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Athletics great Samuel Matete has announced that he will next month organise a marathon race dubbed “health and fitness run” in Kitwe.
Matete said the 10km and 5km race to be held at Kitwe Playing Fields (KPF) on August 29 is being spearheaded by his organization Sports for Youth Trust.
“As Sports for Youth Trust we are organizing a 10km and 5km run in Kitwe on 29th August. Our aim is to encourage youths to choose sport primarily for the benefit of their health but also as a possible career choice as a professional athlete,” Matete said.
This is a unique competition on the local athletics front especially on the Copperbelt.
“We welcome all to come and participate either individually as a family event or as a sponsored company group,” he said.
Matete added:”We would also welcome any direct sponsorship from companies who would like to be a part of developing our future
athletes through their corporate social responsibility programs.”
During his hey days, Matete won a gold medal at the 1991 World Championships and was twice silver medalist at the same event.
He was three-time World Cup winner and won gold at the 1994 Commonwealth Games.
Matete later won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta in what still is Zambia’s last medal at the World biggest showpiece
event.
PRESIDENT LUNGU AND PF DO NOT LOSE SLEEP OVER OPPOSITION’S PLAY OF SIMPLE POLITICS OF PLACATION
Lusaka, Zambia, 24th July 2015 – We wish to assure United Party for National Development (UPND) leader Mr. Hakainde Hichilema that His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu and the entire PF administration will not lose any sleep over what the Opposition leader considers to be ‘mounting pressure’.
We further wish to assure that nothing of the Opposition’s propaganda and twisted ideologies aimed at swaying public opinion will succeed in breaking the enduring spirit of the Zambian people. Zambians know that the Opposition’s ‘sugar-coated’ politics and pronouncements or politics of placation may win a few headlines but do not work.
As the PF, we shall continue to explain to the Zambian people the opportunities and challenges while re-assuring that the of Government’s investments will surely not bear fruit in the “24hour-news cycles” but that the direct and indirect benefits will accrue to the present and future generations of Zambians. PF is certain that posterity will judge generously the on-going investments.
The Opposition can be assured that President Lungu and PF are not afraid of public scrutiny of the respective programs and decisions being made.
This is because PF understands that such scrutiny and criticism by the Opposition and other stakeholders, when done objectively and in good faith, are essential in creating the desired understanding among citizens, which results in either support or opposition to Government’s programs.
PF will continue with the tremendous task of informing and alerting the Zambian people of the direction, decisions and challenges, including setbacks on the way. Not only will we acknowledge problems as and when they exist, but we’ll go further to consider short and long-term solutions.
We can therefore assure the Opposition that if causing President Lungu and his PF administration to lose sleep is the objective for their criticism, it will be a difficult one for them to attain.
President Lungu takes his job very seriously and shall remain candid and take responsibility whenever errors arise on PF’s watch. This approach is informed by understanding the wisdom of the past that “An error does not become a mistake until you refuse to correct it.” President Lungu, being a democrat believes in debate and criticism his Government and Zambia are to succeed.
As such, the President and PF is inviting the Opposition to debate issues and challenges in the nation, without becoming personally disagreeable. Our political engagement should not be about specializing in politics of placation without providing alternatives.
Lastly, PF believes that the engagement between itself and the Opposition should be anchored not simply in “giving the public what it wants to hear” but rather what the public needs to hear.
It has been easy for the Opposition to dramatize the load-shedding affecting our people, which is a consequence of Mother Nature and Africa Development Bank Group reports that 30 African countries and Zambia is among them.
In this regard, PF will continue to indicate long-term problems and propose and implement long-term choices. The Opposition can be assured that PF will therefore not relent from its pledge to take Zambia to her promised ‘land of work and joy in unity, all one, strong and free’.
Issued By: Sunday Chanda, Vice Chairperson, PF Media and Publicity Committee
President Edgar Lungu with Ms Jean Kapata and Emmanuel Chenda and Mr Harry Kalaba at the Bilateral Talks with President Yoweri Museveni Degation at Serina Hotel in Kampala on Friday – Picture by Eddie Mwanaleza /statehouse.President Edgar Lungu says the discovery of oil in Uganda is an opportunity for Zambia to explore ways of getting cheaper crude oil.
