The Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) has said that claims by the Post Newspaper that they are being fixed by the institution are not true because ZRA collects tax on behalf of Government and that the Post Newspaper is not the only company affected, but a lot of other institutions have been pursued.
Reacting to claims by Post Newspaper General Manager – Finance Rowena Zulu that the move is meant to fix the Newspaper and that Post Newspaper does not owe ZRA any money, ZRA Spokesperson Mumbuna Kufekisa said that he newspaper was aware about the matter as his office under the legal department had been engaging the company on late payments of penalties and interest accrued from the previous amount demanded.
Mr Kufekisa explained that the Post Newspapers Limited has been given 10 days to reconcile its tax accounts with those of ZRA.
He advised the Post Newspapers Limited to visit his organization if they felt the need to dispute the amount given other than claiming that the action was aimed at ‘fixing’ it.
“Take note that we are not fixing the Post Newspaper as they claim, we collect tax on behalf of Government , a lot of institutions have been pursued not necessarily the Post alone as they put it,” Mr Kufekisa
This morning, the Post Newspaper was served with two warrants of Distress demanding payment of over K16 million in taxes and tax arrears.
The first notice the Post Newspapers Limited was served with is a Warrant of Distress of K6, 954,911.75 in taxes and K9, 969,483.29 in Pay As You Earn and tax arrears in a second Warrant of Distress with a demand for these payments in full with immediate effect.
Of course, we know that you are not fixing the Post Newspapers (wink) you are doing you work. And please do it effectively. Collect the last ngwee. We are behind you ZRA.
We are not children. There will be a commission of inquiry of this persecution of the Post after 2016 elections. Anyone abusing their office will have to answer. The Post have already paid you K40 million this year. Why can’t you wait for that small K6 million?
America imprisons tax evaders, do the same!
@ Nubian Princess
They cannot. If they jail all tax evaders, then ZRA will be left with no Commissioners and no Minister
I’m oloso behind ZRA. All tax evaders must be FIXED
why was state has informed and state house staffs communicated to the post,any case that is communicated to state house ,its becomes a political persecution.
@Nubian Princess ? you are very naïve! In America and most countries of the world “you pay and it shows”. You can see roads, garbage is collected, health services (even Obamacare works)! In Zambia they will go after you if you don’t pay. Anyway, the Post make cobra and Power Failures accede to the throne! Mule Tasha! RB tale Tasha and you know what happened to him!?
This is very gruel by edgar and the crew.Surely hw can u raid on the Company in that manner.i regret of having voted for Edgar.
Clearly you don’t pay tax. …
ZRA shouldn’t even commenting on individual cases especially for individuals that dont pay tax its an utter waste of taxpayers funds…..where do these people get public relations training.
Planzo,
Only a few days the FAZ Building on Alick Nkhata Road was closed down because of FAZ’s tax defaulting. Did you protest? There is nothing political in what ZRA is doing. They are just carrying out their legal statutory functions. If you can’t understand these simple issues I would advise you to keep quiet. To quote the sagacious Abraham Lincoln: ” It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” I rest my case.
@Maikalange
But why didint they do this when Post was busy praising the late Sata last year if they are impartial
It’s persecution of course but if they owe let them pay. I see the handwriting of PF on this one. Are we sure that all the companies owned by PF MPs are current?
We shall pursue all the other companies owned by MPs when we form govt. in 2016.
#TaxCollector
BO KUFEKISA, NO MATTER WHAT LIES YOU WILL TELL TO JUSTIFY YOUR POLITICAL ACTION, IT WILL NOT CHANGE THE TRUTH. THIS IS POLITICAL CLEARLY PERSECUTION, NOTHING LESS AND NOTHING MORE.
TELL US WHICH OTHER COMPANIES YOU HAVE FOLLOWED UP AS YOU HAVE DONE WITH THE POST? WE ARE AWARE THAT TIMES OF ZAMBIA AND DAILY MAIL OWE ZRA, NAPSA, ZAMTEL AND WORKMEN’S COMPENSATION HUGE SUMS OF MONEY, WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN FOLLOWED UP?
