Luangwa District Administrative Officer, Jonathan Manjomba says government taxes help to develop the country.
Mr Manjomba explains that revenue collected from taxes help to improve and develop infrastructure as well as the provision of the much needed services in the districts and country at large.
ZANIS reports that he said this when he officiated at a workshop for government accountants, stores and procurements officers organised by the Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) in Luangwa District.
‘’ As you may be aware that taxes help to build schools, buy medicines and many other important needs of the district and country at large”, he said.
Mr Manjomba also noted that the government has rolled out activities and programmes in various sectors including revenue collection, which should be implemented by relevant heads of government departments.
Mr Manjomba added that the engagements that ZRA is conducting with government departments will maximise the revenue collection and help develop the nation.
He called on accountants and procurement officers in government institutions to align themselves with the president’s vision of developing the nation and the districts in particular.
Zambia Revenue Authority senior tax officer Mathews Kumwenda says government institutions have been appointed to be tax collectors by nature of their offices.
Mr Kumwenda added that the government relies on accountants and procurement officers in government line ministries and institutions to meet its 2024 revenue collection target.
“All of us, we have a mammoth task to achieve and that’s the reason why we are here” he said.
He explained that his organisation’s annual target for 2024 is at 125 billion Kwacha, which translates into 70 percent of the national budget.
Mr Kumwenda however expressed concern over the nation’s taxpayer compliance levels which have gone down, stating that this might make it difficult for the organisation to meet its 2024 target.
He called on tax payers in the country to comply with tax regulations to help develop the country.
“The call is for taxpayers to pay their tax and contribute to the national treasury for the benefit of the nation”, he said.
Speaking during a vote of thanks, Luangwa Primary School headteacher, Edison Phiri, has called on every Zambian citizen to appreciate the role of taxes in the development of the country.