Nakonde-Tunduma border nets K5.2m daily

Thu, 25 Jan 2018 10:33:23 +0000

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU In Nakonde

THE Nakonde-Tunduma One Stop Border Post (OSBP) currently collects K5.2 million of revenue from exports on a daily basis, making it the second largest income generating border after Chirundu.

As a result of such income generated, the border last year contributed K1.9 billion towards the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) coffers.

ZRA corporate communications manager, Topsy Sikalinda, said the border in 2017 accounted for 14.8 percent of the total collections by the customs service division and 14.3 percent of the total declarations processed by the division.

Mr. Sikalinda said the authority had collected gross revenue in value added tax (VAT) of about over K1.9 billion against a target of over K1.8 billion in the period under review.

He said in an interview with journalists in Nakonde that the border post on average, collected K5.2 million per day, making it the second largest income generating border after Chirundu.

“During the year under review, Nakonde OSBP collected a gross amount of K1,905.46 million against a target of K1,893.94 million  and this translated into a surplus of K11.52 million or 0.61 percent above  target,” Mr SIkalinda said.

Mr. Sikalinda said the overall performance was however, dampened due to a marked reduction in revenue collection particularly, in April during the migration to a localised processing centre as a lot of agents and officers were in the learning  curve.

The major revenue contributor to revenue at the border includes mining companies, oil marketing companies, furniture stores and local manufacturers such as Dangote, Lamasat and ZAMEFA.

He also observed that smuggling is rampant at Nakonde OSBP due to the porousness of the border which is exacerbated through transit fraud, misclassification, undervaluation and outright  non-declaration among others.

“However, we have our enforcement team on the ground to help fight the scourge. It is also recommended that we install long repeater radios to cover Mbala and Mpulungu area,” he said.