Home Affairs minister Obert Mpofu has challenged the police
and the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra) to end smuggling at the country’s
border posts and contribute towards revival of the economy.
He said the two organisations were failing in their duties
of creating sustainable employment across the country by promoting illegal
activities.
“The norm is that various employees of government are
deployed at the border posts. These include the police, immigration, Zimra
officials, among many.
“How then do cases of smuggling that rob the fiscus of the
much-needed revenue become common place at such places? Is there anything wrong
with our policies?
“How best can we plug off revenue leakages in order to grow
our economy?” he queried.
Mpofu challenged all departments to meaningfully and
collectively contribute to the realisation of a professionally, properly and
profitably run economy.
“Working together we can improve the lives of our fellow
citizens and reduce the incidence of poverty,” he said.
This comes as the Zimbabwe Republic Police has come under
fire from various stakeholders for fuelling corruption and hampering tourism
growth by their numerous roadblocks in the past few months before the coming in of President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
However, Zimra has been working around the clock to collect
revenue and has for the last nine months surpassed its targets.
In the nine months to September, Zimra collected $2,789
billion against a target of $2.5 billion.
Zimra chairperson Willia Bonyongwe said her organisation
believes that current collections are still a tip of the iceberg and is
determined to stir up management to re-double the current measures to ensure
increased compliance.
“The authority will continue with its anti-corruption
initiatives including effective utilisation of the anti-corruption hot line,
lifestyle audits, whistle blower facility and of late, engaging our political
leadership in Parliament to assist in education for the taxpayers in their
various constituencies.
“Zimra is also lobbying government to make the penalties
for tax evasion more deterrent including disgorgement and even time in jail.
Most developed and developing countries treat tax evasion
as a very serious crime,” she added. Daily News
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