POST Newspapers Limited owes the Government more than K8 billion (unrebased)in taxes.
The Newspaper apparently stopped meeting its tax obligations soon after the PF formed government in 2011 and Julius Komaki says the newspaper had been singing praises for President Michael Sata even when they did not believe in his vision because the owner of the newspaper, Fred M’membe was seeking favours from the Head of State.
Efforts to get a comment from Mr M’membe failed as his mobile phone went unanswered.
A text message sent to him asking if it was true that the Post Newspaper owed ZRA more than K8 million rebased and whether it was true that he had stopped meeting his tax obligation soon after the PF formed government was not responded to.
But the amount, sources have disclosed is much higher if “missing” records for previous years were to be included in the computation of default.
Now the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has been challenged to explain why the money has not been collected while people owing less have been harassed and taken to court.
In what he described as grand corruption which must attract the interest of state investigative wings to pursue, Patriotic Front (PF) official Julius Komaki said the deliberate failure by the newspaper to meet its tax obligations was an act of willful disregard for the law.
Mr Komaki has challenged ZRA to inform the nation why they had allowed the Post Newspapers Limited to remain non-compliant in meeting its tax obligations for the last three years.
According to ZRA Taxpayer compliance status report as at 1st September, 2014, Post Newspaper Limited had accumulated a total of more than K8 billion (unrebased) in Income Tax, Pay as You Earn (PAYE) and Value Added Tax (VAT).
According to the Taxpayer status report, the newspaper had remained non-complaint in tax obligations since 2011 and now owes the Zambia Revenue Authority K2,599,525.15 rebased in Income Tax.
The Post Newspaper Limited has remained in default in Pay As You Earn (PAYE) from the time the PF formed government and the amount has accumulated to K1, 390,116.39 rebased.
On Value Added Tax, the newspaper has totally ignored to remit tax a staggering K4, 851,574.33 and the authority has placed the newspaper company in the category of not compliant with returns, submission and payment.
But Mr Komaki said the Post Newspaper had been pontificating righteousness and claiming that they had not benefited anything from government yet the owner took advantage of his relationship with President Sata to breach tax rules with impunity.
Mr Komaki said ZRA must ensure that the money owed by the Post Newspaper was paid back and demanded that the proprietor should be prosecuted for deliberately breaking the tax laws.
“We have always known that the Post Newspaper have been avoiding to pay tax since we formed government.We have all the information about their deliberate failure to meet their tax obligations to a number of statutory bodies. We have information that indicate that the Post Newspapers is owing ZRA more than K8 million and that is a lot of money that can do many things to the economy of our country. We now want ZRA to vigorously pursue the Post Newspaper so that they can pay so that the money can get into government coffers. They have been claiming that they have not benefited anything from the PF government and President Sata when there have been lapses in paying tax,” Mr Komaki said.
He said it was a crime for a taxpayer not to be compliant and appealed to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) to investigate the newspaper as there was a possibility that the newspaper could have been deliberately avoiding its obligations. He said the Post Newspaper was abusing President Sata’s government by alleging that most of the ministers surrounding the Head of State were crooks, corrupt and tribal while attempting to rebrand and repackage Mr Kabimba.
“The Post is holding on to government money and to me that is tantamount to looting and I am wondering why ZRA has remained quiet while struggling to meet their tax collection targets. We cannot allow this to continue because that is causing anarchy in the economy. They have been mourning and weeping since President Sata fired Mr Kabimba and we have all the reasons to believe that they must have lost something bigger than the former secretary general,” Mr Komaki said.
Its very sad to learn that Mmembe is a tax evader. Putting an advert in the Post is the most expensive among all papers and there is no such thing as ‘pankongole’ and they always include VAT which you must pay.
Why are they not paying ZRA what is due to them? Now there is K14 billion, some say its actually K18 billion now this K8 billion, totla K26 billion? Meanwhile they are so vocal against other people? What is ZRA doing about this? Let’s all stop paying our taxes until the Post starts paying.
