ZRA fires 8 for unethical conduct
By MARTIN AKENDE ZAMBIA Revenue Authority has sacked eight employees for unethical conduct in line of their duty. CommissionerGeneral Kingsley Chanda announced yesterday
Mr. Chanda warned that management would deal with officers involved in corruption and unethical work culture. He advised tax payers to use right channels and not involve themselves in corrupt activities.
Mr. Chanda said the eight employees were fired for involving themselves in unethical work culture.
Meanwhile, ZRA has launched an integrity monthly initiative worth K272, 000 which is anchored on among others, dealing with corruption and related malpractices at the institution during service delivery.
Speaking at the official launch in Lusaka yesterday, ZRA commissioner-general, Kingsley Chanda, said ZRA had dedicated September 2017 to be an integrity month aimed at enhancing a sustained ethical behavior to all staff.
Mr. Chanda said the initiative, celebrated under the theme “ZRA-Integrity Is My Character,” was in line with ZRA’S mission of maximising and sustaining revenue collection through integrated efficient, cost effective and transparent systems.
“In ZRA, we are aware that corrupt institutions cannot command the respect and loyalty of its clients. My management will therefore not allow the scourge of corruption to detail our progress or indeed water down the many successes we have recorded this far,” he said.
Mr. Chanda said the effects of corruption in tax administration were devastating and that some of these were revenue leakage, reduction in public trust and confidence in the tax administration, reduction in voluntary tax compliance and hindering international trade and economic development.
He warned that ZRA would not why away from taking stern action against staff involved in illegal and unethical practices which may include dismissal from employment and possible criminal prosecution.
“Corruption’s bitter fruit in the form is smuggling, under valuations, misclassifications, forgery and a corrosion of public trust of ZRA is not the mandate of ZRA,” he said.
He had since urged taxpayers to be truthful in their tax obligations, pay taxes and not bribes.
“Should such officers solicit for bribes, we expect you our critical partners to take action by reporting such an officer to the integrity committee or indeed to any relevant law enforcement agency,” he said.
And integrity committee chairperson, Dingani Banda, urged all taxpayers to join in fighting corruption and support the initiative.