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The Zambia Revenue Authority – ZRA has so far collected K3.1 million from the assessed K13.6 million (about US$1 million) in principal taxes for the trucks and earth moving machinery that were dubiously imported into the country through the misapplication of the Value Added Tax (VAT) deferment Scheme.

The authority has since started impounding heavy duty vehicles and has so far published about 1,000 trucks in the press of which 430 have responded hence the decision to start impounding the trucks that had misapplied the VAT deferment scheme.

ZRA Corporate Communications Manager Topsy Sikalinda has told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT that the operation to impound these vehicles began on Tuesday 13th, August 2019. The Authority has therefore called on the owners of the vehicles to report at the Inspectorate and Customs Enforcement (ICE) unit offices immediately to avoid being inconvenienced.

Sikalinda said all businesses that acquired the heavy duty trucks and earth moving machinery but did not pay appropriate taxes are urged to comply with this call. He further stated that smuggling of goods through false declarations, transit fraud, misclassifications, under-declarations, and under-valuations is a serious offence and offenders will be dealt with in accordance with the Law.

The Authority has again urged all citizens to pay taxes directly to the Zambia Revenue Authority to avoid being swindled by smugglers pretending to be clearing agents and giving false declarations that they have remitted the due taxes when in fact not.

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The Zambia Revenue Authority – ZRA has

Politics

That Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa – SDGCA assessments towards projected achievements indicate that, given the current pace of development, Zambia and four other countries namely, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and Zimbabwe may not achieve the target of the least basic water or basic sanitation services by end of 2030.

A report on the growth of African economies since the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal – SDG’s has indicated a decline in economic growth for most African countries attributing the decrease to lack of investments towards the implementation of the goals.

Presenting the performance of the SDG’s for the past 3 years, during the launch of the SDG Centre for Africa – SDGCA in Lusaka on August 7, 2019, Senior economist of the SDGCA Dr. Enock Twinoburyo explained that Africa is still ranking below other regions in achieving the vision 2030 due to low investments.

He said some African Countries are still grappling with poor economic conditions hence making it difficult to put investments towards achieving the target. He has since noted the need to improve statistical systems that contributes to better informed policies, faster response to pressing issues, increased Civic engagement and improved transparency and accountability.

The presentation by Twinoburyo also pointed out the need for support to building capacity of local institutions to ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all by 2030 – SDG number 6.

In line with this effort, assessments towards projected achievements indicate that, given the current pace of development, Zambia and four other countries namely, Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania and Zimbabwe may not achieve the target of the least basic water or basic sanitation services by end of 2030.

This is because SDGCA believes that an extraordinary effort needs to be done by the five countries to meet the target of the least basic water and basic sanitation services for the the entire population of the countries.

Zambia and other countries have since been encouraged to review and update the national water and sanitation policy and regulation from the perspective of the SDG, Support the improvement of access to water and sanitation services of unserved areas, ensure environment sustainability and solid waste management, and strengthen stakeholder engagement and community participation.

Meanwhile, the report further points out on the need for macro economic stabilization as a necessity for structural transformation and leveraging resources and investments for development. “Over the recent couple of years, the economic buffers have dwindled in part on account of twin deficits as well as commodity and other global shocks. Resultantly, the downsides of growth have materialized with growth remaining below 4 percent annually over the last 3 years, which is less than 1 percent above the population growth of 2.6 percent”.

“This per capital growth is not sufficient to deliver middle income status for most of the economies by mid-2025 hence the need to accelerate growth again while maintaining macro-economic stability in a global tight economic condition is warranted,” stated Twinoburyo.

He added that it is imperative to have broader macro-economic technical reforms focused on public finance cycle ranging from enduring fiscal and macro discipline to closure of fiscal cycle.

The Sustainable Development Goals comprises of ambitious and interrelated set of 17 goals and 169 targets to be achieved by 2030. United Nations Member States adopted the initiative in September 2015 with an idea of guaranteeing growth, social inclusion while protecting the environment.