Speaking to journalists at Entebbe International airport before departure for Zambia , the President said among other issues agreed with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni was the possibility of getting crude oil cheaply from Uganda through Dar-as-salaam where it can be pumped to Indeni in Ndola.
Zanis reports that the President said the oil discovery in Uganda interested him most because it could greatly benefit Zambia.
Mr Lungu said it was unfortunate that over the years the relations between Zambia and Uganda had become static, resulting in missed opportunities for trade.
President Lungu disclosed that the two countries agreed that a Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) meeting be held in Lusaka in October as a way of reviving relations.
The Head of State said the JPC will help cement relations between Zambia and Uganda as the two countries have a lot to learn from each other on account of both being landlocked.
He also indicated that Zambia intends to maximise the utilisation of Lake Tanganyika in order to enhance trade between Zambia and countries in the East African region.
Meanwhile, President Lungu has extended an invitation to President Museveni for a state visit to Zambia.
According to a communique availed to the press by the President’s special assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, the Ugandan President accepted the invitation and will visit Zambia at a date to be communicated later.
And President Lungu has since left Uganda for Zambia after concluding his two-day state visit.
The President’s challenger jet took off from Entebbe International airport at 10:50 local time.
Auditor-General, Anna Chifungula
AUDITOR General Anna Chifungula says there is need for Zambia to employ stiffer action on audit queries produced in her report.
Dr Chifungula says if public resources are to be safeguarded action must be taken on queries raised by the office of the Auditor General.
Speaking during the official closing of the Annual meeting of the INTOSAI working group on public Debt in Livingstone today, Dr Chifungula says Zambia needs to learn from other countries by taking action when audit queries are raised.
“The challenges we are facing in audits is that when audit queries are raised in the auditor general’s report no action is taken to show that misuse of public resources should not be condoned”, she.
Dr Chifungula said the just ended meeting on audit of Public debt will help Zambia manage its external debt sustainably.
The stance Government has taken to make public the resources the country is borrowing will help the office of the auditor general work closely with the ministry of finance in establishing frameworks that will ensure proper utilization of the resources, she said.
And INTOSAI chairman Roberto Salcedo urged the members to be relevant to their cause and help their governments manage its public debt sustainably.
Mr. Salcedo explained that the objective of the INTOSAI working group was to share skills and knowledge on public debt to help audit units from countries world over contribute to the management of public debt.
The annual INTOSAI meeting which closed in Livingstone today will next year hosted by the office of the auditor general China in September.
Meanwhile , Dr Chifungula said the external debts Zambia is serving were low as they still for below the international threshold of 60 percent.
She said Zambia’s public debts were at 20 percent she said which below the maximum international threshold of 60% a country like Zambia is allowed to borrow.
“We do have the capacity as a country to service the debts that we have so far, as statistics show that Zambia’s debt is below the international threshold of 60 percent because the ratio of the gross debt to GDP must not exceed 60 percent of the country financial of the next fiscal year, and Zambia is far from reaching that international threshold”, she said.
She said every country which needs to develop depends on external debt to successfully implement various developmental projects.
“Countries like Finland have higher debts than Zambia but its economy has continued to thrive, which is an indication that acquiring public debt is essential for development”, she said.
She commended Government for the direction it has taken towards utilization of acquired external debt on infrastructure development because developed countries like China were also doing the same.
Dr Chifungula says with continued interactions, sharing experiences on public debt management, Zambia will manage to its public debt sustainably.
She however pledged to work closely with other audit units of the INTOSAI member countries to devise various strategies the country can audit and manage public debt sustainably.
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) vice-president Geoffrey Mwamba yesterday reportedly hurled tribal-laden invectives at Patriotic Front Mfuwe member of Parliament Mwimba Malama, sparking a near-punch-up at Parliament.
