Thu, 13 Apr 2017 08:13:36 +0000
By BUUMBA CHIMBULU
TWO Zimbabwean trucks loaded with Mukula logs worth over K600,000 have been impounded along Kafue road by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) for smuggling the commodity believed to have been destined for South Africa.
The impounded trucks are registered as ABZ 8686 and ACL 1401, but both from Harare.
This brings the number of trucks impounded by ZRA with Mukula logs to over 116, each valued at K300,000.
ZRA corporate communications manager, Topsy Sikalinda, told the press yesterday that the authority carried out an operation along Kafue road where it seized the two foreign trucks.
“The Zambia Revenue Authority during an operation in the night …..carried out an operation in Kafue on Kafue road and impounded the two trucks that were found with a consignment of Mukula tree logs,” he said.
Mr Sikalinda said the trucks were believed to have been from within Lusaka destined for South Africa.
Mr Sikalinda emphasised that ZRA would not relent in ensuring that it clamped down on the smuggling of both Mukula and other goods.
He strongly warned smugglers that the authority would continue to crack down on them and seize all illegal consignments, especially after the issuance of the circular by ZRA commissioner general, Kingsley Chanda, which gave ZRA power to impound smuggled goods.
“The commissioner general issued a circular recently that now gives us the power to seize both the consignment and the vehicle carrying them; so the official position is that the two trucks have been sized,” he said.
According to the circular addressed to all staff members, all cases of smuggling must be resolved through complete seizure of goods and the trucks which must be forfeited to the State without compensation after the statutory period.
And Mr Sikalinda said the authority had also seized both drivers’ documentations until investigations were concluded.
“The drivers and trucks are foreign owned. We want to send a very strong warning to all the smugglers that we will not sit and relax; we will continue clamping down on you and seize both your vessels, trucks and consignment that are smuggled,” he said.