Africa has since made commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals Universal Agenda – SDG 2030 and the African Union Agenda 2063.

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That Sustainable Development Goals Centre for Africa

Mining

First Quantum Mineral – FQM and the Zambia Revenue Authority – ZRA are tight leaped over the final settlement amount which was confirmed by FQM in their second half – Q2 financial reports availed  availed to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT on July 24th, 2019.

FQM group President Clive Newall has stated that the miner had reached a settlement agreement with Zambia Revenue Authority – ZRA over the US$8 billion tax dispute. The statement only stated that the amount of the settlement was in line with FQMs earlier made provision but did not disclosed the actual final settlement amount.

And when ZBT reached out to obtain detailed information on the statement released by FQM, Its Public Relations Manager Godfrey M’siska told ZBT that the company is not in the position of availing further information aside what was stated in a note released by the parent company.

Speaking at the 93rd Agriculture and Commercial Show in Lusaka at the FQM’s stand, M’siska who was not amused with the question requested ZBT to rather refer the query to the the FQM London Office for more information as the company has already released a statement and that it will not avail any further information. He however bluntly stated that he would not give further information on the settlement.

FQM’s Kalumbila Trident Copper Mines was slapped with a K76.5 billion tax assessment by ZRA for import duties of $150 million and associated interests and penalties of about $8 billion in total. The assessment was in regard to the under and non-declaration of import duties on capital items, consumable and spare parts for use at the sentinel mine from January 2013 to December 2017.

Meanwhile, the Zambia Revenue Authority – ZRA has confirmed its agreement to settle the tax dispute of the over US$8 billion with the First Quantum Minerals – FQM Kalumbila but has also declined to disclose the final settlement amounts due to tax payer confidentiality restrictions.

ZRA Corporate Communications Manager Topsy Sikalinda told the ZBT in an interview that the Authority has resolved the matter with FQM Kalumbila after it appealed on penalties through the Ministry of Finance. He added that other mining firms that were audited have also been given assessments and they are at appeal stage, hence the tax authority is hopeful that it will conclude the process before the close of the fourth quarter of 2019.

The US$8 billion tax bill attracted public interest as the figure is huge and when one looks at the foreign currency denominated national debt which Zambia is grappling with, this tax assessment would have aided to defray the repayments and unleash a further infrastructure drive.

There has also been concerns by members of the public that the deal would be settled in a non-transparent manner, at variance with the collective interests of the majority of Zambian Citizens. It would be interesting to know just how much has been settled as this would either point to the fact that there is gross tax evasion by the mining houses  or that ZRA was overzealous with its assessments

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First Quantum Mineral - FQM and the

Agribusiness

The Agricultural and Commercial Society of Zambia -ACSZ has urged Zambians whose crops were affected by the dry spells in the previous farming season not to shun from attending the 93th coming agriculture and commercial show.

Addressing the media in Lusaka on June 23, 2019, Society President Caroline Silwamba has encouraged farmers to take advantage of the show to learn from the experiences of other farmers.
Silwamba said the environment created by the show provides a unique and seasonal platform that attracts numerous companies of varying sizes from various sectors locally, regionally and internationally.

She added that such a show is an important forum for information exchange among economic agents, actor interaction, knowledge transfer with wide ranging opportunities for the nation and beyond as well as issues relating to climate change and its effects.

She said over 250 international foreign visitors and exhibitors will exhibit at this year’s show and that there has been an overwhelming response from the number expiators who will be taking part.
“I am delighted to report that this year’s event has already drawn thousands of exhibitors along with visitors, decision/policy makers and many others,”

The president further added that the society will also be holding seminars aimed at information sharing particularly for farmers in order to enlighten them on agriculture diversification to enhance national food security.

She said the diffusion of various products and services for this year’s show will see innovation elements being set for social network in order to bring out value addition and demonstrate the value chain processes built on continuous interaction in various sectors.

