A WITNESS from Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has told the court that freelance journalist, Chanda Chimba and his Phibajo Production, a company that produced the ‘Stand Up for Zambia’ programme in the run-up to the 2011 general elections, evaded paying tax.
ZRA assistant inspector, medium tax office, Dennis Banda, also told the court that there was no activity on Phibajo from the time it was opened in 2005 to date.
But Chimba, through his defence lawyer Charles Lisita, objected to the line of evidence by the State witness, saying the offences he was facing had nothing to do with paying tax.
The visibly annoyed Chimba later, after the court adjourned to the chambers, lashed out at some investigation officers who were in court, accusing them of investigating him even when he was already undergoing trial.
This is in a matter in which Chimba is jointly charged together with former Information and Broadcasting Services minister Ronnie Shikapwasha and his former permanent secretary Sam Phiri with abuse ofauthority and being in possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Chimba is charged with three counts of unlawful printing, publication and possession of property suspected to be proceeds of crime.
Mr Banda, 33, told principal magistrate Obister Musukwa yesterday that a search he conducted on Chimba and Phibajo’s accounts established that they did not meet their tax obligations.
Mr Banda said that this meant that Chimba and Phibajo, who are the tax payers in this case, had not been remitting their tax obligations from February 17, 2005 to date.
But Chimba objected to the testimony adduced by Mr Banda, saying he was not in court for the charge of evading tax and could not see how that was becoming an issue.
At this point, Mr Musukwa invited the defence and the State to his chambers for a private discussion.
Chimba later instructed his lawyers to seek an adjournment as he wanted to consult over confidential issues.
But the State objected to the application saying there was no specific reason given to the court for want of an adjournment and that the same was aimed at delaying the case further.
Mr Musukwa in his ruling said it was Chimba’s constitutional right to consult with his lawyer at any stage of the case and granted the application.
Earlier, the matter delayed to take off because Shikapwasha was not before court. He finally arrived around 10:40 hours and apologised to the court that he had mixed up the dates.
Trial continues on September 30, 2014.
The post does not pay Tax why go for the young boys?
Now the questions are: who has not stolen from us? do we need to get world bank kaloba anymore? Zambians must wake and embark on a debt collection exercise as these funds will help build our roads, schools and even create employment! Of course, we have enjoyed 50 years of peace but that should not mean that perpetrators should be on the loose. This is docility under the veil of ‘one Zambia one Nation, Zambia is a peace loving nation’.
Exactly , this ZRA fool has no balls to talk about billions of unpaid taxes but wants to complain about One Hundred kwacha only of Turnover Tax! They just want to fix their rivals…….*****s!
@ Habeenzu
*****s are behind this pf state machinery. How do you bring up issues that are totally outside of the charge sheet? The judge should have stopped this ZRA witness and asked for relevance of his testimony to the case. You can tell that most people are scared to be seen not to be toeing the line. Goes to show that the country has really gone to the dogs, like literally.
@suntwe …. thanks for that I couldn’t have said it better. Spot on. Why borrow when we have people owing the country money.
Why is the gov’t going after Media and their senior staff only? It is good we chase our taxes, but this looks like media control.
There is a lot that is disconcerting about PF. It’s the multinationals and mines we need to chase for tax control.
These issues of paying tax are time dependent. At the moment Kabimba whose just been fired now needs to have his tax issues investigated. The Post will be next in the firing line at the rate they are going. As soon as they are out of favour with the State the investigations begin. GBM will now have any investigations of his covert activities suspended because he is now on the ‘right side of the Govt.’. Chanda Chimba III is on the fence because his predictions about SATA were right and the people (with some power) love him.
Zambia has been reaped from all aspects, I just wonder who else has been paying taxes. It seems every business in Zambia does not pay tax for as long as they have friends in govt. No wonder we are always lagging behind in developmental issues. ZRA should also be investigated for letting these business or whatever they call themselves to go for so long without remitting taxes. It seems some characters at ZRA are helping such business get away.
WHY DOES SATA WANT TO USE THESE INSTITUTIONS TO FIX FRIENDS, SHAA RUBISH
What s up with the media and tax evasion? can field Ruwe give us an explanation via one of his aimless articles? The Post, Daily Nation, Chanda Chi mba all don’t wanna give the taxman his due. why?