By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
OVER K45 billion in gross taxes has been collected by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) during the first half of this year.
ZRA collected K45, 420.4 billion in gross taxes from January to June, says Commissioner General, Kingsley Chanda.
Dr Chanda indicate that tax refunds during the same period stood at K5, 146.7 billion.
“This translates into a net tax outturn of K40, 273.7 billion against the period target of K30, 083.6 billion, thereby registering a surplus of K10,190.1 billion or 33.9 percent,” he said yesterday.
This was when he donated different equipment to the Ministry of Health and the University of Zambia (UNZA).
Dr Chanda said the surplus was largely due to improved compliance which mainly reduced smuggling and favourable copper prices.
Meanwhile, ZRA donated 158 LED smart television sets and 76 upright double and single door fridges to all the health facilities in Lusaka.
According to Dr Chanda, the total value of the equipment was K1.5 million.
“For ZRA, we have realised that the health sector needs our support more than ever before,” he said.
At the same function, ZRA donated 80×250 litres of ethanol to UNZA worth about K611, 000.
In receiving the donation, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretaryfor Technical Services Kennedy Malama said the refrigerators would assist in the storage of medicines.
Dr Malama regretted that Zambia had lost social and economically viable citizens to Covid-19.
“We are committed to ensure that we win the fight against Covid-19,” he said.
On the ethanol donation, UNZA Vice Chancellor Luke Mumba said the school would use the commodity to produce full body sanitisers.
Prof Mumba indicated that the university needed a lot ethanol to sterilise equipment in the laboratory, among others.
