Over 75 fuel tankers which were scheduled to enter Zambia this morning from the port of Dar-es-salaam through Tunduma on the border with Nakonde are marooned on the Tanzanian side.
This is because business has come to a standstill at Nakonde border in Muchinga Province following a protest by customs clearing agents .
The agents are protesting to press for the removal of assistant commissioner for the Zambia Revenue Authority-ZRA Mundia Sibote for alleged inefficiency and frustrating the process of collecting revenue.
Meanwhile, police in full riot gear have been deployed at the Nakonde customs yard.
The customs agents have also cited the alleged increase in the duty values for vehicle clearance, among other operational issues
Both Nakonde District Commissioner James Singoyi and Zambia Freight and Forwarders Association (ZAFFA) national chairman Emmanuel Mutale have confirmed the development in separate interviews with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Chinsali today.
Mr. Singoyi said in a telephone interview that he has since summoned representatives of the clearing agents to his office to discuss how best the matter can be resolved.
And ZAFFA national chairman Emmanuel Mutale said it is unfortunate that his members have decided to protest without informing the national office.
Mr. Mutale told ZANIS in an interview that he was informed by one of the agents at the border this morning about the protests adding that his office is still waiting for a briefing from the district chairman in Nakonde, a Mr. Mbulo.
Mr. Mutale advised his members to find a better way of sorting out issues other than resorting to protests which affect the smooth collection of revenue by the ZRA.
“Yes, I can confirm to you that customs clearing agents at Nakonde border have staged a protest but we are yet to receive a full report on the matter,” said Mr. Mutale.
And one of the agents who declined to be named for fear of victimization said work at the border has literally come to a standstill.
The agent said about 75 fuel tankers which were about to cross into Zambia have been turned back and they are currently parked at Tunduma border.
He added that newly imported vehicles are also not being allowed to enter Zambia from Tunduma border.
Efforts to get a comment from ZRA assistant commissioner Mr Sibote failed by press time.
Yesterday, customs clearing agents in Kazungula also protested to press for the removal of the assistant commissioner Moses Mfune for allegedly hiking tariffs for vehicle clearance.
ZANIS
i was affected my car which cost me peanuts they charged me 8 times the actual cost of vehicle on duty they basically have no proper methodology of valuing vehicles and apparently working on estimates they are getting from online web sites that’s rubbish.:((
i was affected my car which cost me peanuts they charged me 8 times the actual cost of vehicle on duty they basically have no proper methodology of valuing vehicles and apparently working on estimates they are getting from online web sites that’s rubbish.:((
They steal from citizens to pay for all the useless government travels, we are getting poor by the day. I support the agents, why should the government be wasting money while ordinary citizens are being taxed so high. Good move I support you.
Twalimwebele that this lower taxes is a hox. The real thinking is the same thing you have always said.Zambians have been duped. Lower taxes my foot.
Me,myself am still stuck at Nakonde this lozi chap must be retired in national interest coz is making the govt unpopular.The reason here is very simple,if a client is over charged by Sibote it means that agent won’t get paid its only the govt which will get the revenue and agents will continue suffering no money in their pockets.this is the problem in Nakonde.please GOVT intervene in this matter coz this their only livelihood in Nakonde,crime will be very high in Nakonde very soon if this is not sorted out
Why do we need these ZRA officials. All they do is steal from the people. Fire the lot and allow free flow of goods!
Are we saying the GOVT should suffer at the expense of these two chaps? NO…..NO…NO ZRA, MOF this is unacceptable ,the country needs money and now Mfune and Sibote are busy causing anarchy in the country’s economy. PF has no time waste. How much revenue has been lost from the to borders???????? Plz officials do something…….!!!!
We have no Car manufacturing Industries in Zambia therefore, Zambian Citizens shouldn’t be disadvantaged on buying CHEAP cars from Japan or any other Countries because of high Valuations being implored by ZRA. There is no factor of local Industry protectiogn here, so there is much need for GRZ to do something. The only bigest problem in on the persons put incharge of ZRA as they want to show that they are working by charging poor citizens exobitantly there as to meet the given targets. MOF and ZRA should sort this unfairness so called Standard Valution methods.