The Kasama MP threatened to beat up the Mfuwe MP and Chilubi MP (PF) Obvious Chisala, labelling them as people coming from small tribes which Bembas would finish politically.
The former Minister of Defence, who was appointed UPND vice-president in midweek and proclaimed that the party was not tribal, ‘fired’ at Mr Malama as he entered the restaurant during tea-break at about 10:30 hours.
Pointing at the Muchinga Province Minister, Mr Mwamba teased him, saying the suits he was wearing were because of him and that “I am coming into your constituency to finish you”.
He said Tabwas and Bisas are small tribes that cannot compete with Bembas. This forced Mr Malama and Mr Chisala to hit back, saying although Mr Mwamba was “fat like a bag of mealie meal”, he did not have the right and power to threaten and belittle others, especially on tribal lines.
Mr Mwamba gathered himself and charged at the two PF MPs, calling them poverty-stricken and that they would die poor.
“Get out…mwenchushi, mukafwa nobupina bwenu…get out…fumeni apa mwenchushi; loosely translated, “get out you poor people, you will die in poverty, get out of here”.
He also dragged late President Michael Sata’s name into the diatribe, saying, “why didn’t Sata appoint you as Defence minister?”
But the two MPs were unshaken as Mr Mwamba continued attacking them, bragging about his wealth.
Other MPs and security personnel stepped in to stop the fracas.
UPND Vice President Geoffrey Mwamba commonly known as GBM says he does not have a problem vacating his Kasama Central parliamentary seat on condition that other MPs with questionable allegiances receive the same ruling by Speaker of the National Assembly.
Mr Mwamba said all the novices that wish to challenge him in for the Kasama seat are in for a rude shock.
He said questionable characters donating motor vehicles instead of tangible projects that would be of value to the community.
Mr Mwamba said the reacting to his decision to accept the position of UPND confirms that the PF is a confused lot.
The Kasama MP posted the following message of his Facebook page.
Dear friends,
Yesterday was quite a momentous day for me. The National Management Committee of the United Party for National Development (UPND) unveiled me as the Vice President Administration for the Party at Cresta Golfview Hotel.
I wish to thank all UPND members who travelled from all the corners of this country to give me that moral support and all other well wishers.
I am really humbled and graciously accept this appointment as I have the opportunity to work with diligent people that will stir this country out of the mismanagement of our beloved country currently prevailing under the current crop of PF leaders.
The lack of proper planning compounded by corruption that has been instituted by this Government leaves one appalled and disgusted to say the least. Service to the citizenry of this great Republic is not one of their objectives but to amass as much wealth as they can in the shortest time individually at the expense of the majority of Zambians most of whom are living in abject poverty.
I wish to also state that I have not resigned from the Patriotic Front, a party that i contributed enormously to see get into government in 2011 under the stewardship of the Late Michael Chilufya Sata MHSRIP. .
The PF leadership in their wise counsel have now embarked on a project to have my sit in Parliament be declared vacant and that the country should lose more money from a depleted treasury for a By Election in Kasama Central.
What is of irony is that this matter was raised in Parliament yesterday and the Honourable Mr Speaker responded that he had reserved ruling.
Opposition MPs also raised Points of Order in Parliament yesterday with regards opposition MPs that had associated themselves with the PF with Cabinet and Deputy Ministerial positions in Government, who in actual fact have been campaign managers for PF candidates in recent By Election and reference was made on the Late Hon Tetamashimba when Mr Speaker then declared his seat vacant when he associated with the MMD. This too Mr Speaker reserved his ruling.
My point here is I do not have a problem my seat being declared vacant as long as all the others that are enjoying the privilege, when their allegiances are questionable receive the same ruling by Mr Speaker.
The President of PF today said that my seat is vacant as I do not represent the PF, contradicting his Secretary General the infamous Davis Chama who yesterday said I was expelled from the Party sometime ago. So if I was expelled sometime ago, why then should the President say today that I have lost my seat. Again I say a confused lot.
