Wed, 06 Sep 2017 14:09:21 +0000
By Buumba Chimbulu
ZAMBIA Revenue Authority (ZRA) has donated goods worth over K56, 000 seized from smugglers to St. John Paul II Orthopaedic Mission Hospital.
The donated goods with a total cost of K56, 504.4, which included 147 liters of cooking oil, 360 (1KGs) of powdered milk, 50 bags of mix bad foods and 11 boxes of fruit juices were seized between February and August 2017 in Kazungula.
Speaking at the donation ceremony in Lusaka yesterday, ZRA commissioner General, Kingsley Chanda, said the Authority decided to donate the goods rather than auctioning them to avoid creating a vicious cycle where the same smugglers formed cartels to get them back.
“ZRA will not get tired of seizing and donating illegally imported items in line with the provisions of the law. I have on several occasions warned that all illegally imported goods will be seized including the vessel used in transporting them and donating them to strategic Government institutions,” he said. Mr. Chanda has since warned importers to desist from the practice of smuggling and other forms of tax evasion that denied Government of the much needed revenue.
He explained that ZRA had stepped up its enforcement activities until sanity was brought back in the import and export business.
“When we say smuggling does not pay, we mean it. It is more expensive to smuggle than to pay taxes because when we catch you, we impound and forfeit both the goods and the vessels used to smuggle. On top of it all, you stand a very high chance of facing prosecution in certain cases,” he said.
And speaking at the same event, Hospitals director, Margaret Mweshi, said the donation was a blessing.
Dr. Mweshi said the hospital was overwhelmed with the number of disabled children who needed assistance.
