ZIMBABWE Revenue Authority (Zimra) commissioner-general, Faith Mazani
was yesterday grilled by MDC-T Chitungwiza North legislator, Godfrey
Sithole, who demanded to know if Zanu PF had paid import duty for
campaign vehicles and other materials, which were recently imported
ahead of next month’s general elections.
The issue was raised in Harare during a Zimra engagement
meeting with parliamentarians to conscientise MPs about the country’s
revenue collection systems.
Sithole claimed that there were speculative reports that Zanu PF
imports were not being charged duty. “There is information to the effect
that there are campaign materials — vehicles and T-shirts — for Zanu
PF, which are coming into the country for free,” Sithole said.
“Why are they exempted from paying duty? Is it within the confines of the law?”
In response, Mazani demanded documentary proof to support the allegations.
“As Zimra, we do not allow goods to come in without paying taxes,
but at times, there will be paperwork to show that the government has
requested for those goods to come in and then they pay later,” she said.
Buhera South MP, Joseph Chinotimba (Zanu PF) requested an
explanation over allegations that some Chinese businesses were evading
paying taxes.
“Harare is now a city of vendors and how are we collecting taxes
because it is no longer the Sunshine City. Shop owners are now selling
wares outside without Zimra gadgets recording the sales for taxation
purposes.
“There is corruption at border posts with cross border traders
working in cahoots with Zimra officials to evade taxes, and some of the
culprits are MPs,” he said.
Mazani said most vendors were charged taxes whenever they purchased goods at retail shops for resale. The Zimra boss said compliance levels for taxes, remittances and submission of returns were very low.
“Of the 511 059 returns expected for the first quarter of 2018,
filing compliance levels stood at 23% and 39% for pay as you earn and
value-added tax respectively. The reasons for low compliance include
corruption, negative perceptions by, taxpayers and lengthy prosecution
processes, which make it difficult for the authority to bring delinquent
taxpayers to book,” she said.
Zimra board chairperson, Willia Bonyongwe said there was need to
deal with corruption syndicates at border posts, which included members
of staff and law enforcement agents deployed.
To deal with corrupt staff, Mazani said there were regular transfers and lifestyle audits. Newsday
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