By BUUMBA CHIMBULU ZAMBIA Revenue Authority (ZRA) has paid K1.3 billion in Value Added Tax (VAT) refunds in November this year surpassing its usual monthly allocation. The Authority had continued to dismantle the VAT refunds aimed at reducing the backlog currently at about K37 billion, ZRA corporate communications manager Topsy Sikalinda said in a statement at the weekend. Mr Sikalinda said the Authority on monthly basis paid out a total of K850 million, which was way higher than what was paid in November this year. Mr Sikalinda explained that the decision to refund higher figures was meant to clear the backlog of the audited refunds especially for the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which had been outstanding since 2013. “In the payments for the months of October and November, the Authority has cleared most of the backlog on a First In First Out basis for audited refunds below K5 million from 2013 to 2019. “The tax refunds are projected to rekindle microeconomic activity at the local level, push liquidity in the SMEs and build goodwill among taxpayers which will, in turn, drive voluntary compliance,” he said. Mr Sikalinda said the Authority would continue working closely with the stakeholders to ensure that the backlog was liquidated and businesses continue operating in a thriving environment in line with the 2022 proposed budget anchored on the “Seeds of Prosperity”. “As announced last month, The Authority will continue implementing a more business-oriented, transparent and predictable refund mechanism that will stimulate the growth of the business sector, especially the small and medium scale enterprises,” he said.
Deliver farming inputs before planting period-Govt
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU SUPPLIERS of farming inputs should always deliver before the planting period to support Government’s agenda of making agriculture a key economic driver, says Chitambo District Commissioner, Evans Chola. Mr Chola said the desire of the government was to make agriculture the country’s main economic driver and suppliers of inputs should deliver before the planting period. He has therefore commended Nyimba Investments for ensuring that there is timely delivery of inputs for the 2021/22 farming season, saying the move will result in the area recording a bumper harvest. He said this when Nyimba Investments Head-Sales and Marketing, Willings Mulendema paid a courtesy call on him. Mr Chola said Nyimba has greatly been a contributing factor to Chitambo and the entire Central province recording a bumper harvest. “I urge you to continue supplying inputs early. Our people will plant early and in areas where the rains have started, some of the farmers have even planted,” he said. During the 2021/22 farming season, the government contracted Nyimba Investments to supply and deliver 1,220 metric tonnes of Compound D fertiliser for the entire Central province. The company supplied the entire tonnage by July, way ahead of the planting season. He said farmers in parts of Chitambo where rains have not started have not planted because of the dry spell. “We received the inputs very early and our farmers have been ready and are only waiting for the rains to start. In areas where it is raining, farmers have planted,” Mr Chola said. In response, Mr Mulendema said Nyimba was not taking lightly the responsibility to supply inputs hence ensuring that it was delivered on time. Mr Mulendema said the government wants agriculture to thrive and as such companies engaged to supply should equally deliver early. “We want to serve and support our farmers by bringing in inputs early and this is our pledge to you as government. As Nyimba we realised that the government is serious about improving the agriculture sector and as such we should play our part by bringing inputs early,” said Mr Mulendema. A beneficiary, Sanuwa Chola said farmers in Chitambo were happy that Compound D fertiliser for the area was received way ahead of the planting season. “In areas where they have received rains some farmers have even started planting. For as long as we have good rains here in Chitambo then we can have a good crop yield. “All this is because the suppliers were able to bring fertiliser early. We want to thank the government and Nyimba Investments for ensuring that there is a timely delivery of inputs here ibn Chitambo,” Mr Chola said.REGISTER FOR FREE TO ACCESS OUR LOCKED CONTENT
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