THIS GOVERNMENT IS ANTI ZAMBIANS. ANYTHING ZAMBIAN, THEY WANT TO DESTROY OR GIVE IT FOREIGNERS. THEY GAVE ZAMBEZI PORTLAND TO CRIMINALS WHO DON’T PAY TAX JUST TO FIX MAHTANI, A ZAMBIAN. BECAUSE OF THE BAD TREATMENT HE HAS BEEN GETTING FROM GOVERNMENT, HE HAS HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO SELL FINANCE BANK TO A FOREIGN BANK.
HOW MANY CHINESE COMPANIES ARE PAYING TAXES IN ZAMBIA?…
@MANOMAMBULWA: I totally agree with you. Just like any other govt institution, ZRA is being used by politicians to settle scores. Almost all govt run institutions are owing ZRA and NAPSA, how many have been pursued by ZRA in this manner? The law must be applied to all without fear or favour. Its time Zambians wake up from their slumber and ask for accountability from all govt insitutions. Can Mumbuna tell the nation which other institutions are being pursued by ZRA, otherwise we will believe this is just a political instruction. If the case is still in court, how is ZRA justifying their action prior to the final court verdict?
@Mapalo Gracious
Mind your English.
Meanwhile, Mmembe and Nchito almost got away with it.
Mmembe and Kabimba are being pursued in another court.
Mmembe and the Post’s luck has finally run out.
ZAMBIANS ARE INDEED UNGRATEFUL PEOPLE.. ISN’T LUNGU PRESIDENT PARTLY BECAUSE OF THE POST. THIS ONLY GOES TO SHOW THAT LUNGU WAS NOT LOYAL TO SATA BUT TO RB.
@MANOMAMBULWA, What do you mean ZAMBIANS? Better you say PEOPLE are indeed ungrateful and not Zambians are indeed ungrateful. It is Lungu who is “enjoying” the presidency not Zambians.
In fact it was ABC who brought it out to light that the POST was not paying taxes after the POST became too “vocal” and not govt. friendly.
WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS HEART- RENDIND, PAINFUL AND ANNOYING. LUNGU WANTS TO KILL DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS AND BUILD AUTOCRACY THEN DECLARE HIMSELF A GOD.
WE SHOULD STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR THE POST. THE POST HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE FOR THE PEOPLE. IT HAD BEEN THE VEHICLE THAT PEOPLE HAVE USED TO FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS. WITHOUT THE POST THE TERM ATTEMPT WOULD HAVE SUCCEEDED. WITHOUT THE POST, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO VOICE AGAINST THE CORRUPTION. THE CHURCH, THE NGO’S AND TGE OPPOSITION PARTIES SHOULD STAND UP FOR THE POST, THE VOICE OF THE PEOPLE. IF THIS IS NOT DONE, THERE WILL BE NO MEDIUM FOR ANYONE TO USE TO OPPOSE GOVERNMENT. WHEN THINGS ARE GETTING SO BAD, IT WOULD BE DISASTROUS TO LOSE THE POST THROUGH WHICH PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SPEAKING. THIS A TEST CASE FOR ZAMBIA.
@ MANOMAMBULWA
Your argument is academic. The organizations and companies which are citing have a guarantor, or surety; government.
ZRA are demanding what is owed to them before Mmembe spends it all on Kabimba’s campaign chopper.
The Post has paid over K40 million in less than a year. Which other local institution in Zambia, besides the multinationals, has paid this amount of money? You kill the Post, you lose even the very little that it has been paying you. Poor judgment, which is typical of African poverty, is inclined to such decisions where the most useless such as Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail, Daily Nation and ZNBC have to survive. Consider how much relief this K40 million had given to this government. It is from a private company existing out of private initiative! That is worse than zero? If you find someone paying you this amount of money, can you not give them some breather so that they keep paying you? You are better off being owned than not being owed at all because debt goes on your balance…
JJP _ Just because The Post paid K40M this year does not necessarily mean that they have done an excellent job. How long was this money pending? Let’s understand things in the right context. Entities should not put themselves in compromising position to either a friendly or unfriendly government. The Post has had it so easy over the years with late Mwanawasa and late Sata that they thought there were different laws for them.
