New revenue strategy set for launch

By BUUMBA CHIMBULUGOVERNMENT will this Thursday launch consultations on the 2027–2031 Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS) as it seeks to strengthen domestic revenue collection and reduce reliance on borrowing to finance national development.The consultations will be held at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka under the theme “Mobilising Domestic Resources for Sustainable Growth and National Development.”The Ministry of Finance and National Planning in a statement yesterday said the process would bring together representatives from the public and private sectors, civil society, agriculture, mining, tourism and other stakeholders.Secretary to the Treasury Felix Nkulukusa is expected to officially launch the consultation process and deliver the keynote address.The MTRS is intended to provide a medium-term framework for revenue reforms, replacing fragmented annual measures with a more predictable approach to domestic resource mobilisation.Government said the strategy would focus on developing a tax system that is fair and transparent while supporting investment, economic growth and voluntary compliance.“The consultations will examine the need for stronger domestic revenue, the resources required to finance Government priorities and measures for improving tax administration and compliance,” according to the statement.Government said increased and predictable domestic revenues would create fiscal space for public services, infrastructure, social protection, energy, agriculture, livestock development and climate resilience.It said stronger domestic resource mobilisation would also reduce the need for additional borrowing and strengthen the country’s ownership of development financing.The strategy is expected to place emphasis on expenditure efficiency, accountability and value for money alongside improved revenue collection.During the consultations, the ZRA is expected to outline measures for narrowing tax-compliance gaps and modernising revenue administration through increased use of data, digitalisation and risk-based compliance systems.It will also focus on improving taxpayer services and making compliance easier for legitimate taxpayers while strengthening measures against tax evasion and revenue leakage.Government said private-sector stakeholders are expected to raise concerns around tax-policy predictability, compliance costs, administration, investment and digital systems.The consultations will mark the beginning of a broader national process aimed at identifying priority reforms and building stakeholder support for implementation of the MTRS.Ends.money

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