This year’s Agriculture and Commercial show will run from 31st July to 5 August under the theme “Embracing industrial development”

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The Agricultural and Commercial Society of Zambia

Markets

The Economics Association of Zambia – EAZ has disclosed that over K 5million was spent by participants during the two-day economic summit which took place last week in Zambia’s tourism capital of Livingstone.

The summit which attracted delegates from more than 15 countries was aimed at navigating potential solutions to the challenges Zambia and the continent of Africa faces.

Addressing the Media at Lusaka on August 1, 2019, EAZ President Lubinda Habazoka said the summit achieved its key objective of provoking challenges that the nation is facing at sector level with proposed solutions and recommendations provided.

He added that other areas of focus were the use of economic diplomacy as a tool to maximize national economic growth through boosting intra Africa trade, negotiating bilateral agreements and leveraging each other’s strengths to keep the growth of Africa running.

Habazoka further disclosed that key things tabled at the summit were the high interest rates and liquidity challenges to weighing down Small and Medium Enterprises – SME financing. He noted that Zambia’s financial markets continues to be faced with high interest and liquidity challenges that have hampered SME growth and forced commercial banks to seek long term credit lines at lower costs.

EAZ pointed out that the need for more meaningful access to finance for SME’s through waiving stringent requirements that banks request such as audited financials adding that meaningful and sustainable funding to SME’s will allow them blossom into bigger corporation’s overtime.

He reported that the summit also brought on the table the need for infrastructure development funding under the private public partnership – PPP saying it helps to ease the cost of finance and will allow for non-traditional source of cheaper finance.

In addition, the EAZ president mentioned on the need to make deals with IMF to assist with dollar debt pricing should Zambia wish to make an appearance in the international capital markets to refinance its falling due debt.

“The IMF will also open up potential to guarantees to debt issuances by state owned entities that would be looking to capitalize for operational efficiency purpose. It must be understood that an IMF deal is in this regard not for the balance of payment to support the $ 1.3 billion but for the investor flows it will open up to Zambia,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Association is confident that Zambians have the capacity to address the economic challenges that the country faces hence the need to raise for the occasion and has pledged the Association’s commitment through its means to address the challenges that the country is grabbling with.

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The Economics Association of Zambia – EAZ

Companies

Newly appointed Minister of Finance, Dr. Bwalya Ng’andu has perhaps dealt his first card and disclosed that Sales Tax will be implemented in January 2020. This is a move that may signal a pivot to a more foreign investor friendly posture.

Dr. Ng’andu this afternoon moved a motion in Parliament to withdraw the sales tax bill from the current sitting of Parliament, effectively confirming that the earliest time the sales tax would be implemented is January 2020.

He said the Sales Tax Bill will be reintroduced during the Budget Session of Parliament. Addressing the House through the Speaker, the finance minister stated that the Sales Tax Bill will be reintroduced during the Budget Session commencing in September, 2019, in readiness for it’s commencement in January, 2020.

Dr. Ng’andu stated that, this will allow for sufficient time to address the concerns in the Sales Tax Bill that stakeholders raised during the comprehensive consultations that were undertaken on Sales Tax implementation, and for businesses to put in adequate measures to adapt to the new tax regime.

This is contained in a statement made available to the Zambian Business Times – ZBT by Ministry of Finance spokesperson Chileshe Kandeta.

However, the move brings the 2019 budget credibility under further scrutiny especially on the revenue and expenditure side. Sales tax was mainly proposed among other targets, to curb massive tax refunds that the mining companies have been drawing from the treasury, with the aim of ploughing back the savings into the current infrastructure drive.

The statement availed to ZBT is silent on what the treasury and the ministry of finance will do to plug the hole that the continued value added tax – VAT refunds will create and which infrastructure projects will be put on ice. The VAT refunds were confirmed to have now jumped to K1.5 billion (about US$125 million) per month which is extrapolated to about US$1.5 billion in 12 months.

