Zambia Revenue Authority Commissioner General Berlin Msiska has refuted claims that the Authority operates under the influence and direction politicians.
Speaking during a media workshop in Lusaka yesterday Mr. Msiska said claims that the authority is controlled by politicians are unfounded as the authority is an autonomous body with the mandate to collect revenue on behalf of government.
He noted that the public has continued to accuse the authority of pursuing companies and individuals who are in bad books with government but says the authority has no powers to pursue people for personnel reasons.
He explained that the authority will always considers all technicalities before making follow ups on non-complaint companies and individuals.
He also advised tax payers to always comply with the requirements as regards paying tax as not doing so is more expensive.
Meanwhile Mr. Msiska has denied media reports that the authority was ordered by republican president Micheal Sata not pay back the tax refunds under VAT rule 18.
He said the Authority never received any such latter and has since called on the media to clarify such issues before publishing false information.
He said the media should report any individuals with such information to the authority so that it can have a clear explanation as to were these individuals get such information.
And the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has exceeded its tax collection goal for this year by about K1.7 billion.
Commissioner General Berlin Msiska said ZRA’s performance this year had been above-target as observed from its collections so far.
He said the target in tax collections was K26 billion but so far the organisation had collected more by about K1.7 billion.
“So far we have over-performed by K1.7 billion from the target of K26 billion that we were given. With the remaining months, we are confident that we will collect more money,” he said.
Mr Msiska said that revenue collection over the years at ZRA had been very good.
He, however, bemoaned the fact that many people and organisations in Zambia still submitted incorrect tax returns, adding that the Government and ZRA were doing everything possible to improve the tax base.
Mr Msiska said ZRA would ensure that it upheld its autonomy as it carried out its role.
He appealed to property owners to voluntarily come out in the open and declare their incomes and return the correct taxes to ZRA before being found out.
“As ZRA, we will be very aggressive on this, and people should bear in mind that non-compliance can be very expensive,” he said.
Mr Msiska urged the media to be strong partners with ZRA in ensuring that people paid tax.
I find this revenue collection target scary for a mineral rich country like Zambia – it’s less than the budget of Johannesburg Metropolitan City Council! Please don’t make yourselves look good by setting yourselves such LOW targets, which are easy to beat.
….only directed by corruption
yes we have a problem, thinking of his pocket first.such low benchmark cant develop the country.we shall continue shading tears when we visit other countries when we see development.
Not influenced by politicans but appointed by them!!
True Jay, the Chairman of the ZRA Board is PF Western Province Chairman….the thing speaks for itself. In legal jargon we say “res ipsa loquitur” so what is Berlin talking about?
Did Sata manage to speak in parliament today? On his anniversary.
@Nostradamus
yes,,, am also waiting for the presidential speech,,, is sata still speaking?… lusaka times were you allowed in parliament today??
We have a problem.Just below this story appears another saying “Msiska appointed zra boss” and in that story it is reported that this far got has been appointed zra boss by Sata but here he claims that the authority is independent.If you were appointed by Sata how can you say you are independent. If Sata says Post should not pay taxes can this fargot dare to per sue the Post when Sata can fire him if he did? How low can a country go?
ZRA and Msiska are as independent as the toothless Zambian judiciary whose orders on RB’s passport and travel were openly disobeyed.
Yes Berlin you are politically influenced. Are you trying to act like you were not appointed by PF? Muzimvelako na nsoni… There are very few reaches in this country not touched by Politicians. You may be free of politics, yes, but not politicians. Even that ka suit you are wearing… Okay, I will give you a tax break. Just like the Post. Who are politicians…
Post news has not paid taxes from 2011-date,how can msiska say ZRa is not influenced by politicians,are their any other companies that are not politically connected which have not remitted tax for more than 3 years but owing billions of kwacha but are Scot free?in USA tax evasion is a serious crime ,its color blind,and has no boundaries,actor wisley sniper served 3 years for tax evasion.
You remember this?
“President Michael Sata has appointed Berlin Msiska as Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General.
President Sata made the appointment in accordance with the provisions of Section 19 [1] of the Zambia Revenue Authority Act, Cap 321 of the Laws of Zambia.
And Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has expressed happiness with the appointment of Mr. Msiska as Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) Commissioner General”
Ati not politically motivated.. Munama bafana?
