Meet Chartered Secretary of the Year
RAMECK Masaire is an accomplished tax expert with over 25 years’ experience in taxation. Rameck is a fellow member of the Institute of Certified Tax Accountants (FICTA), Associate member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators in Zimbabwe (AFCIS). He is also a holder of an Executive Masters of Business Administration.
Masaire re-joined Zimra in August 2018 from Ernest and Young where he worked as an executive director. Prior to that he worked as a Technical Manager, Regional Controller — Harare Port and Harare Audits, Regional Controller — Beitbridge border post for the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority.
Masaire is fusing his vast regional experience into Zimra’s transformation, having worked as Lead People Advisory Services in the central cluster (Zambia, Malawi) and Risk Management review in Kenya.
He is currently acting commissioner-general at Zimra and he shares below what his journey has been like at the helm of Zimra:
First few days in office at Zimra
You agree with me that the past few months were turbulent especially after losing colleagues to the pandemic, and the lockdowns with their attendant impact on revenue collection. ese challenges brought with them a negative impact on revenue.
We witnessed a very slow start to our revenue performance. e conversations with our Principals are never exciting when we are performing below target especially from a revenue perspective.
I must however hasten to acknowledge the tremendous support that I have enjoyed from the minister, permanent secretary and his treasury team, the vice board chair, Mrs Matambo, and her colleagues in the board, my colleagues in the executive team and the rest of the Zimra family.
e support enjoyed so far has seen us quickly stabilising the ship resulting in our quick recovery of the lost revenue.
Vision for Zimra
I envision a highly automated Zimra, which is responsive to the dynamic environment.
What strategies do you have to meet the NDS 1 targets given the need for adequate resources for the Government to meet its Vision by 2030?
Zimra is the foot soldier and implementer of government’s policies and its role is to ensure adequate revenues are availed to finance public programmes and public expenditures.
e world over, domestic revenue mobilisation is proving to be key in stimulating sustainable development programs.
We are focusing on reforming and modernising our processes with special emphasis being on strengthening revenue collection and smooth facilitation of trade and travel.
Handling integrity issues
Zimra has put in place measures to make corruption very unattractive to both officers and stakeholders through promoting high levels of integrity and systems improvement.
An integrity committee is in place which is part of the proactive approaches to fight corruption through researching on causes of corruption and possible remedies.
Outside of work and family what one thing is very important to you?
Empowering programmes
We are part of the society that we live in and as such we must give to the society in our own different ways. I am part of the neighbourhood watch so participate in the patrols.
Zimra is the foot soldier and implementer of government’s policies and its role is to ensure adequate revenues are availed to finance public programmes and public expenditures.