The English adage WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE GOOSE IS GOOD FOR THE GANDER or in my cousin’s dialect CHIWAMILA GALU KULUMA MBUZI.
To conclude for now I will still represent the people of Kasama Central and the novices that wish to challenge me in this constituency are in for a rude shock. Questionable characters that are donating motor vehicles instead of tangible projects that would be of value to the community.
MWACHEPA SANA
GBM, HH and Canisius BandaGBM waiving the PF symbol
Shepolopolo Under-20 are certain of advancing in the 2016 Papua New Guinea FIFA World Cup qualifiers when they host Tanzania at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka on Saturday.
Zambia have a 4-0 advantage over Tanzania as the two teams clash in the return match of the second qualifying round.
“The team is ready to face Tanzania this weekend. Our target is to get a win and will not allow Tanzania to cause an upset,” Zambia coach Oswald Mutapa said.
Ireen Lungu, Barbra Banda, Hazel Nali and Memory Phiri are some of the key players available for selection.
Tanzania on Friday afternoon held their final training at the match venue Nkoloma Stadium.
Meanwhile, FAZ has announced that there will not be gate charges as the under-20 women’s team tackles Tanzania at Nkoloma Stadium.
“Entry into Nkoloma Stadium is free for all,” FAZ said in a statement issued late on Friday.
It is round 17 of the 2015 FAZ Super Division campaign as Mighty Mufulira Wanderers hosts Nkwazi at Shinde Stadium on Saturday.
Wanderers are hoping to complete a double over the Police side when the two teams clash in Mufulira.
Promoted Wanderers beat Nkwazi 1-0 in the reverse fixture on March 21 in Lusaka to record their first win of the season.
Nkwazi and Wanderers lie fourth and fifth on the table with 28 and 25 points respectively as at Week 16.
Mighty and Nkwazi are the best two performers of the four promoted Super Division sides.
In Lusaka, Sunset Stadium will host a double header involving Zanaco, Forest Rangers, Power Dynamos and Lusaka Dynamos.
Lusaka Dynamos will confront Power in the 13h00 kickoff match before Zanaco faces Forest at 15h00.
Power could cut Zesco United’s lead at the top of the table to just two points should they beat Perry Mutapa’s “Elite” side.
Zesco who have 38 points will only play their away Week 17 match against Napsa Stars on Sunday.
Elsewhere on Saturday, struggling Nkana will host Konkola Blades at Wusakile’s Nkana Stadium in Kitwe.
The two teams drew goalless in the earlier fixture in Chililabombwe.
FAZ SUPER DIVISION WEEK 17 FIXTURES
Saturday 25th July 2015
(LIVE on TV from Sunset Stadium – Lusaka)
13:00 Lusaka Dynamos vs Power
15:00 Zanaco FC vs Forest Rangers
15:00 Nchanga Rangers vs Red Arrows (Nchanga Stadium – Chingola)
15:00 Mufulira Wanderers vs Nkwazi FC (Shinde Stadium – Mufulira)
15:00 Nkana FC vs Konkola Blades (Nkana Stadium – Kitwe)
15:00 Nakambala Leopards vs National Assembly (Nakambala Stadium – Mazabuka)
Sunday 26th July, 2015
(LIVE on TV from Woodlands Stadium – Lusaka)
13:00 Green Buffaloes vs Green Eagles
15:00 Napsa Stars vs Zesco United
Suspended Napsa Stars defender Boyd Mkandawire has been named in the provisional 26-member Zambia Under-23 squad to face Cote d’Ivoire in the 2015 Caf under-23 Cup qualifier on 1st August in Lusaka.
Mkandawire is ineligible for the Lusaka return match after receiving a red card in the first leg, final round qualifier in Abidjan at the weekend.
It is not yet clear why the youngster has been included in the Fighton Simukonda coached Under-23 team at the expence several players who are eligible for this crucial game.
Meanwhile, Simukonda has named Israel-based defender Emmanuel Mbola in the squad.
