Tuesday, April 23, 2024

The process of VAT refunds is unsustainable and laborious-Mwanakatwe

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Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme (right) listening to his Finance counterpart Mrs. Margaraet Mwanakatwe address Zambian diplomats accredited to the USA when they paid a courtesy call on Zambia’s Ambassador to the USA His Excellency Dr. Ngosa Simbyakula in Washington DC on 19 April 2018. Mr. Chiteme and the Minister of Finance Mrs Margaret Mwanakatwe are participating in the IMF/World Bank 2018 Spring Meetings in Washington DC, USA. Mr. Chiteme is the Alternate Governor and Mrs Mwanakatwe is Zambia’s Governor on the World Bank Board of Governors. PHOTO| CHIBAULA D. SILWAMBA | MNDP
FILE: Minister of National Development Planning Alexander Chiteme (right) listening to his Finance counterpart Mrs. Margaraet Mwanakatwe 

Finance Minister Margaret Mwanakatwe says the public and private sectors should strengthen their partnerships in developing Zambia and marketing the country’s wealth creation prospects to citizens, the region, and off-shore.

Mrs. Mwanakatwe says the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax on 1st April, 2019, is not only a path of best practice but it will also eliminate the unsustainable and laborious process of VAT refunds.

“We are constantly in a refund position, it is unsustainable, hence us going to GST, just like America, just like Australia, just like India, just like Malaysia,” she demonstrated and further stated that, “Zambia is following best practice and we are ensuring that we can fully engage the public before the implementation date.

The Minister was speaking when the Zambian delegation toured mining sector exhibition stands at the on-going 2019 Mining Indaba, in Cape Town, South Africa.

Among the Zambian stands visited were those of the Copperbelt Energy Corporation, ZCCM-IH, Vedanta – Konkola Copper Mines, and the Ministry of Mines and Minerals Development.

During the Mining Indaba, the delegation has attended various sessions and held country promotion side events at which economic policies and programmes were explained.

Mrs. Mwanakatwe has described the Indaba as a good platform for investment promotion. She has since returned to Lusaka.

This is according to a statement issued by Chileshe Kandeta, the Ministry of Finance spokesperson.

7 COMMENTS

  1. wait wait…. wait a minute!
    what did she just say?
    minister what exactly were you trying to say?
    can someone who understands what the h’ll she’s saying explain to me. And don’t dumb it down, I am an economist so just explain how you understand it
    how come public figures (politicians) in Zambia get away with so much?
    bottom line is that the change being implemented is aimed at having govnt aims to tax Zambians throughout the chain (production, distribution, consumption) of both goods and services. vat doesn’t tax consumption and that’s the reason they are moving away as they feel arew missing out, so now they want to further burden Zambian consumers
    where I am I pay gst, on what in Zambia you call non essentials, but the base is large so the burden is distributed and shared…

    • Thats my feeling too but the reporting is so obfuscated I don’t know whether to blame her or ignorant reporters

  2. LOL I am an INDIAN from INDIA. She is mentioning GST in INDIA. She dosent know GST in INDIA is a completely refund based system…. Please get your facts correct madam uve not done your homework.

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