Friday, March 29, 2024

State House refutes claims it instructed ZRA to raid the Post Newspaper

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Mr Amos Chanda
Amos Chanada Press Briefing

State House has refuted allegations that it instructed the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) to close down the Post Newspaper on Friday last week.

The President’s Special Aide for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda has said that the allegations are preposterous and outrageous in the extreme.

Mr. Chanda said that ZRA has however informed State House that its action to raid the newspaper followed a court order authorizing it to collect colossal outstanding taxes due to the treasury.

Mr Chanda said that President Lungu was also informed by Deputy Finance Minister Christopher Mvunga that the ZRA’s raid at the newspaper company was a routine operation as enshrined in the ZRA mandate to collect taxes for the treasury.

Mr. Chanda said that this meant that regardless of whether who was owing taxes was an individual or Newspaper Company there was no exception.

Mr Chanda stated that President Lungu therefore finds it unreasonable that a debt between the Post Newspaper and ZRA has been misrepresented as an act of punishment from him.

A group of people came to see president Lungu proposing that he dismisses Finance Minister Alexander Chanda or Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili and put Miles Sampa.

Mr. Chanda said that the President is encouraging the Post newspaper to emulate other media houses that pay taxes whenever the ZRA tendered a huge tax bill against them with without dragging innocent people into dirt.

Mr. Chanda said that the Zambia Daily Mail, Times of Zambia and Daily Nation are some of the media houses that negotiate with the ZRA and pay their debt quietly.

He was speaking to journalists this afternoon at statehouse.

And Mr. Chanda disclosed that President Lungu has welcomed Atlas Mara’s acquisition of Finance Bank Zambia Limited.

He said that the President is delighted that Atlas Mara has continued to show confidence in Zambia’s banking sector.

Mr. Chanda has also disclosed that that a group of people came to see president Lungu proposing that he dismisses Finance Minister Alexander Chanda or Information Minister Chishimba Kambwili and put Miles Sampa.

Why didn’t the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) complain that government was behind the raid of their offices not long ago over the same? Just because it is Post then government should be blamed?

Meanwhile Chief Government Spokesperson Chishimba Kambwili has charged that the Post newspaper should desist from dragging the Patriotic Front (PF) into its financial indebtedness because the ruling party does not interfere with the operations of the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).

Reacting to the newspaper’s assertions that ZRA’s move to pounce on the organisation for failure to remit taxes was politically motivated, Mr. Kambwili advised the newspaper to pay what it owed ZRA and stop blaming government over its shortcomings.

He said there was no aota of truth in the papers allegations as ZRA was mandated to collect revenue on behalf of Government and to deal with defaulters in accordance with the law.

Mr Kambwili said self-pity would not save the owners of the paper because they would not receive special treatment for failing to meet their obligations.

“Let them just pay what they owe ZRA and stop accusing Government of having a hand in their problems because no institution will be given any special treatment simply because of who they are. Ubufi ba Post nabuchila mo and they know that they are lying as usual.

“Why do they want to bring government into their problems which they created for themselves for failing to meet their obligation? We don’t direct ZRA to carry out their duties because that institution has professionals who know what they are doing,” Mr. Kambwili said.

He explained that the paper should desist from making unnecessary excuses and pay what they owed.
Mr Kambwili wondered why the Post was expecting to be treated with kid gloves when it was not the first institution that was pounced on by ZRA for defaulting.

“How special are they? Why didn’t the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) complain that government was behind the raid of their offices not long ago over the same? Just because it is Post then government should be blamed? Let them be serious and stop being petty. Let them just pay the money they are owing to ZRA and stop complaining about government interference. How do they expect to be left Scot-free when they are not paying? Let them stop lying and face the reality because their lies won’t help them,” he said.