According to FAZ spokesperson Nkweto Tembwe, the team regroups in Lusaka on Sunday.
Inonge Wina
Acting President Inonge Wina has today commissioned the first ever flood proof school in the flood plains of Barotse in Mongu district in Western Province.
The newly constructed school is in the middle of the flood plains which is only accessible by land after the month of July to November each year while from December to July the place is only accessible by air and water transport.
The first ever flood resistance school called Malabo which has been constructed by UNICEF at a cost of approximately K3.9 million was handed over to government at a ceremony attended by parents and pupils of Malabo community in the flood plains.
Acting President Inonge Wina commended UNICEF and the contractor for constructing pieces of infrastructure at Malabo school that will respond well to the environment.
She noted that the new school will help over 200 pupils who could not attend school for six months due to floods in rain season.
Mrs Wina encouraged pupils to persevere and ensure that they attend school because education is the foundation for a bright and successful future and urged parents to guard the school buildings jealously.
The Acting President also pledged to donate a set of jerseys and a football to Malabo school.
And speaking earlier, UNICEF Country representative Dr. Hamid El Bashir Ibrahim affirmed his organisation’s continued support to government in the education sector so that rural children especially girls and other marginalised children access decent education.
UNICEF has also built two teachers houses, sunk boreholes and provided 60 desks besides building a 1X3 classroom block.
The school was constructed by Camland construction Limited who during the handover also donated learning materials to the school.
President Lungu with President Museveni at Entebbe Statehouse
President Edgar Lungu says he will send Health Minister Joseph Kasonde and other experts to Uganda to learn more from the drug manufacturing factory in the East African nation’s capital, Kampala.
Speaking after touring Cipla Quality Chemical Industries (Cipla QCI) Limited that supplies an assortment of drugs including Anti-Retroviral (ARVs) to countries in East Africa, President Lungu said he was overwhelmed by the amount of investment in the factory and that he has decided to send a delegation to visit the plant from the Health Ministry.
President Lungu said he would for this reason be sending Dr Kasonde and other experts to the factory to facilitate further engagement with the company.
President Lungu said the factory was Africa’s pride adding that it was justifiable to support the firm.
He wondered why the drugs firm has not been marketed at international forums such as the African Union in order to attract African countries to import their drug supply from Uganda.
Earlier, Cipla QCI Executive Chairman Emmanuel Katongole said the factory was an example of an African solution to an African problem.
Mr Katongole said the setting up of the plant has improved the availability of drugs in Uganda which has translated in the reduction of Malaria and HIV/AIDS related deaths in Uganda.
He said it was sad that although Africa accounts for 80 percent of the global disease burden, the continent’s share in manufacturing medicines was only two percent.
Mr Katongole further expressed sadness that African countries were still buying medicines from outside the continent.
Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda has told parliament that the only way to overcoming the depreciation of the Kwacha is to grow the economy so that the country can export more. Mr Chikwanda told Parliament today that the other alternative is to reduce on imports.
Mr Chikwanda lamented that Zambia imports almost everything including juices, when the country has the right climatic soil conditions to grow the ingredients from which juice is produced, adding that given the state of the economy now, the Kwacha may even be slightly overvalued.
Mr Chikwanda said that improving foreign exchange earnings and diversifying the export base is the only way to stabilize the Kwacha.
Finance Minister said further said that government continues to encourage export diversification by supporting sectors such as energy, agriculture, tourism and manufacturing.
Mr Chikwanda has further stated that all the money Government is borrowing on the international is invested in growth promoting projects in the various sectors of the economy including agriculture and energy.
Mr. Chikwanda was responding to a question raised by MMD Mbala MP Mwalimu Simfukwe who wanted to find out what the value of the two Eurobond loans, in Kwacha, was, at the time of borrowing; and in February, 2015.
He has however bemoaned the country’s poor work culture which he describes as adverse, and makes it difficult to ensure the borrowed funds are used to grow the economy.
The Finance Minister states that to him, what is more worrying is not the fiscal deficit, but the commitment and integrity deficits.
