The Department of Immigration in Livingstone says it has not met its targeted revenue for 2016 after recording a shortfall of over sixty million kwacha.
Immigration Department Director General Moola Milimo says the department had targeted K260, 000, 000 for 2016 but only managed K198, 754, 890, a shortfall of K61, 245, 110.
Mr. Milimo said the Southern region collected K25, 231, 000 out of the targeted K37, 000, 000 leaving a shortfall of K11,769, 000.
He said his department was ranked second in terms of collecting non-tax revenue for the treasury but had failed to meet its target this year.
“Our budget performance is at 68 percent and generally, I would say we have not done well and it is my wish that the coming financial year is better than this one,” he said.
Mr. Milimo said this at the Department’s End of Year Party at Fairmount Hotel in Livingstone on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Director General urged his officers to be mindful of the important role they play in promoting tourism as a priority sector.
“Your region is Zambia’s tourist destination point and you should be mindful of the important role you play in promoting tourism as a priority sector. As officers, you must be professional, courteous and polite when attending to tourists,” he said.
And speaking earlier, Southern Region Immigration Officer Noria Mulenga said the department faced numerous challenges during the year.
Mrs Mulenga said these included inadequate funding, lack of transport, lack of office and staff accommodation and staff shortage.
She however said despite the challenges a total of 101 illegal immigrants of various nationalities were arrested, 97 foreigners were denied entry for various reasons, 160 prohibited immigrants were deported and 87 offenders were successfully prosecuted.
She called for an increase in staffing levels from the current 81 uniformed staff to 111 and from five support staff to 19 of which six should be drivers, seven office orderlies and a coxswain for Sinazongwe and Namafulo to carry out patrols on Lake Kariba.
“We also need office and staff accommodation at Sinazongwe District Office, an increase in our funding and transport for Monze, Kalomo and Sinazongwe District offices,” she said.
She also commended government for procuring a vehicle for the Mazabuka office and pledged to put it to good use to prolong its life span.
A few years back, barely three actually I told some border guys that soon it will be difficult to attract visitors with the structure of collecting fees at entry points. APA mukuti dollars, penangu mukuti Kwacha… some other place mutila kuti minimum insurance three months for a one week visit. All nonsense you do not see in many places. Just charge user fees inside the country and make it fair…
Dundumwezi mentality. How can you collect revenue with a wrong “HH”ised mentality?
I Hope the other GRZ wings like ZRA will be rewarded accordingly coz the Southern Region always Exceeds its Targets & yet they are still among the waste paid Quasi – GRZ institutions, Anyway they now have a New Mangufuli (TZ President) in Kingsley I hope he will Motivate them soon, to further enhance revenue collection
Too much corruption starting with provincial administration which is rotten starting with the head…corruption,corruption and no one seems to care.We should forget about development in southern province for now.
Same old same old In England you Live legally for just 4 years and they grant you an Indefinite leave to stay, In Zambia it has taken the folks from Angola wince the civil war In Angola. 5 generations, all we look at is profit.
A government is just supposed to facilitate not have targets competing with the private sector.