This was revealed during a workshop hosted by Transparency
International Zimbabwe (TIZ) to review the implementation of the National
Anti-Corruption Strategy, which was attended by Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption
Commission (Zacc) steering committee members.
Zimra commissioner-in-charge of revenue assurance Regina
Chinamasa said the authority had conducted assessment of tax compliance of funds
amounting to US$110 740 105 and prosecuted 34 cases since the beginning of the
year.
“Given the high level of non-compliance, there is a lot of
room for us to move in and deal with tax evasion,” Chinamasa said. “From the
perspective of capacitation, Zimra then created a dedicated team that is
working on tax evasion from the international taxation and local perspectives.
We are partnering with other development partners so that we get the technical
assistance to capacitate our officers and this is an ongoing process.
“We are partnering with other agencies to address the vice
of tax evasion.” Stakeholders who attended the meeting bemoaned delays in
dealing with asset recovery, jurisdiction and duplication of investigation
among law enforcement agencies.
“The National Anti-Corruption Strategy (NACS) defines the
country’s priority and objectives to prevent and combat corruption for the next
five years,” TIZ research and advocacy officer Nqobani Tshabangu said.
He added: “While many countries have adopted strategies
aimed at co-ordinating government efforts in different sectors and institutions
and at monitoring and evaluating progress, there are not so many successful
examples when it comes to implementation.
“The COVID-19 restrictions were a bigger challenge on
implementation of NACS as it deterred meetings and training of citizens on how
to report corruption cases.
“There is need for a whistleblower protection law which is,
however, determined by the political will to ensure that citizens are not afraid
of reporting corruption cases happening in their areas or workplaces.
Whistleblowers are not willing to report cases and to be witnesses to cases of
corruption.”
Recent studies by TIZ on corruption show that the culture
of impunity in dealing with high-profile corruption cases and misuse of public
has weakened the capacity to ensure compliance with tax payments.
TIZ said poor tax compliance in the country had also
resultantly been detrimental to the growth of Zimbabwe’s economy, which largely
depends on tax money.
Last month, Zacc arrested Harare businessman Trust Chiro
for allegedly evading import duty for his five commercial trucks, three of
which were recovered by Zimra officials in Waterfalls, Harare, early this year.
The businessman allegedly prejudiced the parastatal of US$388 003. Newsday
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