Widen local resource envelop -NGOCC
GOVERNMENT must set a clear agenda for domestic resource mobilisation and ensure that it builds citizen’s trust, says the NonGovernmental Organisations Coordinating Council (NGOCC). NGOCC executive director, Engwase Mwale, emphasised that it was important that taxpayers enjoyed their rights arising out of paying taxes. She was speaking recently at a Civil Society State of the Economy media breakfast in Lusaka. Ms Mwale said this was cardinal for Government in its quest to work towards ensuring that tax payers met their tax obligations. “It is critical for Government to note that focusing on improving compliance through transparency and accountability is as important as scaling back preferential treatments are essential for revenue mobilisation,” she said. Ms Mwale acknowledged the opportunities that existed to broaden domestic resource mobilisation through instruments such as capital markets and Public Private Partnerships among others. She explained that such instruments had the potential to accelerate growth in Zambia. “In addition, Government, while working with key stakeholders in a concerted manner, needs to identify high tax yield sectors in the country like telecommunications, banking/ finance, mining and high value infrastructure. “It is imperative that Government institutes robust tax administration mechanisms that will deal with any tax refunds and tax related transactions in a transparent and fair manner,” she said. Ms Mwale advised Government to refrain from ad-hoc measures such as tax exemptions that had the potential to erode the tax base and undermine the design of tax systems.