Fred is a crook and he is been doing this for a long time. he only support people when it suits him. He is a trick star, he wanted to blackmail Sata through building Wynter Kabimba whom we believe is a corrupt charecter. I hope ACC has Kabimba Trafigura matter intact.
yayayayayayay! Fred mmembe! why should one man be let to get away with all these debts???,,, zambia needs this money with “immediate effect`,,, i hope some one will act with immediate effect
Tax paying is optional and not mandatory
This is not a story for me, Post have done nothing wrong here
Thanks
Living beyond his means
iwe Mushota! paying tax is not optional like sucking your 91yrs old nick`s tombolilo,,,stop smoking pot!,,,,,,,Zambia needs that money with immediate effect
Bum bandit Mmembe in the words of Julius Malema “pay back the money”
So in other words Komaki is telling us that Sata and M’membe need to be prosecuted for tax fraud facilitated by their friendship since 2011! So we’re owed K 22 Million (rebased) plus! I can’t wait for the next election.
Mushota, and you claim to be an accountant. On which planet has tax payment been an option? That’s why I always think you could be Chellah himself
It is optional certainly Income tax is not payable by International organisation ndobo and your clique. I hate education people at any given Tuesday. You do realise that PF poached great employees from the Post and there could be gentle agreement between the government and the Post
Both have done nothing wrong and tax is optional
Thanks
This is the biggest scandle this year? This means Sata, Mmembe and the ZRA chief should all be investigated for corruption and heads must roll. In civilized countries this would have called for resignations already. But Zambia is still uncivilized even in 2014. They worship a dictator and the opposition are scared to even touch this issue. One lecturer at UNZA once told me that in Zambia they drink and breath confusion daily.
Komaki is too dual to bring forth those numbers in the accounting syntax they have been brought out. some one much close to ZRA accounting figures and GRZ finance must have used this chap to air this data out to the public. it is chikwanda or should we say the “tribal clique”.
TO fred Mmembe we say “IF YOU LIVE IN A GLASS HOUSE, DON’T THROW STONES AT OTHERS”.
TO Chikwanda we say “IF YOU LIVE IN PUBLIC DON’T THROW STONES BECAUSE YOU MIGHT JUST HIT ONE OF YOUR OWN”.
any who, bring it on guys we the audience await a fantastic show.
I will only comment when I hear from ZRA, until then, I will give the Post a benefit of doubt. I expect the same stance from any reasonable person before commenting.
This is tip of the ice burg.Mmembe has borrowed another amount from DBZ. He actually owes over K 24billion to date. He borrowed more when he started his post courier company.
Wapya munzi.
International papers don’t pat tax? So what point does the article make? It claims clearly that the Post has not paid tax since 2011. And, that various gov’t tax bodies are after them. The article then is misinformation?
Things do not seem well for poor little Fred, could it be that time has finally caught up with him.
M’membe has been exposed for what he is and very few people who follow politics in Zambia remain unware of his selfish motives and how he sold the nation for a few pieces of silver. As a result any well meaning Zambian will have to dispise Fred M’membe, his corhots and any machinations they come up with. It is therefore fair to say time is fast running out for him and if Sata doesnt save him and extend his life, then he will die a painful death.
Wow, I think this fight between Chikwanda and the Post is just about to get ugly. I think the headline should have been Chikwanda hits back.
Could this be the reason why M’membe has been running editorials in memory of his fired friend. Even today’s editorial is about loss of control over Sata!! Take a break man & chill!!!
Question is why has Fred lost his sense and become so fixated on Kabimba’s dismissal..am sure this is the longest editorial series on an individual in the history of the Post.
I hope these are mere allegations and not true because K8 billion + K14 billion debt would kill anybody anywhere in the world. This is no small change.
And we haven’t gotten about the K14 million from DBZ
My question is why is Mr. Julius Komaki using the unrebased figure? What group of people does he want to excite?
Streets! Excite is the operative word. Don’t know what trash we are being fed here,
Yaba so when did this guy know about this pa zed cheap politics not that i support Mmembe he is the last person i can support but surely did you have to wait for Kabimba to be fired for The Post to start paying Tax come on guys we can do better than this.
