ZRA DONATES 86 VEHICLES TO GOVT …seized from defaulters
THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has donates 86 vehicles seized for dubiously entering the country, to Government institutions.
ZRA also announced that it will start impounding and seizing all illegally imported vehicles May 26, this year.
The organisation has declared war against any form of illegality such as smuggling, misclassification of goods, under-valuation, and dubious importation of motor vehicles.
ZRA Commissioner General, Kingsley Chanda, said his organisation was already aware where the uncleared vehicles were due to the audit which was being conducted.
Mr Chanda stressed that all the groundwork had already been done in preparation of the place where the seized vehicles would be parked before donation.
He said no one with an illegally imported motor vehicle would escape the dragnet.
Mr Chanda said this in a speech read on his behalf by ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Topsy Sikalinda, yesterday in Kapiri Mposhi during the donation of 86 vehicles to Government institutions.
"We promise to sweep the nation of all illegally imported vehicles. May I, therefore, take
this opportunity to sound the last trumpet on the motor vehicle amnesty we are currently running.
"Let all those with dubiously imported motor vehicles step forward and clear their vehicles before the deadline. After the deadline, all those who will not step forward will have themselves to blame. Do not dare us!" he said.
On the donation, Mr Chanda said ZRA got approval from the Finance Minister, Bwalya Ng'andu, to donate forfeited goods in line with Section 204 of the Customs and Excise Act, Chapter 322 of the Laws of Zambia.
He explained that ZRA was
donating 86 motor vehicles sitting in various Customs stations in the country to 14 recipients.
"We decided to use this Enforcement Centre for this activity so that the public appreciates our efforts of curbing smuggling along the Nakonde-Lusaka route.
"I am sure you hear through the media the seizures we record through this Enforcement Centre such as illegal immigrants in containers, salaula, etc," Mr Chanda said.
Among the recipients were Zambia Police Service, Drug Enforcement Commission, Anti-Corruption Commission, University Teaching
Hospital, National Prosecution Authority, Judicial Complaints Authority, and Auditor General’s Office.
Zambia Police Service is getting the biggest number of 17 motor vehicles plus seven motorbikes.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients, Zambia Police Kapiri District Commanding Officer, Brighson Mwapa, expressed gratitude to ZRA for the donation.
For the police service specifically, Mr Mwape said the vehicles would ease transportation challenges.
"We are grateful on behalf of everyone who is receiving today," he said.