Wed, 14 Jun 2017 10:04:50 +0000
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
THE Zambia Revenue Authority has maintained that only 12 tankers were impounded, and discounted reports that more than 100 tankers had entered the country illegally transporting fuel. .
According to ZRA, only 12 tankers instead of more than 100 belonging to Lake Petroleum entered Zambia through the Nakonde Border post were impounded by the Authority for illegally transporting fuel in the country, and that these had since paid K4.6 million in penalties and taxes.
Allegations that 100 oil tankers belonging to Lake Petroleum which were impounded for using forged documentation in the importation of oil have gone missing were fabricated because the 12 were being held by the Authority.
The 12 tankers, the Authority has disclosed, had already paid K4.6 million in penalties and taxes.
ZRA Director Investigations, Clement Mulenga, explained in an interview that the 12 tankers which were still in the Authority’s custody had paid K4.6 million charged as 100 percent penalties and taxes.
“We have no such 100 tankers as explained, these are non-existence. They are fabricated. The 12 tankers impounded are still in ZRA custody until the due process is followed and we will then auction them. As I speak, these tankers are parked at Kapiri station,” he said.
Mr Mulenga was reacting to allegations from the Transporters Association of Zambia that 100 oil tankers belonging to Lake Petroleum impounded for using forged documentation in the importation of oil had gone missing.
But Mr Mulenga explained that the oil company connived with a clearing agent and used past records which were done by a genuine agent for genuine products.
Mr Mulenga further explained that the impounding was as a result of Lake Petroleum failure to adhere to the oil importation ban which was imposed by Government in January 2017.
“In 2016, we had a deficit of fuel products and Government proportionately gave contracts to the Oil marketing companies to import fuel on its behalf, but starting January 2017, all contracts were cancelled and in that period only three companies were allowed to import low sulphur gas oil. “So, some clever clearing agent connived and influenced Lake Petroleum oil and 12 tankers entered Zambia with forged documents. “Initially, we intercepted 11 and during our investigation, we discovered there was one which had entered but had a breakdown to make 12,” he said.
Mr Mulenga said in the yard where the 12 tankers were parked, there were 2 other tankers of Zambian origin which had gone to collect oil from Lake Petroleum Company and were since caught up in the mix.
He, however, said the 2 Zambian tankers were released unconditionally after investigations which proved that they were not among the 12 impounded
tankers.