Even the mighty Post Newspaper is also failing to pay what everyone is suppose to be paying?
M’MEMBE ,WAPYA BAISA BA DEC!
But why today ba komaki naimwe?
You are so dull,he was protected by Kabimba before reason why he is mourning in his editorials.
The story has taken a new twist! Fred the clean one, the angel is tainted after all! This is the beginning of the end! The post empire had lasted for quite sometime since the days of Kaunda. Fred has lost it and it is now time for new kids on the block
These are some of the reasons why these guys are shamelessly bent to discredit any one who does not dance to their tune. Our country can surely do without these shameless schemers who to me are just rude boys and we need a level headed head of state and fair implementation of our laws. One of the reasons these People hated RB so much was because he refused to dance to their music of being shamelessly corrupt while pretending to be “saints” and quoting the bible in vain.
You sir have hit the nail on its head…RB was hated because of the spew that immoral Mmembe unleashed. I saw through this mmembe ***** way back in the 90s and I am happy that people have removed the logs in their eyes and can see what he has always stood for. He hated RB because he didn’t dance to membe’s hellish tune. I hope this tax evasion is true so that the cartel can finally be put to rest. Hopefully, next to bin laden so that people should never bother with putting flowers.
mmembe seems to have picked up some tricks from Mahtani/Finance bank. the 2 seem to milk politicians for their crooked ways of doing business. mmembe looks like he has now mastered this thieving trick. And stupidly, while foolingly praising Sata, he at the same time condemning Sata appointments like hell. Is this guy sane, really lol
It’s criminal for the Post to deduct PAYE from their employees and then fail to pay it to receiver. How many other companies are evading paying tax? Why don’t ZRA follow up on defaulters by phoning them or walking into their offices to demand payment? From experience a call from the receiver of revenue always galvanizes a tax payer into compliance. ZRA also is at fault, they should be able to do some leg work.
And the bugger has the guts to condemn the mines for not paying taxes.
@ wantanshi
Same goes for VAT. The company collects the VAT amount on behalf of the fiscus, hence value +VAT. Therefore just as criminal as non-remittance of PAYE. It is a shame really on how this PF government is running the affairs of the country. The govt has tip-toed aroung the post cuz they sing praises for the goon called Michael. Other companies and individuals alike have fallen prey to ZRA’s machinations for alledged non-payment of taxes but the post have gone scot-free, just like one ranting scot. One day, is one day, suckers!
No wonder they can not stop morning…THIS IS SERIOUS CORRUPTION IN THE HISTORY OF ZAMBIA.. i can only urge the president to do something or this fauilure will blammed on PF…how can one individual refuse to pay DBZ 14BN and now 8bn FOR ZRA
@ Zambian
My man, urge who? ..Will be blamed on PF?? Are you serious man? U reckon the post just stopped paying tax when pf came into power by its own volition? Is this rocket science? Please get your facts right: The post did not refuse to pay, the tax debt has simply not been pursued by ZRA in exchange for good publicity for PF. It’s a mutually beneficial arrangement between your pf and the post. Do you think the same benefit would be extended to HH? I don ‘t think so, HH is not in power boet. Why do you think since 2011, the post has been on some, Michael this, Michael that? And you think your president can do anything about this? I dare him!
Fred Mmembe has even turned into a preacher since his friend was fired. Today in his editorial, he is preaching about friendship. Hahahahaha
Hahahahahahah… Pastor Mmembe or Rev Mmembe,…kekekekekekekekiiiiiiiii….This world, Awe mwandi. He cant even see that this fight for WK is denting his reputation sure. money has completely blinded him so much that by the time he starts realising his mistakes, he would have lost every thing he has worked for all these years. All because of Winter.
Fake Zambian…..does Mmembe have a reputation to dent? Which one????? He is a shameless person without any sort of morals and I hope karma is heading his way ASAP
ZRA was unable to do something because they were getting something from the Post. They are accomplinces. Let the ACC & DEC commense ivestigation starting with Komaki, Zra, Pf secretariate & Meembe.