@ZRA, MY ARGUMENT IS REALITY NOT ACADEMIC. I ALSO AGREE WITH JJP’S SENSIBLE REASONING. IN EUROPE AND THE USA NO COMPANY HAS BEEN TREATED IN THE MONEY THE POST HAS BEEN TREATED. THEY JUST MAKE THEM PAY MONEY. NO WAS NOT CLOSED FOR THE MESS THEY CREATED IN THE USA. JP MORGAN HAS BEEN CHARGED HUGE SUMS OF MONEY. NO BATTALION OF POLICE WAS.SENT TO THESE COMPANIES. LET US BE SENSIBLE AND SEPARATE POLITICS FROM BUSINESS. OF COURSE TOMORROW, RICHARD SAKALA WILL BE REJOYCING IN HIS DAILY NATION.
the issue of zra storming the post newspaper should be politicised as the company has acrued this for a long time now. nowander th company has been increasing their price for the newspaper all in the name of paying for the same tax and its employees. payment of tax is mandatory and there is no need for an inquiry to be formed to investigate this matter, thats childish thinking and very unrealistic. we need to learn to understand that 40billion in old currency z alot of money which can go for other developmental projects.
Of course you are fixing the Post. How much does Times of Zambia, Daily Mail, ZNBC owe ZRA? Can you publish this? This whole thing is politically motivated and nonsensical! The Post should fight this!
Hahaha ,Post Newspapers and evil Mmembe are getting their karma for their role in fixing and persecuting RB .
What goes around,comes around you Post devils.
@Pretty: IT SHOULD BE ACKNOWLEDGED AND APPRECIATED THAT THE POST HAS DONE SO MUCH IN EXPOSING CORRUPTION, DEFENDING AND PROMOTING THE NASCENT DEMOCRACY IN ZAMBIA. CREDIT SHOULD BE GIVEN TO THE POST. THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA, THAT IS ZAMBIANS, NEED TO APPRECIATE THE IMPORTANT ROLE THAT POST HAS PLAYED IN THIS COUNTRY. THE PEOPLE WHO ARE TODAY BEING APPLAUDED FOR WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THE POST ARE THE ONES WHO ARE STEALING FROM THE POOR PEOPLE OF ZAMBIAN THROUGH CORRUPTION AND ABUSE OF POWER AND OFFICE WHICH THEY DON’T WANT EXPOSED TO THE PUBLIC. THEY WANT TO KILLL THE POST SO THAT THEIR EVIL DEEDS CANNOT BE EXPOSED ANY MORE. THEY WANT TO KILL DEMOCRACY. THEY WANT TO INTRODUCE A ONE PARTY STATE THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY ALLUDED TO. IF THEY KILL THE POST, THEN THE CHURCH, THE OPPOSITION, THE…
@MANO MAMBULWA, I appreciate what you are saying about the “important” role the POST has played in the country.
But how can you handle a situation in which the Post are supporting or are a part of a political group? Do you know that they have been buying helicopters and trucks in readiness for the tripartite campaigns / elections next year?? Should we ignore that fact because they have exposed corrupt individuals / organisations?
This situation is straight forward for me. If the Post meaning Mmembe wants to become part of a political party they should close their offices or sell them. But if they want to expose corruption, abuse of power or be a medium for the poor I will offer them my support on condition that they should run an independent and non partisan newspaper.
They should just give Caesar what belongs to Caesar. We appreciate their work but that should not blind us they still have the responsibility of paying taxes just like any other corporate entity
Why is this man making a fool of himself by trying to explain things that are obvious? You carried Police Officers, Journalists and photographers to the Post’s Officers yet you say that you are not fixing them. Where else have you carried that contingent of people? You think we are stupid like you? No sir, we probably think better than you.
Comment: ZRA visited FAZ just last week for 1million kwacha,why should they not the POST for 15 million kwacha? Playing the victim card by the POST is nonsensical
TAX COLLECTION SHOULD NOT BE POLITICAL. POST JUST PAY WHAT YOU OWE GOVT. ZRA CLOSE POST IF LAW SAY SO TREAT IT THE WAY YOU TREAT OTHERS. THEY GOT USED WITH VIP TREATMENT. DON’T INSULT THE CROCODIOLE WHEN YO BOKOSI IS STILL IN WATER YOU BE EATEN.
