Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has told the public to ignore assertions being peddled in the media alleging that it has ghost workers.
Reacting to the story carried by the Daily Nation Newspaper, ZRA Corporate Communications Manager Topsy Sikalinda said that the authority is very disappointed that people can go to such an extent to malign ZRA which is working so hard to mobilise resources for the nation under very challenging circumstances.
“Therefore, the story in today’s Daily Nation Newspaper and social media alleging that the institution has about 67 ghost workers makes very sad reading. We are very disappointed that people can go to such an extent to malign ZRA which is working so hard to mobilise resources for the nation under very challenging circumstances.
ZRA is a very sensitive organisation that cannot afford to have any ghost employees as alleged by the false story. All our employees are accounted for and present at their respective duty stations fully preoccupied with the responsibility of collecting revenue.
“This act of maligning the institution has the potential to erode taxpayer confidence in the country thereby affecting revenue collection. As an institution we remain focussed on our mandate of mobilising revenue on behalf of the government as witnessed by our recent beating of this year’s target four months before the end of the year,” he said.
Mr Sikalinda said “The public is therefore urged to dismiss the story with the contempt it deserves.
“We further challenge anyone, he said, who believes that ZRA could have a ghost worker to show proof and report to relevant authorities,” concluded the statement.
I am surprised this chap is commenting on this when there is currently an audit… Surely if you want to change the image of this Revenue Authority you have to star with this flashy moron Topsy Sikalinda yes he is a comms manager but he works for the Tax authority. And then you have Kingsley Chanda who is the Chief Tax Collector yet he owns a couple of freight clearing companies who have the majority of GRZ contracts. You dont need an investigation to get rid of him…its got abuse of office written all over.
Tipsy! An organisation that is always far exceedi g its targets needs to relook it’s target setting.They may be setting the targets rediculously too low or hiding something.
Senior Citizen – How can an authority that collects tax from its poor citizens be boasting of hitting targets which are set by themselves…they should be boasting about transparency, elimination of corruption, innovation and reduction of externalisation of taxpayers funds.
There were a lot o and wrong things going at ZRA during the PF regime. For example what prompted ZRA to issue an amnesty on imported motor vehicles without paying duty and instead gave a deadline of 31/05/21. We also know of PF cadres who used to smuggle liquor from Namibia and South Africa. Trucks in transit to DRC off loading Cargo in Zambia and meali meal smuggling syndicates. Even those set targets for collecting taxes they could have been set lower to deceive the appointing authorities that all was well. Its does not make sense that ZRA could beat the annual target with four months remaining. I am certain the targets were not realistic. Up to this day ZRA has never concluded how the assessment for US$7.2 Billion was resolved with Lumwana Mine. Mr. Sikalinda Topsy don’t be mean…
Tarino be facture when was thé Audit conducted and by who to show that 67are Ghost workers at ZRA.we Know this is a way to make us Forget about free éducation,job création and all thé promises.Leave ZRA alone juste full fil
UPND still acting as if it’s on opposition trying to justify why they won’t fulfill their promises……free Education….Jobs for the youths….cheap fuel….bufi bufi bufi….
Fwebene calo – So why is he denying it …has he done an audit himself?
Fwebene calo – Free education is realistic go and listen to HH’s interview how he breaks it down…these are not soundbites of Lazy Lungu spewing about a million jobs or more money in your pockets nonsense.
FYI I am no UPND supporter I just want a better Zambia for all not a select few!!
Am sure if elections are held today..HH will come second from last….it took 7 years for Zambians to give up on Lungu…..it has taken less than 2 weeks for Zambians to give up on baby President HH….all we’ve seen so far is Mutinta overly dressed…looking like grandmoms going to those African American churches in South Carolina….
Saulosi – If elections were held today even Sean Tembo and Fred would score higher than Lazy Lungu….I am surprised that you can even compare the two …really laughable!!
How can free education start in 2 weeks after swearing in of the new president? Are Zambians this gullible? It’s a process and that needs to be implemented in phases and will start by being means tested first. Awe mwandini!!!
Guy n dolls!! Let Saulosi and Kaizer Zulu rot on this forum. We’ll come back in 5 years when they are only bones. Why waste your tike with losers?
time^
There once used to be that he-she from Scotland with 20 university degrees in karma sutra and married to a caucasian grandfather. She is now resting in pieces.
