Motor vehicle smuggling irks govt

By PRINCE CHIBAWAH GOVERNMENT has revealed that it is losing a lot of revenue through the smuggling of motor vehicles at Kipushi border post in Solwezi by a group of Zambian and Congolese businessmen.

In an interview yesterday, Mwansabombwe District Commissioner, Victor Kasuba explained that the vehicles were being smuggled from Tanzania to DR Congo using Zambian routes.

“We are concerned as government over the smuggling of motor vehicles by some Congolese businessmen who are working with some Zambian nationals. The country is losing out due to these illegal business activities because we are not collecting the necessary taxes from these transactions," he said.

He explained that the activities had been going on for some time.

“These businessmen are getting the vehicles from Tanzania, bring them into Zambia and later on take them to DR Congo for sale. They are using routes that are difficult to reach by our relevant officers."

Mr Kasuba said the Zambian government had however started the process to engage the Kin- shasa government on how best to address the problem.

“We have alerted our Congolese counterparts and they have shown willingness to work with us so that we can stop these illegal business activities."

Mr Kasuba said a Zambian delegation would soon travel to DR Congo for talks on this and other issues affecting the two countries.

“The preparatory meeting is slated for this month in Ndola. Government officials from Luapula, Copperbelt and North Western provinces are expected to attend the meeting", said Mr Kasuba.