A land Rights activists in Kitwe has welcomed the initiative by the government to allow councils across the country to be collecting certain taxes on behalf of the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA).
Speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Kitwe yesterday, Archie Mulunda said the move will enhance revenue collection which the country is currently in dire need of as councils are present all over the country.
He however urged government to ensure that councils do not delay in remitting the money to ZRA after collecting it.
“The Local authorities were in past engaged by some water utility companies to collect revenue on their behalf but some councils failed to remit the revenue collected and up to now some water utility companies are still owed by councils, so chances of revenue deviation should be curbed if this plan is to be successful,” Mr. Mulunda said.
He noted that ZRA can also opt to increase its work force and spread its presence across the country and continue collecting the revenue to avoid the risk that might arise if councils are engaged.
Mr. Mulunda further cautioned that the failure by councils to manage issues of land a location as agents of the Ministry of Lands is a clear testimony that the council might have challenges in carrying out the task of collecting revenue on behalf of ZRA.
But the Kitwe Chamber of Commerce and Industry Vice President Emmanuel Mbambiko said the councils have the capacity to collect the revenue provided they are capacitated in terms of personnel training and being equipped with working tools and the appropriate software system which ZRA is operating on.
“ZRA works on a special software and if the councils can be equipped with this software and provided with a reliable network and other working tools, the plan can work very well,” Mr. Mbambiko said.
Mr. Mbambiko who is also a chartered accountant said the proposed plan has worked in the as councils used to collect some categories of revenue that is now being collected by the Zambia Revenue Authority.
Recently, the Ministry of Local Government and the Ministry of Finance signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will allow Local Authorities collect some revenue on behalf of ZRA.
This is aimed at enhancing revenue collection as councils are present in areas where ZRA has no offices.
This is a very positive development and sits very well with the decentralization policy. It’s one of the reasons we advocated for Executive Mayors because we want to increase the capacity of councils. We must now move to seal all financial leakages in councils. It must go further by allowing Councils to retain an agreed percentage of the revenue so collected for their operations. Most councils have been sleeping and waiting for Central Govt to fund them which isn’t good. Most revenue collected especially from markets and stations end up in the hands of criminals masquerading as cadres. RTSA must do the same. This is what we have always wanted. Well done PF! Pleas roll it out quickly
Ayatollah we thank you and appreciate your positive words. We will aim to do so as quickly as possible.This was in our manifesto and we are just living up to it. Have a good Friday
At KZ, Bill 10 wants to remove Executive Mayors so I don’t understand what you mean. If properly managed Councils have the capacity to employ many people. If you do what I have said you won’t even need Deputy Ministers because most work will be done by councils
Positive development, but we want to pay using online platforms and not queuing at the Councils, this wasting our productive time.
It’s no longer a matter of how much revenue is collected but how well government spends the revenue it collects.
Diversification of the authorities and powers is the key to holistic development of the society and in turn, the nation. With this decision, councils will get more scope to work for betterment of the society.
As the councils have been authorised to collect the taxes, they would be able to take initiatives in development of the area under their jurisdiction. This is something revolutionary decision taken in the country in really long time.
This is not just a decision to collect some taxes. It has opened a new avenue for employment. Councils and ZRA will need manpower to implement this decision, and it will give job opportunities for Zambians. We must welcome the decision.
This decision will have long term impact on the society. It will not only give exposure to local people to administration, but also train them to take up major responsibilities in nation building.
This article is interesting. On another note, allow me to just ask where those council employee’s take the parking levy charged in the city centre. Just wondering!!