Mmembe is not the main criminal. The criminals are the buffoons in State House and the Ministry of Finance who have stopped collecting taxes from their friends and supporters. Is it any wonder that even the mining companies are not interested in paying taxes? You have a very corrupt political system in which laws are selectively applied depending on how close you are to whichever buffoon is in State House. Sata and Chikwanda have failed to look after the interests of the country. They stopped collecting taxes from their friends in 2011. Mmembe and all ex and current friends of Sata should be made to pay all the monies they owe the nation. Somebody should remind Sata that this is how corruption looks like!
Don’t even blame Mmembe. No insults should be directed at him but to Mr *****,Chumbu himself. This dinasour,moron,dimwit,mampara,guluva,skabengu is the one who has failed this country. This Chumbu should be prosecuted when govt change. As you can see Mmembe stopped paying when the weakest leader came into power. Also the stupid people of zambia who voted,sang and danced the who night should be blamed. They voted based on tribal and not brains.
@Goncalves & Chumbu
For me the painful part is some youths who are in support of these fossils. In America and Britain, the youth voted for the youth so as foster their agenda. In Zed its a different story. How do you have a rat like Lingweshi being an MP in this time and age? How do you have a youth that gives props to an absent president? We as a youth only have ourselves to blame for these shananigans beseting our country. At what price though and for how long can we allow this to go on?
This now turning into a witch-hunt. Don’t forget that everybody has people who like him. I don’t think that if today we opened all secret pages of everybody in government including President Sata and this Congolese Julius komaki, we would not find massive irregularities. To start with, just the removal of Criticles Mwansa and replacing him with the current ZRA Chief was suspect right from the beginning. Stop demonising Fred Mmembe as if he is the one who forced you to vote PF. You have chased Kabimba, he is gone; and now you farting about another non-Bemba? Recently President Sata’s dodgy bank records were displayed in full detail on Watchdog, and yet I didn’t hear a voice of disapproval. We know you are tribalists, but you can practice it in a more civilised way.
I have a case before the ZRA governing board in which Mr. Msiska has admitted in writing that, there is internally aided tax fraud among senior members of staff. I quit my job out of frustration for the same reasons that Senior managers were protecting tax offenders, thus hampering our efforts to excel in our task of revenue collection The case of the post Newspaper is NOT the only case; there are many more. In his letter he said that appropriate action had been taken and went on to say this: “We wish to advise that the issues raised in your letter will assist Zambia Revenue Authority as it executes its mandate”.
I will restate what I have always told ZRA management again and again. As a result of this internally aided tax fraud, ZRA could be collecting less than 50% of taxes due.
This guy called Heembe, oh sorry M’membe has been calling others corrupt, rotten, demagogues, tribal, uncivilized, foolish and all sorts of names. In fact these terms or words suit you sir. I held you in high esteem mwandi. I am disappointed to learn that your company has been avoiding to pay taxes. Bravo Daily Nation for exposing this scandal
Rupia Banda lost office because he refused to be a door mat to Fred Mmembe. As a result he suffered the most sustained false propaganda in the three years he was President. A series of 1,030 editorials accusing him of being Jack the Ripper. See now who they were promoting and why?
Kwena ……………. the man is always quoting Bible passages without shame and yet he is breaking one of the commandments Exodus 20:15 which reads “Thou shall not steal”. I am lost for words…I am hurt. Think of the poor please.
things fall apart!
Let ZED be Federal State.
Julius Komaki says the newspaper had been singing praises for President Michael Sata even when they did not believe in his vision because the owner of the newspaper, Fred M’membe was seeking favours from the Head of State. Komaki we all know this. Only Fred and Michael think we don’t know. Can journalism institutions and associations comment please?