Mr. Simfukwe also wanted to know what the increase there is in terms of interest payable in Kwacha between the time of borrowing during the same period was and what measures government has taken to mitigate the increased Kwacha-value payments in view of the weakening Kwacha.
However, the Minister explained that at the time of borrowing the US$750 million bond was worth K3,825 billion while the US$1 billion was worth K5.5 billion.
Mr. Chikwanda said if the bonds were issued in February this year, they would collectively be K11.81 billion.
He further said government paid K149,676,281 in March this year after it attracted interest amounting to K40, 453, 530.
He added that government paid K578,246,500 on the US$1 billion bond which was settled but attracted two interest rates.
He however, assured that his ministry has been undertaking various measures to tighten monetary policy in an effort to strengthen the Kwacha.
The Minister cited the raising of the minimum reserve requirements for commercial banks from 14 to 18 percent.
Yesterday, Zambia was successfully issued a US$1.25 billion euro bond for infrastructure development.
The Eurobond, with a coupon rate of 8.97 per cent, has an eleven-year average life with repayments in 2025, 2026 and 2027.
Finance Deputy Minister Christopher Mvunga, who led the Zambian delegation, said this success demonstrates confidence that the international financial community has in Zambia and President, Edgar Lungu’s leadership.
Mr. Mvunga emphasized that the Government would strictly adhere to the programmed use of the resources and that this was an opportune time for Zambia to issue bonds given the anticipated rising interest cost in the international markets in the near future.
The deputy Minister said going forward, Zambia would conduct annual investor meetings to ensure transparent communication of the performance of her economy.
Sylvia Masebo
The Patriotic Front (PF) has described the attack by Chongwe Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo on President Edgar Lungu as shameful.
PF Member Charity Banda said the attacks on President Lungu by Ms Masebo clearly show that the Chongwe MP is not an inspiration to women in the political arena especially to young women intending to join politics.
Ms Banda said it was uncalled for conduct by Ms Masebo when she was arrested by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday to publicly attack the Head of State is not inspiring.
In an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today, Ms Banda said Ms Masebo has continued to dent the image of the political arena in the country because she has failed to consistently work with one political party.
Ms Banda has however advised Ms Masebo not to resort to showing her political frustration and instability but instead account and take responsibility for her alleged misdoings.
The Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) yesterday arrested Ms Sylvia Masebo and charged her with two counts of abuse of authority of office when she served as Minister of Tourism and Arts.
ACC Acting Public Relations Manager Dorothy Mwanza said in the first count, it is alleged that Ms Masebo cancelled a hunting concession for the Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA).
Ms Mwanza said in the second count, Ms Masebo is said to have abused her authority of office by terminating contracts of employment of some senior ZAWA officers.
In March last year, Late President Michael Sata dismissed Ms Masebo as Minister of Tourism and Arts.
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga (left) addresses new Zambia Railways Board members at his office as the new Board Chairperson Davies Chama looks on in Lusaka
Transport, Works, Supply and Communications Minister Yamfwa Mukanga says road traffic injuries were the leading cause of deaths in the country.
Mr Mukanga said road carnages were increasing due to human factors such as fatigue, drunk driving, failure to obey laid down rules and lack of proper use of road traffic signs.
In a speech read on his behalf, by communications deputy minister, Richwell Siamunene at Mulungushi Conference Centre in Lusaka today, Mr. Mukanga said government was losing a lot of money in taking care of road traffic accident victims.
Mr Mukanga added that road carnages if not attended to, would became a number one killer in Zambia.
The Minister commended the National Road Safety Foundation for organising a Road Safety Intervention workshop to explore avenues of addressing the road carnages.
And speaking earlier, Lusaka Mayor George Nyendwa stressed that road accidents could be minimised if time was invested in sensitising and educating motorists on following laid down traffic rules.
He said the Lusaka City Council would ensure that adequate road traffic signs are put in strategic places to guide road users.
