ZRA rakes in K394m from smugglers – warns clearing agents against illegal protests

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
THE Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has collected K394 million additional revenue after intercepting 1, 406 trucks with border discrepancies.

The smuggling activities ranged from under valuations, misclassifications, document falsification, transit fraud and outright smuggling, according to the ZRA Corporate Communications Manager, Mr Topsy Sikalinda.

Mr Sikalinda said if ZRA had not conducted anti-smuggling operations, Government would have lost this revenue.

“For the period January to September 2021, ZRA collected K394 million additional revenue from anti-smuggling operations out of which K48 million was collected on Nakonde imports.
“The smuggling activities ranged from under valuations, misclassifications, document falsification, transit fraud and outright smuggling,” Mr Sikalinda said in a statement.
Mr Sikalinda has therefore advised clearing agents not to allow smugglers to use their names to stage protests against government revenue mobilisation efforts.

He stressed that despite the reported planned protests by agents against ZRA and in particular the Commissioner General, anti-smuggling operations would continue until smuggling is fully defeated.

Mr Sikalinda said ZRA would not be intimidated by smugglers no matter the threats and malice.
“We have a great number of genuine clearing agents and few bad eggs that always want to dent the image of the clearing industry. Our appeal is that please do not dent the name of clearing agents by facilitating smuggling activities.
“We are also aware that from the time we sealed off all smuggling loopholes, some smugglers who want to hide in the name of clearing agents are planning to create anarchy by protesting and disrupting border operations,” Mr Sikalinda said.