Calm has returned to Nakonde border in Muchinga Province where customs clearing agents yesterday fought running battles during a protest to press for the removal of the Senior Collector of Customs Muyunda Sibote for alleged inefficiency among others.
Both Nakonde District Commissioner James Singoyi and Zambia Freight and Forwarders Association (ZAFFA) National Chairperson Emmanuel Mutale have confirmed the development with the Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) in Nakonde today.
Mr Singoyi said over 200 fuel tankers which were marooned at Tunduma border in Tanzania have since started rolling into Zambia.
He said that empty trucks from the Zambian side started crossing into Tanzania yesterday afternoon just after a successful meeting and continued late in the evening.
The District Commissioner has since assured the business community that all is well at the border with all operations running normally.
And Mr Mutale, the ZAFFA National Chairperson has thanked his members for their resolve to resume work.
Mr Mutale said a disturbance in the collection of revenue for the government especially by the ZRA is not good as billions of kwacha is lost in the process.
A snap survey by ZANIS at the border revealed that both fuel tankers and the newly imported vehicles which were marooned on the other side of the border in Tanzania had started crossing the border into Zambia.
Yesterday police in full riot gear fought running battles with the irate clearing agents who were blocking the entry of fuel tankers from Tunduma, the border town in Tanzania.
Police had to fire tear gas canisters and warning shots to scare the protesting agents.
Authorities were trying to bring in fuel tankers from Tanzania destined for Zambia but the agents blocked the move by burning tyres on the middle of the road near the customs yard.
But the embattled Senior Collector of Customs Muyunda Sibote has dismissed the allegations by the Customs Clearing Agents that he was inefficient in the collection of revenue.
Mr Sibote said that as far as he was concerned, he was carrying out his duties professionally and in accordance with the law.
He said that it was not true that he had been uplifting values for the second hand vehicles saying since he came to Nakonde he had never changed anything, and that Nakonde was still among the borders in the country where they offer the lowest values for the second hand vehicles.
Mr Sibote also disclosed that that since he came to Nakonde, he had intercepted so many trucks which were being cleared dubiously in the area.
“Am not going to allow any officer who would involve himself or herself in illegal business at the expense of collecting the much needed revenue for the country,” said Mr Sibote.
He added that it was also not true that he was treating officers harshly as he was relating with them very well.
“Manpower at the station is very low and this is the only reason why it takes long in processing the entries as opposed to what some agents are saying,” he added.
Mr Sibote said the information on the shortage of man power at the station has already reached ZRA headquarters saying very soon more officers will be sent to Nakonde.
ZANIS
good reporting. balanced, objective.
clearing agents are the PROBLEM. they are mostly short sighted crooks with no ethics just after quick money. most are semi illiterate and they capitalise on the tax payer’s lack of information. any ***** can be a clearing agent. it doesn’t take much. Dont know what really is transpiring at the border but im sure Sibote was just doing the right thing. in Africa we hate that. chaos and disorder is what we used to.
I hate nakonde boarder those Bemba clearing agents are thieves especially that Kama lame guy he manipulated me when I was clearing my tipper trucks and trailers kusalumbula imitengo sha fake ati ngatwabalishamo fye k4m Ba Ben ku physical ninshi AMA values ku askuda will be maintained low so I went and looked for that Ben and he told me no I never told him that, so that’s how I kicked out that guy and brought a ka young guy kachingwe to help me. He even gave me fake temporal insurances
Livingstoneis more organised
I am sure Mr Sibote is a principled man not wanted by democratic majority of crooks that want to run their underground economy. Invistigation should be instituted, majors to ensure that pilferage is minimised are firmly upheld.
I DON’T THINK THE ALLEGATIONS AGAINST Mr Muyunda Sibote ARE TRUE. JUST LIKE #4 HAS ALSO OBSERVED Muyunda IS HATED BECAUSE HE’S TRYING TO ROOT OUT CORRUPTION AMONGST SOME SENIOR AND JUNIOR CUSTOMS OFFICERS. THE GOVT MUST INVESTIGATE THIS PORT BUT ENCOURAGE Muyunda TO CARRY ON WITH HIS GOOD WORK OF ZERO TOLERANCE ON CORRUPTION. THE OTHER OFFICERS ARE THIEVES.
Those chaps at nakonde live lavish lives out of manipulating clients and conniving with corrupt officers.all the *****s are always importing cars from japan and building mansions so a hard nut like SIBOTE to those who know him can not gel well with them.ZRA mustn`t buck off.let SIBOTE stay manje bafikalah in conjuction naba mwachusa can send back to heaven or is it hell
I believe you don’t know what you’re talking about, people don’t depend on one business at all, if the money you raise from whatever you ends up in Bars and flitting, change for the better, sibote has no problem at all but what we need is efficiency and Agents try hard to educate your importers on how you pay duties, they shouldn’t make you dance to there tune by ordering you how much he wants to pay. you are not the right people to do that and moreover they look at you tobe fools because whatever they tell you, its fine boss. change for the better.
There is witchcraft at these borders especially tuma so called business ladies they have very bad charms muvinena. Sibote must be careful and continue doing his great job. # 3 Octopus Paul Bwalya that ka lame fela is bad news mudala takafwala na mbamba ka chi-colour.
Yes yes yes! Nakonde border is very corrupt. Those ZRA guys connive with the thievy agents inorder to deprive government of the much needed revenue. ACC must move in! Gone are the days when “Angoni Clearing and forwarding Agency” was the best clearing company with a clean business.
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