35 COMMENTS

    • Is it possible for the president to allow a company to stop paying tax as is purported to be the case with President Sata and the Post? If it is , then it is equally possible for the President to direct ZRA to collect tax. The post was not paying taxes because they were in good terms with President Sata and ZRA didn’t find any reason to collect tax from them. Now that the post is in not so good terms with President Lungu, they should pay tax. If this is how the Zambian government collects tax, then we are in big trouble. Sing praises to the President – no tax, Criticize the President and government, it’s time to pay tax. Wow! Little wonder, Zambians are wallowing in poverty.

  1. PF govt. this is a war you have started with the Post Newspapers. If it is for the good of the country then let the war begin.

    • @Pretty
      Bottom line is the post have to pay taxes that are due. Yes MCS was corrupt in not allowing ZRA to collect the taxes owed but its a criminal offence and he post are criminals. Just that they have agreed or paid some taxes back means they evaded tax. In other places someone would go to jail for that. The problem is criminality is praised in lew of benefits by the natural Zambian. That’s is why Zambia will be the least developed country in Africa not so in the distant future. Minds are corrupted. Its too late. Fred Membe stole period. These people running govet need to be wiped out in which ever way and a new start made.

    • @Cat Power, I don’t dispute the fact that Post Newspapers have to pay but at MMD Bootlicker states this is about a bunch of crooks versus anther bunch of crooks etc.

  2. While it is true that there was some influence from PF and state house to go the POST: Chikwanda is on record to have said that , Lungu is on record and so is Kambwili and Mumbi Phiri, I think the onus is on the Post Newspaper to pay their statutory obligation especially if they want to convince us that they are holier than the people in Power.

    The truth of the matter is that the Post was in power when Sata was alive and they did not show any moral aptitude, and as a matter of fact they even stopped paying tax despite the massive amount of money they made under sata.

    Bottom line is this is a Mafia battle of Crooks vs Crooks, so let them sort out each other out and the winner will be zambians and ZRA and that is how I like it

    • @MMD Chief Bootlicker, I like that as well “this is a Mafia battle of Crooks vs Crooks, so let them sort out each other out and the winner will be Zambians and ZRA.”

      Let the battle begin……

    • MMD Chief Bootlicker, it is in our interest that the other crook does not destroy the other. We need as much information disclosure without consent as much as possible by the weaker crook as he fights for survival. Hence, the natural position to serve the weaker crook for now.

  3. …even in America the Washington Post just pay its taxes. Zed is an exciting place where revenue is collected in fits and starts and by insinuation. A lot of entities have been allowed to go scot-free at the whim of politicians. We must stop being even perceptively partial, and I am warning all those who are allowing companies to go scot-free…

    • @kalok,why did u mention washington post,the two are not in any way related .the best word choice would have been,AMERICAN MEDIA HOUSES also pays taxes.

  4. Comment:give what belöngs to seza to seza but dont bring in politics, me i pay tax monthly. Post u ar not special but abide to the law of the land

    • The funny thing is that, the post deducts the taxes from its workers but that money never reaches ZRA, thats where the problem is

  5. DO NOT RESPOND TO SUCH.WORKERS PAY TAX NO NEGOTIATIONS ITS PAY AS YOU EARN WHY SHOULD ACOMP.THAT MAKES PROFIT NOT PAY TAX. STATE HOUSE WHY APOLGISE YOU HAVE THE ~THESE GUYS ZAMBIA IS IN THERE HANDS & THEY CAN DO ANYTHING,MANUPLATE ANY INSTITUTION FOR THERE BENEFITES.ONLY A FOOL CAN SUPPORT SUCH.WE ARE WAITING FOR U TO PAY.KWAMANA BASA.TUNAKU EBEMBELA MWATA FWETENU OH.MUKUDI MUDI MWATA.

  6. Can state house or ZRA mention any other companies it has raided ,i believe the post is not the only company owing zra.this will give zambians to a benefit of a doubt.