Msiska you are appointed by the president and you failed to collect tax from the Post because your boss told you not to. Today you want to lie that you are independent from the government? Fact of the matter is, when Sata and his cahoots say jump you say ‘how high boss’. You have been corrupted.
The crux of the matter is that the mindset of the Zambian is revealed yet again. It is this penchant to escape obligation with impunity and resort to sideline arguments when cornered. The law requires that tax must be paid. If everyone pays we wouldn’t need these impotent discussions of whether or not political encumbrances exist over the operations of the authority. We would be discussing the discharge of our tax monies and what amount we are donating to societies less fortunate than our own. That is how progressive countries do as a habit.
ZRA top brass appointees are “independent” from current political masters as much as a new born baby is independent from its mother.
Yes ,There is need to increase initiatives aimed at increasing the Tax base but I think watching developments in tax initiative in ZRA,there looks a positive outlook on increasing that Base with careful research departments in legal, document handling to ensure detection of fake certificates or declarations including accounting gimmicks or shenanigans practised by co-operates especially to validate fake returns
Learning from my colleague at City of J’burg, the city of J”burg does everything from water rates electricity investments promotions like MFEZ like the now famous new York of Africa There are revenue lines are quiet impressive and therefore massive as opposed to ZRA with only few…
It is the expected statement – did anyone expect him to say they are politically influenced? I think we need to disguise some of this political influence, at least, by ensuring that the President does not appoint such heads directly, from his house. At least if the Minister does appoint the Board, which in turn appoints the CEOs, that would not be clear political appointments. It happens in other well governed countries, and I do not see why it cant happen in zed.
If Berlin isn’t under Sata and other politician’s spell then he is just incompetent and ‘useless’. The Post criminally avoids remitting PAYE and VAT which it collects from its employees and customers on behalf of the GOVT for three years and Berlin just sits in his plush office doing nothing but farting around. The Daily Nation blows the trumpet on this crime and Berlin descends on them like a starving hyena. In a normal country this wouldn’t happen and he, Berlin would be out trotting the streets looking for another job, but fortunately for him our nation is far from normal and therefore his arse is completely safe.
MSISKA SHOULD RESIGN NOW,CAN HE EXPLAIN WHY THE POST HASNT BEEN PAYING TAX
Governance becomes quite a nightmare if all you expect is policing for things that you have pledged to do yourself. Suddenly it is more of ZRA’s fault than it is The Post, Daily Nation and countless others who have not yet been named and shamed. This country is exasperating indeed! So calling for Msiska’s resignation will pave way for a more brutal Commissioner General while at the same time you are moving to repeal vigorous provisions to police your population in the constitution! Warped mindsets, if you ask me.
If Berlin isn’t under Sata and other politician’s spell then he is just incompetent and ‘useless’. The Post criminally avoids remitting PAYE and VAT which it collects from its employees and customers on behalf of the GOVT for three years and Berlin just sits in his plush office doing nothing but ukunya fye ifisushi. The Daily Nation blows the trumpet on this crime and Berlin descends on them like a starving hyena. In a normal country this wouldn’t happen and he, Berlin would be out trotting the streets looking for another job, but fortunately for him our nation is far from normal and therefore his @&%#! is completely safe.
We know that you are related to Sata
How did George Siame come back to ZRA without your knowledge and gave himself a position which never existed? Even the board had a hard time to get you to fire him for stealing under your nose. So many PFcadres are now working for ZRA as security
ZRA Boss is in a difficulty! job balancing the ACT of pleasing the appointing authorities (politicians) and public expectations. Can someone explain the overall economic implications of not refunding the VAT? why not scrap it off if it is impossible to implement?
but mu zambia u can die na BP
Can the ZRA Commissioner General Berlin Msiska enlighten tax-payers why the Revenues Appeal Tribunal has been dissolved by his political master and thus prevented taxpayers appealing against ZRA unethical, corrupt and arbitrary application of tax Laws?
Where can we access streaming news about Sata opening parliament or is it supposed to be top secret?
ZRA will be autonomous when Management stops being appointed by the party and its government
Wasn’t this the man who was chased out of cabinet meeting due to some statutory instrument which was well positioned? But some statements, kaya chabe mwe!