ZRA officers involved in smuggling of mukula timber face sanctions

Tue, 21 Mar 2017 12:54:07 +0000

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU

THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has instituted investigations into some of its officers who are allegedly involved in smuggling Mukula logs and has warned that those found wanting will face disciplinary action.

The authority recently intercepted 66 trucks laden with Mukula logs believed to be in transit for smuggling and were found with illegal ZRA documents.

ZRA commissioner general, Kingsley Chanda, explained that there was currently an active investigation which had been instituted by the authority and that this would determine the kind of punishment the alleged officers would be slapped with once found wanting .

“The fact is that most of the Mukula log is smuggled, it is transported illegally and ZRA fails to intercept trucks which in most cases used forged documents,” he said.

He told the media after touring the ZRA call and advice centre at the headquarters that appropriate disciplinary action would be taken against officers found involved in the illegal activities.

“It is a reality that in some cases our own officers are involved and we have had examples of such activities. ZRA is not immune from malpractices currently existing in most institutions but what is good is that we have taken a zero tolerance stance to such activities,

“That particular case is under active investigations, we are working with other Government agencies that are helping us and we hope that within this week we should be able to conclude the investigations,” he said.

“Even the trucks we have detained may be forfeited to the State, once the investigations have been concluded and establish that they were not properly cleared.