And the case on development bank of Zambia, we want our 14million ….Post pls also pay our moneys may be Mano Mambulwa can pay for them.
Post lost it when they decided to enter the political arena. Dont forget ba UPND that when they were in bed with Mwanawasa and Sata you were called a BANTUSTAND party. Even now they are against everything ECL does so if they are into Politics they should always ensure they pay on time
Mumbuna! Amenso, nemilomo am suspicious
Fred Mmembe is from the crooked limb and failing to pay taxes is theft and criminal.
@Pretty, PLEASE APPRECIATE THAT ZAMBIA IS DEMOCRACY. ANYONE AND ANY PRIVATE INSTITUTION ARE FREE TO SUPPORT POLITICAL PARTIES OF THEIR CHOICE. TELL ME DOES THE CONSTITUTION FORBID PRIVATE INSTITUTIONS FROM SUPPORTING POLITITCAL PARTIES OF THEIR CHOICE? IN AMERICA COMPANIES DONATE HUGE SUMS OF MONEY TO POLITICAL PARTIES WITHOUT BEING HARRASSED BY THE POLITICAL PARTY IN POWER USING PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS LIKE ZRA.
DO YOU FIND IT NORMAL UNDER OUR POLITICAL DISPENSATION THAT LUNGU AND RB SHOULD USE PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS AND THE POLICE TO SETTLE POLITICAL SCORES? WHEN PF WAS IN OPPOSITION DIDN’T THE POST SUPPORT THEM? WAS THAT WRONG? I FIND IT EXTREMELY WRONG AND IMMORAL FOR THE PF TO ABUSE AND MONOPOLIZE THE PUBLIC MEDIA. THESE PF CHAPS ARE FRIGHTENED COWARDS, SELFISH AND DICTATORS WHO ARE…
@Mano Mambulwa, I don’t think you are getting my point. I rest my case.
TO MMEMBE AND YOUR TEAM: TAKE HEART, GOD IS WITH YOU. REMEMBER JOSEPH IN EGYPT, REMEMBER DANIEL AND HIS THREE FRIENDS IN BABYLON. THE END OF THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTING YOU AND THROUGH YOU THE PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA BY ATTEMPTING TO DENY THEM ACCESS TO INFORMATION WILL BE DESASTROUS. TAKE HEART, GOD’S INVISIBLE HAND IS WITH YOU. HE WILL DEAL ACCORDINGLY WITH THOSE WHO ARE PERSECUTING YOU AND THEIR AGENTS.
I think the lesson here is NEVER mix corporate entities with politics , just run your company without involving your company in politics, that is all.
Point of correction, The Post is not a democratic institution, it is simply a business which has not respected tax laws. Secondly Mr Mmembe has attacked so many innocent people without remorse and I’m glad that this time he has met his match in President Lungu. Mr Mmembe has relentlessly attacked late President Dr FTJ Chiluba, the architect of Zambian democracy. The bones of Dr Chiluba are beginning to rise up to fight Mmembe and his cartel. The cartel and its proxies will never rule that beautiful country because their agenda is always revenge and persecution of Northerners and Easterners.
@Peace maker, ARE YOU SURE THAT A NEWSPAPER CAN KEEP OUT OF POLITICS? ARE YOU ABLE TO TELL US A NEWSPAPER IN THE WORLD WHICH IS NOT INVOLVED IN POLITICS? NOT EVEN THE TIMES OF ZAMBIA AND DAILY MAIL CAN CLAIM NOT TO BE INVOLVED IN POLITICS.
IF YOU MEAN THAT KEEPING OUT OF POLITICS MEANS NOT TO CRITICISE THE PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT, THAT WOULD BE THE WORST THING TO HAPPEN TO ZAMBIA. WE FOUGHT AGAINST DICTATORSHIP AND WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW IT TO REAR ITS UGLY FACE IN ZAMBIA.
ALL WELL MEANING PEOPLE WHO LOVE THIS COUNTRY SHOULD RISE AND STAND BY THE POST. THE POST HAS BEEN PAYING THE WHAT IT OWES ZRA WHICH MONEY THE PF GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN ABUSING.
