By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) is optimistic that initiatives such as Operation Clear Your Car Now will positively change the culture of tax compliance in the country.
ZRA is rolling out the initiative with a call to people whose vehicles were illegally imported into the country to normalise their papers.
This initiative was rolled out in March 2021.
Tax compliance is a major objective ZRA has prioritised and will continue being implemented through an enhanced tax education approach and improved customer service, says ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Topsy Sikalinda.
“The Authority understands that tax penalties and interests are a high business cost to taxpayers.
“For this reason, the decision to extend an olive branch to the public is also aimed at educating them on proper ways of importing motor vehicles,” Mr Sikalinda said in a statement yesterday.
Mr Sikalinda said ZRA was elated with the overwhelming response from the public on its call for people to normalise documentation for any vehicles that were dubiously imported into Zambia.
Under this initiative, he said, anyone to approached ZRA with a dubiously imported car only paid for the principal tax after an assessment without being charged any penalties or interest.
“The deadline for the Operation Clear Your Car Now is 26th May 2021 and all vehicles on our audited list of dubiously imported vehicles will be impounded, seized and forfeited to the state. The Authority will further prosecute the owners in the courts of law. “The Authority further advises the general public to report all people with illegally imported motor vehicles by calling 4111 or at the nearest ZRA offices,” Mr Sikalinda said.
“Lastly, we urge Government to implement the National Lands Policy expeditiously as it will provide a roadmap for land administration in Zambia,” she said.
Cross-border traders, bus and truck drivers, and people over 65, including those with chronic illnesses have also been prioritised.
About 8.3 million people have been targeted out of which 3.6 million will be vaccinated without charge under the COVAX vaccine-sharing scheme backed by the World Health Organisation and GAVI vaccine alliance for poor and middle-income countries.
More than 4.7 million people will be covered by Government with support from other governments and donors using a basket of vaccines.
Thus, a more pragmatic approach will need to be crafted for the country to hit the target and in fact the programme ought to move very fast to beat the third wave which is likely to be more devastating.
Statistics of infection in Zambia thus far look scary as the cumulative number of confirmed cases to date stands at 92, 357 with 1,260 deaths classified as 707 Covid-19 deaths and 553 Covid-19 associated deaths
While scaling up publicity on the imperative need to get vaccinated, citizens should also be encouraged to observe the five golden rules because they have dropped the guard.
They need to mask up correctly, maintain physical distance, wash hands frequently with soap and water or hand sanitiser, avoid crowded places and to seek medical attention early if one is symptomatic.
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