    • @planzo, and you just decided to skip over certain details in the story and went straight to comments, right? What does this statement in the story mean to you:

      “Mr Kambwili wondered why the Post was expecting to be treated with kid gloves when it was not the first institution that was pounced on by ZRA for defaulting…Why didn’t the Football Association of Zambia (FAZ) complain that government was behind the raid of their offices not long ago over the same?…”

      READ THE ENTIRE STORY AND THEN COMMENT….OR ASK QUESTIONS!!!!

  7. One can see deceit and hypocrisy in the statements being made here by Amos, Mvunga and Kambwili! Can they tell the nation how much Times of Zambia, Daily Mail and ZNBC owe ZRA in PAYE, VAT, ETC relative to the Post and when they ever carried out their so called routine operations on these institutions? I don’t like the Post, but the Post has the right to exist in this country no matter how critical it is of government!

    • Last time I heard Zambia Daily Mail owed K350 million in taxes & Times of Zambia owed K300 million. Why go for someone who owes K6 million? Start with those who owe more money! That is why it is political!

  8. WAS THERE NEED FOR ZRA TO BE ACCOMPANIED BY ARMED POLICE? YES IF THE POST OWES REVENUE IT MUST PAY BUT NOT BE RAIDED BY ARMED POLICE, ALREADY IT POTRAYS A PICTURE OF INTIMIDATION.

    • that was not by ZRA but by some named hotel. FAZ had not settled lodging bill for the said hotel. Next time read the story in full or recall the stroy as it was.

  9. It’s a fact that successive govts have used enforcement agencies including ZRA to fix opponents. ECL’s interference in thi saga is even made more conspicuous by this denial.
    However, the lesson for the Post & Freddie is never, ever again abandon the people for expediency’s sake as you did with MCS.ECL has taken advantage of a weakness you created for yourselves.

  10. Pa. Zed, people should just pay debts when they are due. If you can’t pay, negotiate don’t blame others for your woes.

  11. I am anti PF, but this newspaper also was very negligent, to accumulate the bill of over 20m, it means they were very irresponsible

  12. Since when do you need armed police to collect taxes. And is it normal for ZRA to carry the media on their tax collection errands. While they are at it why don’t they raid the Times of Zambia as well. We all know they pay nothing.

    • How much does Times of Zambia owe in back taxes? Stop making wild allegations just because you don’t like the govt of the day!!!

      The POST prides itself in “digging up dirt,” why don’t they expose other tax cheats the ZRA is overlooking to show us if indeed they are being singled out. I am sure tax fillings at Times, and other govt media entities, are public records. Let the Post expose their fellow tax cheats….that will be a win for ordinary Zambians who have no one in corridors of power to help them cheat on their taxes!!!

  13. NO AMOUNT OF DENIALS WILL CHANGE THE TRUTH THAT INSTRUCTIONS CAME FROM STATE HOUSE TO STOP THE NEWSPAPER FROM REPORTING ON THE FAILED TRIP TO COPPERBELT AND THE CORRUPTION GOING ON IN GOVERNMENT.
    HOW CAN THE PRESIDENT CELEBRATE THE TAKEOVER OF A ZAMBIAN OWNED BANK BY A FOREIGN BANK. DIDN’T PF IN OPPOSITION OPPOSE THE PARTIAL PRIVATISATION OF ZAMBIA NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANK? THERE WAS EVEN AN ATTEMPT TO RESCIND THE DECISION WHEN PF CAME INTO POWER. TODAY THE SAME PEOPLE ARE HAPPY THAT A HOME GROWN BANK HAS BEEN TAKEN OVER BY A FOREIGN COMPANY. SHAME!

  14. …personally I have no sympathy for the post guyz…whatever Zed is going thru…the marking and starting point was 2011 and the post contributed massively….their vision was limited to three years only…..

  15. Mmembe and his editors must blame themselves for their politics-perverted, polarized media ethos, for weakening national focus by raising trivia and frankly BS at the expense of areas of serious national effort. The task is clear for Lungu and his men: “don’t wound a snake, kill it”.

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