WHY WORST TIME WITH A POLITICAL PARTY PAPER WHOSE AIM IS TO DESTROY THE NATION AND PAINT IT BAD. EXAMPLE NIGERIA ALOT HAPPEN EBOLA,ECONOMICAL CRISIS YOU CANT GET THE PRIMITIVE REPORTING WHICH IS NON BENEFICIAL TO THE NATION NEITHER TO THE PAPER ITSELF. AS AT NOW IN NIGERIA THERE IS TERRIBLE CRISIS ,BUTFOR YOU TO GET INFORMATION ONE HAS TO SWEAT. SO POST YOU GO POLITICAL DONT COMPLAIN YOU HAVE MADE YOURSELVES DEFECENCELESS EVEN IF ANOTHER GOVT COMES IN YOU WILL BE THE FIRST TARGET.
The comparison should be between the Post and other private companies and institutions. If these private companies and institutions are not paying I would understand its claim of persecution. PTC went under because govt owed it colossal amount of money. I can understand how the Post can fail to pay corporate tax but not PAYE because it is the employee who actually pays this tax and the employer merely collects it on behalf of govt. What moral justification does it have to call others corrupt when it is using the money it is collecting for its own use and was the first to buy a Hummer? The employees are so scared that they cannot go on strike to claim their money.
Believe it or not Mmembe is more of a liability to our country than an asset. If one sober mind was to chronicle what this chap has done to this nation, both financially, politically and socially we would all be stunned . Anything Mmembish takes all sorts of twists. Why does he think that he should not pay tax when he has bought more than 80 courier trucks, he has a news paper that made billions of Kwacha through lies and sensational stories. We will not have peace in our country until we have fewer crooks like Mmembe. Pay your dues you chap!. The people you held captive through your weird and crooked ways are no longer on your side. The Development Bank needs its money. You made your Colleague Mutembo make huge sums of money on flims cases against FTJ . The trials yielded nothing,…
So there is alot activity at the bwinjifumu based company ka. Just the other day we head about a bullet that strayed through there offices and today it’s ZRA with Cops pouncing at there premises demanding payment in un paid taxes hmmm
ZRA should just close the ka evil newspaper if truly they have failed to pay tax. They are of no good to the ordinary Zambian….every day publishing hate messages to portray a picture like PF has not done anything good in Zambia since they came to power and its only the Cartel and their ka newly formed party who will deliver.Some of us are fed up with this yellow journalism.What they do is not constructive criticism…… news should be well balanced….they clearly hate the Head of state and PF whom we have constitutionally given the mandate to rule.This ka paper in my view is fake and has a hidden agenda.
@Pretty, I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT VERY WELL AND I DO NOT AGREE WITH IT FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
1- THE POST IS BEING PERSECUTED BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN CRITICAL OF THE PF LEADERSHIP FOR THEIR WRONG DOINGS WHICH ROLE A NEWSPAPER SHOULD PLAY AND IT IS NOT THE FIRST TIME THE POST HAS DONE THIS. IT IS AN UNDISPUTABLE FACT THAT NO ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN SPARED BY THE POST AND THIS HAS BEEN IN THE INTEREST OF THE NATION.
2- YOU ALLEGE THAT THEY ARE BUYING TRUCKS AND HELICOPTERS FOR A POLITICAL PARTY. IS IT AN OFFENCE IN ZAMBIA FOR AN INSTITUTION TO SUPPORT A POLITICAL PARTY OF THEIR CHOICE FINANCIALLY AND MATERIALLY? IF TODAY THE POST OFFERED THOSE THINGS TO PF WOULD THEY REFUSE? ISN’T IT AN OPEN SECRET THAT THE POST OPENLY SUPPORTED PF IN 2011?
3- WHY ZNBC, THE TIMES OF ZAMBIA AND DAILY…
Lipilafye membe don’t cry you are a politician we have been told you have received cash for socialism.
@Joseph kalusa
Mr Joseph you are right.These guys at this newspaper are not patriotic.All they pray for every day is to make things look like this country is on fire and yet not.Their evil plans have already been exposed by Zambians and in 2016 they will not succeed no matter how many planes they will buy for campaigns…….Zambians are very clever people.