And National Road Safety Foundation Vice- chairperson Ravi Devalia explained that road safety campaigns were an important tool for reaching out to specific target groups of road users designed to change their behaviour.
Mr. Devalia said stakeholders such as government, local authorities and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and the Mass Media should get involved in safety campaigns.
He said the improved standards awareness can help reduce the financial burden placed on healthcare and death expenses caused by accidents.
THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has insisted that the Post Newspapers and its proprietor Fred M’membe must pay all statutory obligations they owe the institution in form of tax amounting to K22 million inclusive of interest and penalties accrued so far.
ZRA has argued that the Value Added Tax (VAT) and individual income tax collected by the Post Newspaper from clients and its employees respectively did not form part of the newspaper company’s coffers.
This is in a matter in which the Post and Fred M’membe have run to the Lusaka High Court to seek judicial review after ZRA demanded the payment of K22 million that was outstanding.
The Revenue House has said the Post was obliged to collect tax and remit it to ZRA without fail but did not remit despite collecting.
The Post had also neglected to remit to ZRA the Pay As You Earn (PAYE) and VAT deducted and collected from employees and clients respectively, including company tax hence the Post having admitted outstanding tax debt due to ZRA in the sum of K22, 517, 952, 04 inclusive of interest and penalties.
There was no justification, the Authority has argued, for Mr M’membe to claim for special treatment because ZRA was vested with authority to administer and manage the tax system in the country and it did so within the remit of the law.
[pullquote]In spite of the fact that in 2011 ZRA waived K16 million from the Post indebtedness in interest and penalties in the hope that the company would settle subsequent tax obligations, the company failed and accrued more debt in taxes.[/pullquote]
When the matter came up for hearing yesterday before High Court Judge Mwiinde Siavwapa in chambers, both counsels for the Post and ZRA said they would rely on the documents submitted before the court.
Both parties will rely on the affidavits and evidence before the High Court before they could make their final written submissions.
Judge Siavwapa then set 30th October, 2015 as date for judgment and reminded both parties to make their written submission by 31th August, 2015.
In spite of the fact that in 2011 ZRA waived K16 million from the Post indebtedness in interest and penalties in the hope that the company would settle subsequent tax obligations, the company failed and accrued more debt in taxes.
Now ZRA wants the outstanding K22 million paid in one installment and feels the Post had the capacity to do so because they have invested over US$1 million in agricultural activities while neglecting or refusing to pay tax obligations.
According to submissions before the High Court by ZRA, the Post has not been remitting company tax for the period 2006-2007, 2008-2009 and 2011-2012 financial years and other outstanding tax debt due on its undertaking for Time to Pay Arrears of Tax, in the Time to Pay Agreement (TPA).
ZRA said the Post did not deserve leniency or judicial review because the institution could not be treated in an exceptional manner as it had even failed to honour previous settlement agreements.
In 2011, ZRA cancelled over K16 million in favour of the Post in unpaid or unremitted taxes, but despite the action by ZRA to give the Post and M’membe the waiver, they continued to breach the law by failure to honour the terms of settlement including retaining payments that should have been forwarded to ZRA.
Commissioner General Berlin Msiska wrote to Mr. M’membe and the Post Newspapers in September, 2014 reminding them that they had neglected to fulfill their obligations by not paying taxes.
“As you are aware in October, 2011, we approved your appeal for a waiver of penalties and interest after you successfully paid the principal taxes in installments. Our expectations were that you would be a compliant taxpayer. However, it has come to our attention that you have accumulated another tax liability. You neglected to remain current with your tax obligations and accumulated yet another tax liability,” Mr. Msiska wrote.
He said the institution was constrained to accept the proposals made by the Post and Mr. M’membe on the mode of payment of tax because they had continued to breach the law on tax remittance.
“In the premises, we are constrained to accept your proposal to clear your tax liability in installments as there is no compelling reasons for us to once more exercise our discretion and allow you to settle your tax obligations by installments. We now demand the immediate payment of the total tax liability of K22,517,952: 05 without fail,” Mr. Msiska said.