The biggest investors in Zambia, the large scale copper mines are the biggest winners from this announcement as this move was directly stemming their massive refunds from the Zambia Revenue Authority – ZRA. The abolishing of a refundable VAT with the non-refundable goods and services tax (also known as sales tax) was seen as a measure to shore up the country tax revenues.

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Newly appointed Minister of Finance, Dr. Bwalya

Tech

The newly appointed Examinations Council of Zambia – ECZ Board Chairperson Prof Frank Tailoka has expressed confidence that his he and his other new board members will put in place measures to end examination leakages which have for a long time been an obstacle in the country’s education system.

Prof Tailoka told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that the new board will put up measure to track down the sources of leakages and that any individual found wanting will face the law.

He has since asked Zambians to give to give him a period of one year to see what the new board is capable of delivering saying the current happenings at ECZ are not of the new leadership but that they will collaborate with other stakeholders to ensure there is efficiency in the examination system.

“There was a time we did not have leakages in Zambia, so we will find out where these things came from and will immediately have to find those in fore front of these activities,” he told ZBT.

He also noted the need for the introduction of A-levels in secondary schools to lessen on time student spend in universities and colleges and that the new board will consider the need to change the structure of how examinations are prepared and set, saying it is another way which contributes to the formation of leakages.

Prof Tailoka further stated that his board is aware of some other fraudulent activities happening in the education sector such as forgery of statements of results, adding that the board working with the management will look at introducing other security features on statement of results as a measure to curb such illicit behaviors.

Analysts have observed that Examination leakages in Zambia are not investigated to a logical conclusion. If or when students are caught in these malpractices, there has been limited tracking back to find the real culprits behind the leakages, hence these vices continue since only the users are punished.

The lawmakers in parliament have also not moved to introduce stiffer punishment, which can act as a deterrent. As it stands today, it’s not even clear what the punishment for exam cheating is. The ranking of Zambian education is also something which is not actively tracked, hence having an education system which is churning out graduates who are incapable of employment creation, lack entrepreneurship skills or ability to deeply analyze and solve their personal and community problems.

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The newly appointed Examinations Council of Zambia

Companies

The Regional Head of digital payment platform Visa, Jabu Basopo has stated that digital technology has potential to grow financial inclusion in Zambia and ensure easy access for financial services.

The Visa Southern Africa General Manager stated that digital payments driven by mobile phones has an advantage of driving the penetration of electronic system adding that it will be a game changer in a country like Zambia as many people will be able make transactions through mobile phones making it easier to access financial services.

Basopo who visited Zambia this week to meet with banks, other financial institutions and regulators to discuss how the company could contribute to increasing digital payment acceptance told the Zambian Business Times – ZBT in an exclusive interview that Visa’s vision is for 90% of payments to be transacted digitally in Zambia compared to the current level of around 10%.

He said Visa’s objective with other players in the system is to digitize cash, an opportunity which he said will increase speed and simplicity in cash transactions. He added that reducing the number of cash transactions will improve security and efficiency and that in archiving this, more merchants need to accept digital payment methods as an alternative to cash.

“Speed and Simplicity, that’s what consumer are looking for because people do not want to be in long queues to make payments or access cash, hence consumers need to have trust and confidence in the system because visa is introducing a range of new services across the continent to facilitate digital payments, including contact less QR (Quick Response) technology that enables consumers to pay for goods and services automatically by scanning a merchant barcode with their mobile phones,” he said.

Meanwhile, Basopo disclosed that the company is also working with Zambian banks to ensure that this kind of technology is accessed everywhere in the country and that it has already started talks with the Central Bank on the initiative.

When asked by ZBT on the impact of Zambia launching its own local switch on Visa operations, Basopo said Zambian’s local switch for ATM from International to local transactions will not impact visa as it is working in collaboration with other digital systems to deliver the same objective of digitization cash and it will ensure that the infrastructure delivered to customers has international standards in terms of compliance and security.

