Border tax harmonisation promotes trade-ZIM

Fri, 19 May 2017 12:52:35 +0000

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

 HARMONISING taxes at border posts is cardinal in contributing towards fostering intra-regional trade as it can address trade distortions caused by different duties, says the Zambia Institute of Marketing (ZIM).

ZIM president, Evans Muhanga, observed that there was need to harmonise different taxes charged by Government agencies at border posts in Zambia to improve trade for small scale traders.

“What ZIM would like to see more is the harmonisation of different taxes charged by local government authorities, direct taxes by Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA), Immigration charges if you are coming or going out of the country, to be harmonised in these border posts to improve the business environment for small scale traders,” he said.

Mr Muhanga said in an interview in Lusaka that tax harmonisation would encourage competition through the easing of movements for small scale traders.

He said there was also need for Government to simplify and make efficient border procedures to improve trade facilitation for countries and also local entrepreneurs involved in international trade.

He said the online business registration by the Patents and Company Registration Agency (PACRA) and the online submission of tax returns by ZRA elated ZIM because it was the way to go to take away much of human intervention in trade.

“Automation and digitalization of most payment platforms in trade is the way to go to remove inefficiencies and be able to achieve the objective of reducing human intervention as it is a source of corruption and adds to the cost of doing business in Zambia,” he said.