Deputy Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Miles Sampa has disclosed that government has developed a plan aimed at compelling all traders and companies in the country to pay tax.
Mr. Sampa said the plan will enable government to punish traders that evade tax.
He said the money that would be collected through tax will be channeled to various development projects that will benefit all Zambians.
[pullquote]Mr. Sampa said Buseko market in Matero township has the capacity to generate tax revenue equivalent to that of 20 companies[/pullquote]
He said government was deeply concerned with the escalating levels of traders avoiding to pay tax.
Mr. Sampa added that government has already formulated a policy aimed at ensuring that all profits being generated by traders trickle down to ordinary Zambians.
The Deputy Minister was speaking in Lusaka today at a breakfast meeting organised by the Zambia Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ZACCI) whose theme was “Commerce, Trade and Industry issues for 2013”.
And Mr. Sampa has disclosed that Buseko market in Lusaka’s Matero township has the capacity to generate tax revenue for the country of equivalent to a total of twenty companies once it is fully utilized.
Mr. Sampa, who is also Matero Member of Parliament, said Buseko market has been a haven of both local and foreign traders for a long time.
He said there was lack of serious revenue collection at the market.
Punish them! We are in a hurry to develop this nation and we need the MONEY!
I wonder if any development will be? Too much lipservices. like the infamous ** MONEY IN YOUR POCKET**
I hope the tax policy changes will include removal of tax exemptions on salaries, allowances and benefits of MPs, Ministers, the other senior Government officials, who enjoy such benefits.
tell me, we can raise a lot of money if we were serious with tax collection. So many companies, sole traders, house renters, marketeers, transporters, etc who have for so long avoided paying tax. One owns a house and it has been on rent for many years but has never paid any tax to govt. The same for marketeers who only pay market levies but have forgotten about paying income/business tax. Same for traders, etc. The country has lost a lot from its own citizens! Get to these people, let them pay what they owe the state. Welensky was clever indeed, everyone paid tax. Those deficits or budget overruns can go for ever. Also these multinationals and local companies, monitor them critically, there is still a lot we can harvest in terms of tax income for govt.
You right about buseko market Mr Minister, BUT please leave those small guys alone for the time being until you put your house in order were it matters most, that is, the big multinational companies. That is where you should show your prowess, Mr Minister Sir!
So this governemnet wants to let Zambia Sugar, KCM and all those multinational Tax evaders get away scot free and punish the poor man making doors at Buseko? Way to stifle local Industry. What Does miles Sampa have between his ears? Water?
Yes, but first make sure that the multinationals pay what belongs to Zambia.
Peace and Prosperity to mother Zambia.
WE TOLD YOU TO VOTE WISELY BECAUSE A BOOMERANG NORMALLY GOES BACK TO THE THROWER.
NOW THEY HAVE OVERSHOT THE BUDGET . NEXT IS TO SQUEEZE THE LITTLE JUICE OUT OF A MARKETEER.
CONTINUE DANCING DONCHI KUBEBA.
Please don’t take notice to Miles its just hot air…what plan has he developed? He said the same thing at finance. He plans are aimed at the small fish the SMEs who are frankly better off being in the black market….one has to browse the ZRA website and you will be shocked are the lavish incentives offered to “foreign” investors.
* at the lavish
start your own business if you will manage the cost of doping business is hard in Zambia hence, avoiding tax.fuel Kr10 too much.
Does this guy know what he is talking about? Tax EVADERS are all those who can not account for their wealth. Is he so sure he can escape that NET????
Is he planning to send the same thieves from ZRA to collect the taxes? Dreaming is not illegal indeed.
Rhetorics as usual! For how long have you people been talking about spreading the tax-net that is currently so narrow as to affect only the less than 500, 000 poor formal employed persons, leaving millions who even earn better than those poor shopworkers? Are you sure the people who drive around in those hammers account for their taxes properly? How many people in Zambia make their tax returns to ZRA annually? Have you managed to collect tax from the multinationals properly, before you introduce some poll tax to the poor?
The usual statements: “govt is planning this…, govt is planning that… the money will be channelled to developmental projects…” We have heard them before!! We have seen NOTHING!!
You Zambians, why are you not paying your taxes? Don’t you know that your party and it’s government is in a hurry to win bye elections thus money is needed urgently? Please pay your taxes.
KCM should not be left out of this
enough hot air !
Glencore has looted at leat $500 million (175 million in tax revenue between 2003 and 2008 from tax avoidance practices and $300 million lost on ZCCM dividend payments from its 10% stake in Mopani)
In 2011 future Mines Minister Mukanga said Mopani should be punished for tax evasion
In 2013 Glencore/Mopani has not even paid a ngwee for its looting
We are tired of these political impostors !