Topsy Siakalinda has dismissed reports that there are 67 ghost workers at Zambia Revenue Authority. As far as he is concerned, such reports are fake news. I am surprised that instead of producing evidence to rebut Siakalinda’s statement, brothers Tarino Orange, Senior Citizen and others attack him and call him names. So they expected him to confirm the “ghostly” story, didn’t they? Please, comrades, let’s not attack each other just because what they say may not constitute sweet music to our ears. This is a new dawn and we must learn to live to that name. Produce evidence if you don’t agree with Topsy.
@11. amafacts
You haven’t been following HH’s campaign promises…infact he said within one week just upon becoming President…meaning it was supposed to be on Wednesday August 25…….so stop defending him we just trying to remind him…Just after taking office..prices of melie meal will fall to K70……and Fertlizer from K800 to K250….and now we don’t even have a working government….kikikikikiki Politicians yaba bufi bufi bufi….Tarino Orange still languishing here on Lusaka Time….Spaka is so depressed he’s even contemplating suicide…yabija makani…
There may not be ghost workers at zra but there were definitely cadres employed who had no qualifications but were given jobs there just as a reward. Those are the people that should be flushed out.
kanamaso kakubeka – The onus is on him to back-up his answer…when was the last time an audit or head-count done at ZRA? A ghost worker can be a board member who is enjoying full Director benefits …I knew quite a number of PF officials who were sitting on these government company boards yet they were provided with a Ford Ranger, full directors pay, allowances etc.
Saulosi – I have told you time and time again that I am no UPND supporter but a Zambian who wants to see my country flourish. As for reduction of fertiliser that is doable all you have to do is remove the corruption and use a fair procurement and tender process….whilst you are at it invest more in NCZ in Chilanga so you reduce on importation.
My dear brother Tarino Orange, under the Zambian law, the onus lies on the accuser to prove his allegation; there is no onus on the accused to prove his own innocence. This explains why when a person is brought to court to face trial, the onus lies on the prosecution to prove the charge against the accused beyond all reasonable doubt. Even under the new dawn, the law remains the came. So if you have evidence that there are 67 ghost workers at ZRA, which ZRA denies, then prove it.
Please guys anyone in HR department please extend your hand of friendship to our brothers Tarino Orange and Spaka like Lilo who have been left in the cold by HH after promising them Diplomatic posting.. . Tarino Orange was supposed to be Zambian ambassador to UK and Spaka was supposed to be a cleaner at the Zambian permanent mission to the UN in Geneva…now HH played Dunana reverse on them instead HH is busy buying outfits and Brazilian hairs for Mutinta…yabija makani
Tarino Orange you’ve always been UPND..even the editors here at Lusaka Times know you as HH die hard…..
On a serious note am planning to start a gofundme for my brothers Tarino Orange and Spaka…..they’re about to be evicted from their apartments because HH promised them Diplomatic postings…they haven’t heard from HH since August 12…now they have no money to pay rent…please guys let’s help our dear brothers before they end being homeless in the diaspora…HH has disappointed alot of People
@Saulosi it is a shame to see so many people like you wishing HH to FAIL. The man has not yet been on the job 90 days. I think everyone ought to give him at least 6 months to prove himself. After 6 months if there’s been no positive changes then I think people have the right to call him out. It is so unfair to grade a person when they haven’t yet taken the TEST????
BTW – There is nothing wrong with Mutinta looking like the grandmoms in the African American churches in South Carolina. It is much better than being an Atheist.
Saulosi – Hakainde has been in govt 2 weeks and I have been in diaspora 20 years comfortable no complaints , have revenue streams in Zambia suddenly I am job hunting …how old are you? Some people are simpletons
@Matt
We don’t want to see HH fail….but remember that HH wanted Lungu and PF to fail….have you forgotten???… I see alot of you UPND bandwagon followers attacking anyone who opposes HH…remember HH didn’t even recognize Sata as President or Lungu….HH was anti Zambian government..he is not a Patriot no wonder people are laughing at him for crying to the British….when majority of African countries are trying to go Pan African that’s when baby President HH wants to impress the west for little leftover money….HH has already failed…DEAD ON ARRIVAL
@ Matt
And by the way please don’t forget to contribute to the gofundme for Tarino Orange and Spaka…they’re heart broken….HH has abandoned them