingstone airport officials are the ones to investjgate for visa corruption. They have no shame!!! The tourists are made to just pay an amount if they have no visa !!!
Nakonde agents are THIEVES,LIERS,SWINDLERS,DALIGHT ROBBERS,CORN MEN and un trusted.Importers be careful.
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Hello Zambians,
My concerns are
1.ZRA does not put enough efforts to educate the public on what advantages ZRA has for zambias when they import different kind of goods.
2. We need to be educated on what criteria are used on clearing for example imported used vehicles, especially when the same type of vehicles can be cleared at different charges.
3. Is it negotiate with ZRA or not when it comes to paying duty?