So, even the ‘squeaky clean’ Post Newspapers’ are also stealing from the poor Zambians.
don’t involve yourself in and start supporting the government, when its gone you suffer. take example of Julius Malema here in RSA, he supported the current president but after turning against him, he is the one who is suffering. he is surviving cos he is the mp, but remember boma ni boma
the president should chase DPP and Fred M’membe, then he ll be very clean
This has all the trade marks of the fight between ABC and Fred. If ABC(Chikwanda) thinks that he has hit back at Fred, which could be true, but actually he has just told us Zambians that he is incompetent and not up the task. ZRA falls under ministry of Finance and if ZRA is not collecting Tax and not meeting targets ABC needs to answer question! Sir you have h
just scored own goal! In civilized nations this is either a resignation issue or firing of the minister of Finance!!!!
Our constitution stinks! The police are stooges of the corrupt politicians. The IG is scared of the politicians, when it is supposed to be the other way.
If this revelation is true then it fits in with the trend in Zambian politics. Ministers and the President are prepared to turn a blind eye to corruption, provided you are carrying favour with them. As soon as you fall out with them, they start ‘spilling the beans’. It is disgusting. Made more so by the fact that this Julius Komaki can’t even see that this is corruption on the part of PF! I was also horrified to learn that PF have a company which works on government contracts. That is corruption on a grand scale! Unfortunately, our politicians do not get it.
Concur. Zambia is in the grip of mafioso like plundering. It is difficult to find any clean politician. The country’s wealth has become their personal income. And as for the PF party company; who would have thought? Who will start the impeachment process? All the lawyers in Zambia are less intelligent than Kabimba seemingly.
This is quite sad and I’m sure the president has no knowledge that Mmembe has abused his friendship to intimidate ZRA from collecting tax. This is extremely serious as people are dying coz GRZ is failing to buy medicines becoz Mmembe has not paid tax and has failed to pay back K14m to DBZ!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is not only the Post that does not pay. Most of these businesses owned by PF members do not pay tax. Does Chishimba Kambwili pay tax. We always see his trucks just pass through the borders without paying tax. Recently ZRA complained about Yamba not paying tax. Of all the people, Yamba should be the last person to evade tax.
It is not only the Post that does not pay. Most of these businesses owned by PF members do not pay tax. Does Chishimba Kambwili pay tax? We always see his trucks just pass through the borders without paying tax. Recently ZRA complained about Yamba not paying tax. Of all the people, Yamba should be the last person to evade tax.
WHERE IS ZABWINO PALIBE? JAIL THAT EMBACILE MUMEMBE FOR LIFE AND THROW AWAY THE KEYS. THE MAN THINKS HE IS A KING MAKER WHILE TURNISHING THE NAME AND IMAGE OF WILE MEANING CITIZENS LIKE HH FOR HIS CROOKED INTEREST.
Well played gov’t! This is a classic. If you owe taxes, don’t irritate the Gov’t! They always start with tax files. This is in deed a coup de grâce! The final blow to shut up a Post weakened by Kabimba’s departure and loss of influence!
Now Mmebs is headed for prison?? Well perhaps he has a defence! Zambian Politics ……exciting, better than a thriller movie! The next episode…will reveal all the names of Gov’t officials who have not paid tax since 1964! The one after that will reveal all the overseas investments of leaders to show links with our mines…..well perhaps thats not too believable……or?!
The fact is the gov’t allowed the Post this ‘benefit,’ while they were singing their praises. This is just dirty politicking!
Komaki is not a tax expert, just throwing figures at people is not conclusive. Many companies get tax exemptions from ZRA, why not the POST?
Many mines have been on tax exemptions for many years, it is this practice of giving preferential treatments to foreign companies which we should be talking about, not taking down local companies because they do not agree with you. Zambian tax year ends in April, in 2011 MMD was in power and must have collected the tax, and so the maths doesn’t add up to say that the POST have not any tax for the 3 years PF have been in power. We should be talking about the trillions being siphoned off by the Multi- nationals like Sugar , Cement and Copper companies who are using tax avoidance methods like transfer pricing and distortion of costs!
Agree. This article does not make sense at all. It is not specific on facts.
One does not need to be an expert on Tax to know the Tax obligation status of a company once returns have been filed. You just go to ZRA and request for a statement for that company that will show the returns submitted and the payments made.
Tax evasion is a very serious offense in civilised countries.