ZRA donates seized goods
By ANDREW MUKOMA THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has donated various foodstuffs and energy drinks to the Maramba Old People’s Home and Zambia Air Force Livingstone base worth K377,610.
And ZRA CommissionerGeneral Kingsley Chanda has observed that Government is losing a lot of revenue through smuggling.
Speaking during the donation at the ZRA premises in Livingstone at the weekend, Mr. Chanda said that the goods that were donated were seized from different importers who intended to evade paying duties and taxes by failing to declare their goods to customs in Southern Province.
He said that the goods were seized at various customs ports in the region, which includes Kazungula, Katima Mulilo and Livingstone port.
“It is evident that smuggling in some parts of our country is rampant. But as ZRA, we have proved that we are above their smuggling tactics hence the seizure of these goods. We will not relent in our quest to fight smuggling and remain equal to the task until the vice is brought under control,” Mr. Chanda said.
Mr. Chanda said that to stop smugglers from buying back their seized goods, the ZRA has started donating the goods to strategic government institutions such as hospitals, the police, the Zambia Correctional Services as well as charitable organisation.
“We are, therefore donating various types of cooking oil, 20 by 25 kg bags of mealie meal and 10 by 25 kg bags of rice to Maramba People’s Home. The second donation to the Zambia Air force, Livingstone base is 1, 553 cases of energy drinks,” he said.
“We hope this donation will mitigate the budgetary pressure of the Maramba Old People’s Home and contribute to the already high energy levels of our gallant men and women in ZAF, Livingstone base,” he said.
Mr. Chanda has since appealed to importers to take the smooth route of tax compliance saying that smuggling is a very rough and risk route.