“In terms of security we have an intelligent system which will be detecting frauds because we understand that eco-system has some attempts of fraudulent activities so we have a strong team which focuses on cyber-crime and we have policies and rules in place which will make sure that we are proactive,” he said.

Visa QR is an innovative way to make payments with your mobile phone. There is no need to carry cash everywhere you go. Just select Visa QR on your mobile baking app and scan the merchant’s QR code to make payments.

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The Regional Head of digital payment platform

Tech

The National Biosafety Authority – NBA says it will not revoke licenses that it recently granted to the four companies to import products that may contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

The comment comes after concerns from the public stating that the Authority must revoke permits granted to Gatbro Distributors, Pick n Pay, Southern National Import and Export Limited and Choppies Super Stores market saying GMO products are still a risk for human consumption and that Zambia has limited technology and scientific equipment to independently test these foods containing GMOs.

The farming community had also raised concerns that the food in Zambia should be kept organic, arguing that these foods containing GMOs can be grown locally avoiding the export of jobs to other countries. The imported GMO foods should instead be supported for local organic and non GMO production, they urged.

But the NBA Chief Executive Officer Lackson Tonga has told the Zambian Business Times in an interview that the issuance of permits was done after risk assessment was conducted on the products that may contain GMOs and were found to be safe for human consumption.

He said people should take time to read the provisions of the act and understand what applies when an application has been submitted to avoid being misled. Tonga said the authority has scientific provisions in the risk assessment and it checks for the completeness of the application before a permit is granted.

“We also base our decisions on trying to find out if the applicant has any history where it abrogated some provisions of the act and if the applicant meets the scientific requirements, then we can be able to make an informed decision” he said.

He added that in cases where the applicant does not meet the required standards and method of formation, the authority rejects the application and does not grant a permit until it is satisfied with what has been provided.

“The permits that we grant are in two types, one is under the SI 32 of 2019 where we grant for import which is for a 5 year period, while we have another permit for placing on the market which is 6 months,” he said. Tonga further explained that smuggling challenges may occur in the importation the products and has assured that the authority will put in measure to alert and sensitize the public.

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The National Biosafety Authority – NBA says

Markets

The Zambia Metrology Agency – ZMA has in the first half of 2019 inspected a total number of 2,057 instruments out of which only 1,167 instruments were found to be compliance representing a compliance rate of 64.31%. The Agency further disclosed that a total of 15,636 weighing and measuring instruments representing 81.5 % achievement against the year to date target of 19,181 instruments.

Speaking at a media briefing on July 30, 2019 in Lusaka attended by the Zambian Business Times – ZBT, ZMA Executive Director Himba Cheelo explained that the negative variance is attributed to some of its major clients submitting their instruments late for verification.

She said the major cause for non- compliance was due to non-submission of instruments for verification and the use of unapproved weighing and measuring instruments. She further disclosed that during the inspection period an unnamed company was fined with K60,000 for tempering of verification marks on a fuel tanker.

“During these inspections, the Agency noted that non- compliant products failed mainly on net content and labelling requirements. Most of the non-compliant products which included bread, mealie meal, cooking oil, were seized and disposed of through the courts of law and we continued to educate the manufacturers, suppliers, retailers and importers on the regulatory requirements for prepackaged commodities trade,” She said.

Meanwhile, Eng. Cheelo further revealed that the launch of the Standardized MEDA has received massive commendation from stakeholders across the country and that the project will soon be rolled out to four other towns namely Ndola, Kasama, Petauke, and Livingstone.

The dry measurement capacity project popularly referred to as the MEDA was launched on 20th May 2019 by the Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry Christopher Yaluma. She said the project will culminate into the use of accurate measurements which will lead to fair trade, SME growth and economic development.

The Agency has however pledged its commitment to ensuring that it provides the best metrology services in the country adding that it will continue to safeguard the rights of businesses and consumers throughout the promotion of fair trade and protection against fraudulent activities where measurements apply.

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The Zambia Metrology Agency - ZMA has